Matilda Torres boys cross country topples Central Section record, Whitney girls roll at Rough Rider Invitational

FRESNO, Calif. – Matilda Torres needed to have its student-athletes demonstrate short-term memories in order to achieve one of the program’s many long-term goals Friday at the Rough Rider Invitational.

Following a ninth-place finish Oct. 12 in the Rob Brenner championship race at the 45th ASICS Clovis Invitational, the Toros rebounded less than a week later on the same 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park to not only prevail in the boys varsity large school race at Rough Rider, but produce the fastest team time in Central Section history.

Matilda Torres had five scorers in the top 25, all running under 15 minutes, 50 seconds, to prevail with 66 points and a team performance of 77:31.5, eclipsing the 2008 record of 77:48 established by Buchanan in the Division 1 state final.

Even if the Toros had all five athletes round their times up to the nearest full second, Matilda Torres’ lineup still clocked 77:34 to elevate to No. 12 all-time among high schools competing at Woodward Park, with a performance that ranks among the top 25 prep performances in course history.

Hunter Hannah, a Matilda Torres junior, was edged by Dougherty Valley senior Arrin Sagiraju in a thrilling finish by a 15:06.1 to 15:06.4 margin, with Piedmont Hills senior Yosef Berhan taking third in 15:09.3.

Arrin Sagiraju of Dougherty Valley | Erik Boal photo

Sagiraju competed Friday with two heavily bandaged knees after suffering a fall during his pre-race preparation, but despite the cuts, they didn’t prevent him from digging deep in the final 200 meters in order to hold off Hannah, who improved from running 15:17.9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Sagiraju elevated from eighth in last year’s large school race at Rough Rider, in addition to improving on his 15:25.0 effort at Woodward Park to take 21st in last year’s Division 1 state final.

Junior Ben Fernandez secured sixth in 15:13.4 – improving from a 15:17.3 mark at Clovis – senior Noah Felix Andrade clocked 15:35.9 to achieve 15th, with junior Alfonso Del Toro (15:47.7) and senior Buffalo Soito (15:48.1) placing 22nd and 23rd, respectively, in support of Hannah for the Toros, who ran 78:53 less than a week earlier in the Rob Brenner championship race.

Vacaville was runner-up with 101 points, led by senior Jackson Stream finishing fourth in 15:10.0 and sophomore brother Cooper Stream capturing seventh in 15:14.7.

Clovis East took third at 127 points, Campolindo – led by ninth-grader Caden Ehrhorn producing the fastest freshman performance on the Woodward Park course in North Coast Section history by placing 14th in 15:35.2 –  finished fourth with 166 points and Miramonte was fifth at 193 points.

Noel Huato of Bakersfield Del Oro grabbed fifth in 15:12.0, with fellow junior Andres Lomeli from Kimball running 15:18.8 to earn eighth.

Although Rocklin Whitney didn’t compete in the Bill Buettner girls championship at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, the Wildcats picked up at Woodward Park right where they left off following last year’s runner-up finish at the Division 2 state final in November by having five scorers among the first 20 athletes and seven competitors placing in the top 30 to achieve a dominant 36-point effort in the girls varsity large school race.

Despite three competitors graduating from last year’s lineup, the Wildcats still had four individuals eclipse the 19-minute barrier Friday, led by junior Sophie Hutchinson taking third in 18:07.5.

Natalie Arriaza from Patterson, another returning Division 2 standout and all-state honoree from the Sac-Joaquin Section, produced a lifetime-best 17:43.0 at Woodward Park to secure victory, achieving the fastest female performance of the meet.

Natalie Arriaza of Patterson | Erik Boal photo

Campolindo freshman Neela Whatley achieved runner-up in 17:50.8 in her Woodward Park debut and just the second cross country race overall for the Cougars.

Whatley produced the best mark by a California ninth-grader this season at Woodward Park, with Arriaza improving from a 17:59.6 effort during her eighth-place performance in last year’s Division 2 state final.

Neela Whatley of Campolindo | Erik Boal photo

Hutchinson was supported by sophomore Eva Soto (18:50.0) and junior Jane Landon (18:52.3) taking 10th and 11th, respectively, senior Isabel Soto capturing 13th in 18:57.7 and junior Addison Ewers earning 19th in 19:14.6 for Whitney, which was edged by Campolindo by a 38-45 margin in last year’s large school race at Rough Rider.

Clovis East was second Friday at 123 points, Evergreen Valley took third with 129 points, Turlock finished fourth at 134 points, with Bishop Amat achieving fifth at 169 points.

Vacaville junior Khloe DeLaTorre grabbed fourth in 18:19.0, with Evergreen Valley sophomore teammates Nora Carino (18:35.5) and Sivani Kaliki (18:36.0) securing fifth and sixth, respectively.

Ponderosa sophomore Emelyn Angelo was seventh in 18:36.4, Bishop Amat sophomore Madeline Nilo took eighth in 18:36.6, with Monache junior Yazmine Lachino achieving the same mark to grab ninth overall.

Crystal Springs Uplands, the reigning boys and girls Division 5 state champions, received strong individual performances in both small school races and gained valuable team experience competing against Division 2 and 3 schools in preparation for the postseason.

Senior teammates Tarik Baker and Ben Bouie worked together the entire race for the Gryphons in a controlled effort and took the top two spots in the boys small school competition in 15:44.9 and 15:45.1, respectively.

Ben Bouie, left, and Tarik Baker of Crystal Springs Uplands | Erik Boal photo

Oakdale had five scorers in the top 25 to triumph with 50 points, led by seniors Ismael Dominguez (16:10.7) and Jacob Cavanaugh (16:11.0) finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, with junior Parker Whitemeyer (16:15.1) securing seventh.

Lynbrook edged Crystal Springs Uplands by a 75-79 margin for second, with Reedley – featuring a third-place finish from Mauricio Herrera in 16:02.0 – finishing fourth at 105 points.

Brooke Oliveira, a sophomore at Castilleja, overcame unfortunate misdirection on the course at the beginning of the race and near the conclusion of the girls varsity small school competition as well, but still managed to prevail in her Woodward Park debut in 18:32.5.

Anna Salter, a junior at Crystal Springs Uplands, was second in 18:47.4, with Riverbank junior Giselle Fernandez clocking 18:57.0 to take third.

Arianna Diaz, a sophomore at Mt. Whitney, achieved fourth in 19:16.9, Kerman senior Ashley Villafana captured fifth in 19:19.0 and freshman Addison Wylie clocked 19:30.9 to secure sixth and lead Oakdale to a 76-80 victory against Crystal Springs Uplands.

Miramonte took third with 139 points, Lynbrook placed fourth at 150 points and Elk Grove earned fifth with 180 points.