A pair of Marina runners stole the spotlight on the first night of racing at the nation’s largest high school evening cross country meet.
Vikings senior Laura Hollander and junior Richie Soto produced the fastest overall individual times to highlight the first night at the 31st annual Woodbridge Cross Country Invitational Friday night at Estancia High.
Hollander crossed the finish line of the Red Division 3 varsity race in a time of 17:17, 19 seconds ahead of Esperanza senior Hannah Bell (17:36) who placed second.
Marina junior Kylie Nishisaka (17:37) was third.
The Vikings (35 points) easily won the varsity team competition, as they had five runners place amongst the top 16 in the race.
South Hills (136) was second, while Canyon (158), Esperanza (167), and El Dorado (168) rounded out the top four.
In the White Division 4 varsity race, Corona del Mar senior Ashlee Powers (17:31) finished second behind Bonita junior Marissa Scott (17:25).
Bonita (109 points) edged Corona del Mar (111) for first place in the team competition.
On the boys’ side, Soto was the lone runner to finish the Red Division 3 senior race in sub-15 minutes, coming across the finish line in a time of 14:49. Mission Viejo senior Kyle Cate (15:08) was second.
In the Division 4 senior team competition, Pacifica (98 points) finished first, as four Mariner runners were among the top 35.
Corona del Mar (151 points) placed second. The Sea Kings were led by senior Blake Myers who was third in the race in a time of 15:18.
The invitational resumes Saturday afternoon at 3:50 p.m., culminating in the boys and girls rated and sweepstakes races.
