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Austin Tamagno holds up his first place medal after setting the course record at Mt. SAC on Saturday.
Austin Tamagno holds up his first place medal after setting the course record at Mt. SAC on Saturday.
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WALNUT – The run that Brea Olinda’s Austin Tamagno is on can only be described as Herculean.

Just one week after dominating the field at the Orange County Championships, Tamagno added to his medal count by breaking the course record Saturday at the 67th Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational.

The Wildcats junior completed the 3-mile, three-hill course in 14:23 to eclipse the nine-year-old record of 14:24 that was previously held by Diego Mercado of West Covina.

“It’s an amazing feeling. I knew it was going to take a lot out of me to get this record,” Tamagno said excitedly. “I know a lot of prestigious guys have run on this course. To be at the top of that list, it’s a blessing.”

The day started with tremendous buzz, as crowds filed in to see the matchup of Tamagno versus Loyola of Los Angeles’ top runner Robert Brandt.

Tamagno and Brandt found themselves challenged by a third runner. Big Bear’s Caleb Webb, the top-ranked runner in Division 4, pushed the favorites as the three raced shoulder-to-shoulder as they arrived at the 2-mile mark.

On the final incline (Reservoir Hill), Tamagno made his move, winning the race handily over Arcadia’s Phillip Rocha (14:31).

“I just picked it up. I knew I was going to hurt,” Tamagno said. “I wanted to win. It had to be done, and I’ve made my move there many times and it’s worked.”

Brea Olinda also won the Division 3 boys team title (76-144 over Yorba Linda) Friday, with Austin Shellito (15:13) grabbing the top individual honor for the Wildcats.

Brea Olinda coach Jeremy Mattern believes that the Wildcats’ success across the board is a credit to the team’s depth.

“It’s a special couple of days. I’m very proud of the kids,” the Wildcats coach said of his team’s performance at the meet. “It’s great to have a group of at least two or three other guys who believe that they can go out and be contenders for wins when they do not have their superstar teammate in the race.”

The No. 1 Capistrano Valley girls team was competing without Rebecca Deitch, but the Cougars still captured the top Division 2 time at Mt. SAC. Deitch, a regular in the Cougars’ scoring five was nursing a hip injury.

Capistrano Valley girls coach Ken Sayles hoped that his team could remain healthy and still put up a competitive time. He came out of Saturday’s meet thrilled.

“I thought we might be able to still be healthy, run a good race, and still do the three team goals: best league, best county, best Division 2,” Sayles said of racing without Deitch. “We pulled those things off. I’m ecstatic about it. It all worked.”

Ashley Licata’s time of 17:38 led all Division 2 runners in the team competition. Grace Schafer, Haley Herberg, Mikaela Mulhall, and Kayla Tresser completed the scoring quintet as the Cougars defeated Serrano, 63-79.

Trabuco Hills finished fourth in the Division 1 girls team competition. The Mustangs placed four runners in the top 25. Sabrina Herrmann’s fourth place finish (17:59) led Trabuco Hills.

The Dana Hills girls took sixth place in the Division 1 sweepstakes, with Sienna Serrao’s 18:15 mark pacing the Dolphins.