Palmdale Highland’s Donis clocks 14:36.8 on 3-mile course, with Corona Santiago’s Blade rallying to triumph in 17:13.5 to lead team to runner-up effort behind Great Oak, which also captures Division 1-2 boys and girls varsity team titles

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Ken Martinez photos

POMONA – A new venue brought more of a festival atmosphere Saturday night for the ASICS Cool Breeze Invitational at the Pomona Fairplex.

And just like the variety of food and beverage options for all those watching the annual cross country event under the lights, there were also a wide range of performances that thrust several athletes and teams into the spotlight on the first weekend of competition in Southern California.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS by Ken Martinez

There was the established tradition of Great Oak, beginning its second year under coach Tammy Draughon by winning the team titles in both the boys and girls varsity Sundown Showdown races.

There were new arrivals, with Newbury Park freshman Sophia Grant emerging victorious in her high school debut in the Division 1-2 varsity race, along with Calabasas junior Arielle McKenzie – a La Canada transfer – also winning in her first competition for the Coyotes, as she prevailed in the Division 3-4-5 varsity race.

And then there was the presence of rising stars Matthew Donis of Palmdale Highland and Rylee Blade of Corona Santiago, capturing the Sundown Showdown individual crowns on the flat 3-mile layout that showcased a pair of 1.5-mile loops.

Donis, a senior, clocked 14 minutes, 36.8 seconds, turning a two-second advantage at the midway point into a runway victory.

Six competitors eclipsed the 15-minute barrier, including Los Angeles Cathedral junior teammates Emmanuel Hernandez (14:50.4) and Emmanuel Perez (14:54.2) finishing second and fourth, helping the Phantoms place second behind Great Oak by an 86-127 margin.

Great Oak had five athletes in the top 30, but its top finisher was Gabriel Rodriguez (15:08.5) taking 13th overall.

Billie Issa of West Ranch took third in 14:52.0, maintaining contact with Donis for the first half, with Corona Santiago’s Van Fliek finishing fifth in 14:54.9 and Hart’s Owen Ahten securing sixth in 14:58.8.

Dylan Deloyola just missed for Corona Santiago by earning seventh in 15:00.2, as the Sharks were fifth overall with 139 points, right behind third-place Torrey Pines at 134 points and Tesoro with 138 points.

Blade, a sophomore, made up a seven-second deficit in the latter half of the race, rallying to triumph in 17:13.5 and elevate the Sharks to a runner-up performance behind Great Oak by a 110-112 margin.

Great Oak was led by Kelli Gaffney grabbing ninth in 17:47.3, leading five athletes in the top 30 for the Wolfpack. Corona Santiago had four competitors place among the first 25 finishers, but its fifth scorer wasn’t in the top 50 overall.

Maya DeBrouwer, a sophomore at La Canada, moved well in the second half of the race and secured second in 17:14.8, helping the Spartans – who also had Katelyn Matarese grab seventh place in 17:43.0 – take third with 122 points.

Shadow Hills senior Marjourie Lopez produced a significant career breakthrough by eclipsing the 18-minute barrier for the first time. Lopez, the leader at the midway point, took third in 17:17.9.

Viewpoint senior JiaLian Mackey, the reigning CIF-Southern Section Division 5 champion, finished fourth in 17:20.0, one year after prevailing in the Division 3-4-5 varsity race at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.

Denise Chen was fifth in 17:24.5 for host Claremont, which earned eighth with 253 points.

Grant, younger sister of Oaks Christian transfer Elyse Grant, prevailed in her prep debut for Newbury Park by clocking 18:28.8 in the Division 1-2 girls varsity race to pull away from Great Oak senior Joelle Upshur (18:34.1) on the second loop.

Upshur led five Wolfpack competitors in the top 10 to lift Great Oak to victory with 23 points.

McKenzie triumphed in the Division 3-4-5 girls varsity race in 18:09.0, with Yorba Linda senior Sydney Rome placing second in 18:20.5.

St. Lucy’s edged St. Margaret’s by a 102-111 margin to secure the team victory, with Yorba Linda finishing third with 113 points.

Great Oak added another victory in the Division 1-2 boys varsity race, with senior Logan Carter holding off teammate Michael Rodriguez by a 15:41.9 to 15:42.2 margin in an intense sprint finish to highlight five Wolfpack competitors in the top six overall and capture the team plaque with 18 points.

La Habra Sonora senior Alexandro Vielma was victorious in the Division 3-4-5 boys varsity race in 15:28.7, with Los Angeles Franklin senior Francisco Rodriguez placing second in 15:35.3.