IRVINE – Herriman High of Utah winning the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes team title Saturday night at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America is not a surprise, since the Mustangs are the only program in meet history to secure four straight sweepstakes titles.
It was also not a shocking outcome that senior Jackson Spencer was the individual winner on the 3-mile layout in 13 minutes, 42.1 seconds, especially since the Herriman standout was the top returning competitor from last year.
But that didn’t mean the team from Utah couldn’t still produce a pleasant surprise at Orange County Great Park.
One of those was senior Eli Jarvis, who moved up eight places in the final mile to take third (14:01.7).
Jarvis, who contributed to Herriman winning the sweepstakes team crown last season, finished 38th in last year’s race in 14:18.0.
Herriman High of Utah became the first program in meet history to win four consecutive Doug Speck boys sweepstakes titles at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
“It seemed like a bad start at first,” Jarvis said. “There were 50 or 60 guys who just started clumping up in front of me. But then I saw 4:36, 4.37 for the first mile and that was way too fast for the whole group. It gave me motivation that I would have a great race.”
Spencer’s time was the No. 8 mark in meet history and the fastest ever by a Utah athlete, with Jarvis elevating into the top 40 overall at Woodbridge, regardless of venue.
Jackson Spencer of Herriman High in Utah produced the No. 8 performance in meet history by winning the Doug Speck boys varsity sweepstakes race in 13:42.1 at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
“We went into this hoping we could pull out a perfect weekend,” Spencer said. “A perfect weekend being me winning, our team winning, and just having a good time doing it. And we were able to do it. I’m really happy for these guys.”
Herriman had all five scorers in the top 85 and ran 71:54.2 as a team, and all four of the team winning times rank among the top 10 team performances in the event’s history.
Herriman’s 201 points beat out Carmichael Jesuit of California, which led at the 2-mile mark and finished second with 222.
The individual runner up was Somerset Academy Sky Pointe senior Carter Prater, who ran 14:00.1, becoming the fastest runner from Nevada in the event’s history.
Jackson Spencer of Herriman High in Utah produced the No. 8 performance in meet history by winning the Doug Speck boys varsity sweepstakes race in 13:42.1 at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
Zarian Rodriguez from Hamilton High in Arizona achieved fourth in 14:04.5, and Aidan Antonio, a junior from host Woodbridge, earned fifth in 14:06.3.
Utah individuals swept the individual titles as Timpview senior Lily Alder edged out La Jolla senior Chiara Dailey to take home the Bob Day girls sweepstakes title by a 15:40.0 to 15:41.6 margin.
A year ago, Alder finished third in the race in 15:28.9, behind Dailey, who was second in 15:28.2.
“Last year was pretty fast, so I knew this would be similar,” Alder said. “So, I just put myself in the pack and tried to hold on as long as I can. Chiara was a really good competitor, really pushing me to go faster.”
Lily Alder of Timpview High in Utah, right, held off a pair of elite athletes from San Diego in Chiara Dailey of La Jolla, center, and Jaelyn Williams from Chula Vista Eastlake to win the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
Alder became the third female athlete to run 15:40 or faster twice in meet history, joining former Timpview High teammate Jane Hedengren and Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura High in California.
Alder’s effort Saturday ranks No. 8 all-time in the event, with Dailey’s performance at No. 11. A year ago, Dailey ran the No. 2 all-time mark and Alder was No. 3.
The girls sweepstakes team title went for the first time to JSerra High of California, which finished with 193 points, edging out Union Catholic of New Jersey at 200 points.
The Lions’ top finisher was sophomore Kaia Streadbeck, who was 16th (16:36.1), with JSerra and Union Catholic both placing five scorers in the top 75 overall.
“We’ve been practicing really hard,” Streadbeck said. “So we knew we’d come out here and perform. These girls really pushed me and kept me motivated, because I kept in my mind that this is for my team and we’re going to do great.”
Jaelyn Williams of Chula Vista Eastlake in California was making her debut at the meet as a senior and took third in 15:52.2.
Summer Wilson, who previously attended JSerra, finished fourth for Irvine High in 15:54.1.
Union Catholic’s top finisher was junior Paige Sheppard, who finished fifth (15:59.4), producing the fastest time by a New Jersey athlete in event history.
The boys rated race was won by senior Jayden Warner of Warrenton High in Oregon, who finished in 14:17.6, with West Torrance (214) edging out Foothill Technology (219) for the team crown.
Lily Alder of Timpview High in Utah, right, held off a pair of elite athletes from San Diego in Chiara Dailey of La Jolla, center, and Jaelyn Williams from Chula Vista Eastlake to win the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
Nathan Wilber of Cathedral Catholic clocked 14:24.9 to secure second in the rated race, Dorian Bening from Agoura took third in 14:25.2, with Evan Nahuat of Valley View placing fourth in 14:26.0.
The girls rated individual title was won by Vacaville senior Khloe DeLaTorre (16:53.6), with Paige Comstock from Harrison High in Georgia running 16:57.1 for second.
Khloe DeLaTorre from Vacaville High won the girls varsity rated race at the 44th Woodbridge Classic Presented by ASICS America | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
Great Oak won the team title with 174 points, with a lineup composed of three freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and one senior.
Freshman Sabina Cruz of Westlake won her section in gold varsity competition in 16:50.7.
Delaney Napierala from Oaks Christian prevailed in her gold varsity race in 17:01.6.
Emily Bell, a freshman at Rancho Cucamonga, triumphed in her blue varsity section in 17:04.2, with Cricket Phipps from North Eugene High in Oregon running 17:07.7 to achieve victory in her blue varsity race.
Joaquim Sandoval of Warren, a junior, produced a 14:28.6 to earn the win in his blue varsity section, with Tyus Joseph from Helix High clocking 14:35.2 to grab the victory in his blue varsity race.
David Williams of Seton Catholic High in Arizona ran 14:40.2 to take the top spot in his gold varsity competition, with Leo Diaz from Norwalk clocking 14:50.3 to win his gold varsity race.
During Friday’s varsity competition, a pair of California Division 5 standouts won their respective varsity white sections.
Henry Hauser of Menlo School ran 14:22.5 to prevail in his race, with Ryan Fitzpatrick from Nueva School clocking 14:23.5 in his section.
Blake Bay of Fresno Christian and Olly O’Connor from Viewpoint, also California Division 5 all-state competitors, added to the resume of the group by both finishing in the top 10 in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race Saturday.
Bay secured sixth in 14:06.8 and Olly O’Connor earned eighth in 14:07.2.
Kaden Batcheller of Alta Loma triumphed in his red varsity race in 14:44.3, with Oren Hill of Thousand Oaks prevailing in his red varsity section in 14:51.0.
Brynn Davenport from Crater High in Oregon achieved victory in her white varsity section in 16:46.8, with Abigail Collier of Federal Way in Washington running 17:42.6 to secure the win in her white varsity race.
Isabella Ruiz from Ontario produced a 16:49.7 effort to capture the top spot in her red varsity section, with Ellison Williams of Turlock clocking 16:51.0 to emerge victorious in her red varsity race.