44th Woodbridge Cross Country Classic Sees Thrilling Finishes
The 44th Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, held at Great Park in Irvine, witnessed exciting performances from top athletes. In the Bob Day Girls Sweepstakes race, Lily Alder of Timpview (Utah) edged out La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey in the final yards, securing the win with a time of 15:40 flat. This victory marks a significant improvement for Alder, who placed third in 2024 with a time of 15:28.9, just seven-tenths of a second behind runner-up Dailey.
Jaelyn Williams of Chula Vista Eastlake took third place with a time of 15:52, while Irvine’s Summer Wilson finished fourth individually in 15:54.1. Wilson, a senior committed to Duke, reflected on her performance, stating, “My coach told me I could go 15:39 and I know I’m a lot better than I performed today. I found myself leading in the first two miles but my strength is my kick, so in retrospect it would’ve been smarter to stay back.” Wilson’s former school, JSerra, won the team title with 196 points.
Meet Records and Notable Performances
Corona Santiago’s Rylee Blade, now a freshman at Florida State, set the meet record of 15:20.3 last fall. Her former Sharks teammate, Arkansas-bound senior Braelyn Combe, who won the state 1,600-meter title in the spring, finished seventh on Saturday with a time of 16:11.1. In the Doug Speck Boys Sweepstakes, Herriman (Utah) senior Jackson Spencer secured the win with a time of 13:42.1, leading the Mustangs to their fourth straight team championship.
Oak Park (203) won the Gold Varsity A boys race, with Canyon Country Canyon senior Owen Souther finishing second individually in 14:41.8. Norwalk senior Leo Diaz won the Gold Varsity B race with a time of 14:50.3, while El Toro took second in the team standings with 228 points. Joaquim Sandoval, a junior from Warren, emerged victorious in the Blue Varsity B boys race with a time of 14:28.6, stating, “I’m feeling pretty good” after the race.
Gold Varsity A and B Girls Races
Oaks Christian senior Delaney Napierala achieved a personal best of 17:01.6, outlasting Jenna Murray of Moorpark (17:03.8) to win the Gold Varsity A girls race. In the Gold Varsity B race, Westlake freshman Sabina Cruz edged Autumn Banks of Tahoe-Truckee by one second with a time of 16:50.7, pacing the Warriors to the team title. These impressive performances demonstrate the athletes’ dedication and hard work, making the 44th Woodbridge Cross Country Classic a memorable event.
For more information on the 44th Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, including full results and athlete interviews, visit Here
Image Source: www.latimes.com
