Move to Johnson Springview Park produces pair of course records, with Vista del Lago sweeping small school team titles; Buchanan girls, Jesuit boys capture large school championships

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Buchanan CA junior Corie Smith and Del Oro CA freshman Riley Chamberlain weren’t in the same race for the second week in a row, but both delivered dominant performances against their respective competition at the Bella Vista Bronco Invitational.

Jesuit CA senior Colin Ryan and Del Oro senior Brayden McLaughlin also took turns sharing the spotlight Saturday.

And the Vista del Lago CA girls cross country team continued to look every bit of Division 3 state championship contender by showcasing its exceptional depth just in time for the postseason.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Although the annual Northern California event was moved from its usual hilly venue at the Willow Hills Course in Folsom to Johnson Springview Park in Rocklin, the flatter, faster terrain produced 5-kilometer course records for both genders and several impressive team performances.

After Chamberlain and Smith placed second and third in the girls championship race Oct. 6 at the 40th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno, they competed separately Saturday.

Smith and senior teammate Meagen Lowe took the top two spots in the girls large school race, leading Buchanan to a 44-66 victory over St. Francis Sacramento CA. In the championship race at Clovis, St. Francis was second with 166, ahead of Buchanan at 183.

Smith lowered the course record by 38 seconds, running 17:17.25, with Lowe clocking 17:38.64, as Buchanan placed five scorers in the top 20.

Junior Isabella Fauria took third in 18:42.86 for St. Francis, which had three ninth-graders among its usual top seven compete in the freshman/sophomore race. The Troubadours still had four scorers in the top 13 in the varsity race, with freshman Cate Joaquin winning the 3,700-meter race in 13:22.83.

A week after running the No. 5 freshman time in Woodward Park history, Chamberlain prevailed in the girls small school race in 17:43.01, with South Tahoe CA junior Carissa Buchholz taking second in 18:25.11.

But after that, it was all Vista del Lago, with Anna Vogtmann placing third in 18:35.91 to lead eight athletes in the top 17 and all 10 competitors for the Eagles finishing among the first 31 runners in a 21-58 victory over Del Oro.

Vista del Lago had its five scorers in the top 35 overall for the meet, with only Buchanan placing its five in the top 30. Had the races been combined, Buchanan would have prevailed over Vista del Lago by an eight-point margin.

Although there was little drama in either girls varsity competition, the boys races provided plenty of suspense.

Ryan surged past Bella Vista CA senior Damian King in the final 50 meters to prevail by a 15:32.3 to 15:33.6 margin in the large school race. Jesuit, still competing without injured junior Matt Strangio, placed five scorers in the top 13 in a 37-127 victory over Bella Vista.

Ryan’s time held up until the boys small school race, when McLaughlin benefited from the excitement of his recent commitment to Chico State to produce the fastest performance of the meet by setting a course record of 15:32.24, finishing ahead of Placer CA senior Jesus Guerra-Reyes in 15:54.17.

Jonah Petersen placed sixth in 16:52.24 for Vista del Lago, which had five scorers in the top 25 to edge Placer by a 78-87 score for the team title.