Palo Alto’s Amaya Bharadwaj and Viewpoint’s Olly O’Connor secure championship victories at ASICS Clovis Invitational

FRESNO – Amaya Bharadwaj and Olly O’Connor had experienced similar journeys in their prep cross country careers prior to competing Friday at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Although they were both returning all-state competitors in California, Bharadwaj – a senior at Palo Alto High – and Viewpoint School senior O’Connor were often upstaged last season, especially on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park.

Bharadwaj was the second-fastest athlete on her own team, trailing senior Kinga Czajkowska, and O’Connor was the fastest junior last year in Division 5, but found himself pursuing four of the elite competitors in state history.

With the addition of the Carlo Prandini girls championship race and Steve Ward boys championship competition added to Friday’s schedule at the two-day showcase, Bharadwaj and O’Connor had the spotlight all to themselves on the opening day of the meet at Woodward Park.

O’Connor elevated to the No. 3 all-time boys performer in Division 5, with Bharadwaj ascending to the No. 7 female athlete in Division 2 history to secure victories in the marquee races.

O’Connor ran 14 minutes, 47.5 seconds, relying on a strong second half of the race to pull away from Andres Lomeli of Kimball, who clocked 14:59.6 in the Steve Ward boys championship.

Andres Lomeli of Kimball, left, and Olly O’Connor from Viewpoint, right, were the only competitors to eclipse the 15-minute barrier on the first day at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational on the 5-kilometer layout in Fresno | Photo courtesy of ASICS Clovis Invitational

West Torrance had five athletes in the top 40 and achieved the team victory with 101 points, followed by Foothill Technology at 115 points, Oak Park with 157 points, Agoura at 182 points and St. Mary’s Berkeley with 203 points.

All five scorers for West Torrance ran produced sub-16 efforts, accumulating a team time of 78:43.

West Torrance produced five competitors in the top 40 to win the first Steve Ward boys championship race in meet history at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno | Photo courtesy of ASICS Clovis Invitational

Bharadwaj also produced an impressive final mile to triumph in the Carlo Prandini girls championship in 17:03.8, with Brooke Lee from Archie Williams securing second in 17:18.4.

St. Francis Sacramento prevailed in a showdown of Division 3 programs against Santa Margarita, relying on five competitors in the top 35 to triumph by a 92-109 margin.

St. Francis had all five scorers clock 18:40.6 or faster, contributing to a 91:42 team time.

St. Francis Sacramento relied on five scorers in the top 35 to secure the team title in the first Carlo Prandini girls championship race showcased in meet history at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno | Photo courtesy of ASICS Clovis Invitational

Archie Williams, competing without returning Division 4 all-state honoree Ani Stieg, took third with 121 points, Oak Park was fourth at 125 points and Larkspur Redwood earned fifth with 130 points.

O’Connor, who trails only Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian at 14:32.5 and Landon Pretre from Menlo School (14:38.8) in Division 5 history, won for the second year in a row at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, clocking 15:14.9 to take the top spot in his varsity section last season.

O’Connor finished fifth in the Division 5 state final at Woodward Park in 15:05.8, before eclipsing the 15-minute barrier for the first time on the 5-kilometer course to ascend among the top 15 boys efforts in meet history.

Although O’Connor and Lomeli were the only athletes to produce sub-15 efforts Friday, there were 13 male competitors to run under 15:30.0.

Alijah Murillo from Branham took third in 15:02.6, Kiefer Wilcox of Tahoe-Truckee finished fourth in 15:04.1 and Ryan Fitzpatrick from The Nueva School – 10th last year in the Division 5 state final – placed fifth in 15:05.9.

Dorian Bening of Agoura secured sixth in 15:11.8, David Coisson from Galena High in Nevada was seventh by clocking 15:22.3, the same time awarded to Arizechukwu Nwosu of Oaks Christian for eighth, with Emmanuel Lopez from Servite grabbing ninth in 15:22.9 and Dylan Mehnert leading West Torrance to the team win by capturing 10th in 15:24.2.

Vin Krueger of Oaks Christian (15:25.0), Maury Young from Ocean View (15:26.5) and Michael Scarince of South Pasadena (15:27.0) also achieved sub-15:30 performances.

Bharadwaj, who improved from 17:34.6 with her fourth-place finish at last year’s Division 2 state final, led 12 female competitors under the 18-minute barrier, including four athletes producing sub-17:30 efforts.

Amaya Bharadwaj from Palo Alto won the Carlo Prandini girls championship race in 17:03.8 at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational, improving to the No. 7 all-time girls competitor in California Division 2 on the 5-kilometer course at Woodward Park in Fresno | Photo courtesy of ASICS Clovis Invitational

Bharadwaj also elevated among the top 15 female performances in meet history, regardless of division.

Lee improved from running 18:56.8 at last year’s Division 4 state final, continuing to strengthen her case for the most improved female athlete in the state this season.

Giselle Fernandez from Riverbank took third in 17:23.6, Kamilah Salim of West Torrance – the leader at the mile mark – placed fourth in 17:25.6, freshman Alyssa Gutierrez helped St. Francis Sacramento to the team win by achieving fifth in 17:30.1, Gioia Coudriet from Galena High in Nevada secured sixth in 17:42.5, Carol Dye helped Santa Margarita by capturing seventh in 17:43.1, Brenna Mannion of Vista del Lago earned eighth in 17:50.3, Sydney Middleton from Larkspur Redwood grabbed ninth in 17:51.4 and Gelila Hailu of Leigh grabbed 10th in 17:51.9.

Isabella Ramos from Point Loma (17:56.4) and Amelia Sarkisian of Brentwood (17:58.5), the reigning California Division 5 girls state champion, also achieved sub-18 efforts.

Sarkisian ran 18:12.1 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational last season, before capturing the Division 5 state crown in 17:31.8 at Woodward Park.

Maggie de la Rionda from Thousand Oaks was victorious in the Division 4 girls varsity race in 18:11.0, followed by Stella Newman from Burlingame in 18:26.3 and Taylor Wellersdick of Chico in 18:27.4.

Elk Grove had five athletes in the top 60 to edge Thousand Oaks by a 145-152 margin, with Maria Carrillo taking third at 156 points.

Eliana Huerta of Albany prevailed in 18:21.0, going head to head in a battle of promising against Quinn Turner from Mission Viejo (18:23.5) in the Division 5 girls varsity race, with Eleni Keriotis of Nevada Union finishing third in 18:26.8.

St. Ignatius had six competitors in the top 50 to earn the team win with 121 points, just ahead of Placer at 127 points, with Turner contributing to Mission Viejo placing third following a 150-point performance.

Catherine Ruppert of St. Mary’s Berkeley improved by more than two minutes from last season to win the Division 6 girls varsity race in 19:08.7, followed by Madison Siebert from Fresno Christian clocking 19:22.4 and Ariya Kaushek of Menlo School running 19:25.4 for third.

Piedmont relied on six athletes in the top 35 to triumph with 95 points, Hughson was runner-up at 114 points and Ruppert helped St. Mary’s Berkeley achieve third with 132 points.

Hayes Terry from Beyer was victorious in the Division 4 boys race in 15:39.6, holding off Cole Johnson of South Torrance in 15:42.4 and Michael Ervin from Windsor running 15:52.6 for third.

St. John Bosco had six competitors in the top 45 and won with 116 points, Larkspur Redwood placed second at 134 points, with Terry leading Beyer to a third-place effort with 183 points.

Silas Aberer was the only varsity competitor to celebrate both individual and team victories Friday, running 15:30.3 to take top honors in the Division 5 boys race and helping Burroughs Ridgecrest produce five competitors in the top 55 to prevail with 102 points.

Silas Aberer was the only varsity athlete to secure both individual and team victories at the 46th ASICS Clovis Invitational, helping Burroughs Ridgecrest prevail with 102 points in the Division 5 boys competition by running 15:30.3 at Woodward Park in Fresno | Erik Boal photo

St. Ignatius was second with 135 points and Tamalpais took third at 155 points.

Declan Mansbridge of Flintridge Prep edged Jonah Vasquez from Cathedral in a thrilling finish to the Division 6 race by a 15:31.3 to 15:32.7 margin. Cristian Hoover of Fresno Central took third in 15:41.3.

Ontario Christian showcased five athletes in the top 45 to win with 103 points, as St. Margaret’s took runner-up at 124 points and Mansbridge contributed to Flintridge Prep finishing third with 139 points.