By Leonard COUTIN

The Mt. SAC Cross-country Annual Invitational, sponsored by Brooks, celebrated its 70th year last weekend at one of the most famous cross-country courses in the United States. Although the three-mile course had to be altered due to the remodeling of the Hilmer Lodge Stadium, which has always hosted the finish line, the changes were small but effective. This year’s Invitational was limited to only 10,000 runners and due to this only 150 school received invitations.
The biggest change of the course was a new finish line mark, which was on the airstrip where the athletes started and ended their race. Each year, the Mt. SAC Invitational gives runners the chance to compete against the best runners in Southern California before the CIF finals later in November. The competition exposes the strengths and weaknesses of the teams to better prepare them for CIF.
Mt. SAC has earned its reputation as the place “Where The World’s Best Athletes Compete!” As proof, in 2020, the United States Olympic trials will be held in this state-of-the-art new stadium.
The Falcons elected to send 75 of their finest athletes to participate in nine of the various races. Compared to Great Oak High, which had 88 runners, the Falcons did well in both the varsity sweepstakes and JV champ races this year. A standout runner for CV, which was not a surprise, was Colin FitzGerald.

Over the course of his four years at Crescenta Valley High, FitzGerald has become one of the best-recognized runners by athletes outside the local community. “How can you be so fast?” one of the runners shouted out at the League 2 meet. FitzGerald has the ability to compete with the best and should be able to earn a spot at the CIF state meet with his team this year. Senior Zach Johnson has also gained confidence while keeping a close eye on his lead man.
The Oct. 23 CIF ratings by Rich Gonzalez now lists the Falcon boys in third place, rising two spots from fifth.
CV Falcons scored a major win in Race 37, boys’ divisions 1 & 2. FitzGerald captured an impressive second place running 14:40.1. Teammate Johnson placed ninth with a time of 14:56.8.
The following runners also assisted in contributing to the team’s final score that placed the CV third in the overall stats: Manan Vats placed 21st (15:17.5), Artin Allahverdian, 40th, (15:39.4), Spencer Geck, 45th, (15:44.7), Carter Walch, 80th, (16:13.5), Charles Pingry, 93rd, (16:27.0).

“We ran very well on Saturday at Mt. SAC,” said Falcons coach Mark Evans. “Colin’s time of 14:40 is the fastest of any CV runner at Mt. SAC. Zach Johnson’s 14:56 is third fastest just behind Zach Torres, who ran 14:50, and just ahead of Nathan Sellers’ 14:59. Our team time of 76:16 is the fastest by a CV team ever on the Mt. SAC course and it is the 11th fastest team time ever run on the that course.
“It was great to be in the race and see Loyola for the first time this year. We know what we have to do to close the gap to Loyola and I believe we can run better against them next time. We will also close the gap on Great Oak. The other two major teams we will face in CIF are Roosevelt and Dana Hills. This promises to be a great post season. We need to close the gaps and have our four to five runners closer to our second and third runners.”
Final team score: Great Oak, 40, Loyola, 76, CV, 117, Long Beach Poly, 186, Arcadia, 191
The Falcon girls are now tied for 16th place. Falcon girls entered into Race 36, divisions 1 & 2, individual sweepstakes and scored seventh as a team.

Caitlyn Couch captured seventh running 17:46.6, McKenna Heeg, 26th, (19:37.6), Samantha Moore, 35th, (19:59.0), Gaby Borraez 37th, (20:02.1), Melissa Owens, 47th, (20:37.3), Izzy Lieberman, 72nd, (21:41.8) and Sojeong Kang, 75th, (21:52).
“The girls ran very well. Caitlyn had a great race to get under 18:00 on the course,” said Evans. “McKenna Heeg also had a great race, running in the mid 19:00s her first time on the course. We held out two key runners and believe with them in the race we will be a much stronger team.”
Final team score: West Valley 95, Vacaville 125, Torrey Pines 128, Foot (sa) 138, Consummes Oaks 138, Mt. King 151, CV 152
The Pacific Conference League finals will be at Arcadia on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.