Barker becomes first female athlete since Herberg in 2016-17 to repeat, JSerra rebounds following one-point loss last season to Anaheim Canyon; Chantaca edges Noonan to help San Clemente follow five-year Dana Hills reign with two titles

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

SILVERADO – There were repeat victories for Laguna Hills sophomore Holly Barker and the San Clemente High boys team Saturday at the Orange County Cross Country Championships, in addition to the long-awaited first titles for Tritons senior Juan Chantaca the JSerra High girls program.

With a redesigned, flat 3-mile course at Oak Canyon Park creating several fast performances, it played to the strengths of Barker and Chantaca, as well as JSerra and San Clemente, which both accumulated 34 points in their sweepstakes victories.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Chantaca edged Dana Hills sophomore Evan Noonan by a margin of 14 minutes, 26.4 seconds to 14:26.8 to become the first San Clemente athlete to win the sweepstakes crown since Hana Catsimanes captured the girls championship in 2019.

Brett Ephraim, a junior, and senior Rory Catsimanes were third and fourth for San Clemente in 14:28.4 and 14:29.7, respectively, helping the Tritons secure an impressive 34-99 victory against Trabuco Hills.

San Clemente triumphed by a 50-93 margin last year against Capistrano Valley, with the Tritons following the five-year reign of Dana Hills from 2015-19 with consecutive championships of their own. Chantaca, Ephraim and Catsimanes were 10th, 11th and 12th last year in the sweepstakes race for San Clemente.

Pierce Clark, a junior, was 13th in 15:02.0 and senior Grant Sestak finished 15th in 15:04.6 for San Clemente, which also had junior Taj Clark grab 27th in 15:19.8 and freshman Dallin Harrington place 43rd in 15:39.5.

Garrett Hartline of El Toro finished fifth in 14:31.1, Godinez junior Jayden Hernandez secured sixth in 14:31.7, Trabuco Hills sophomore Carsten Williams placed seventh in 14:31.7, Santa Ana senior Jimmy Dominguez earned eighth in 14:35.4, with Kenny Wanlass of Newport Harbor clocking 14:49.2 and fellow senior Caleb McDaniel of Mission Viejo running 14:51.6 to round out the top 10.

Barker, who prevailed last year in 17:14.7 to become the first freshman since Allyson Marquand of Irvine University High in 1995 to secure the girls sweepstakes title, pulled away from the lead pack in the second half of the race to clock 16:51.6 and become the first back-to-back winner since Haley Herberg of Capistrano Valley in 2016-17.

Despite having to stop in the final 600 meters as a result of feeling nauseous, JSerra freshman Summer Wilson rallied to place second in 17:01.5, with sophomore teammate Brynn Garcia taking third in 17:03.6.

JSerra produced a 34-85 victory against Trabuco Hills, with freshman Kaylah Tasser grabbing seventh in 17:28.9, junior Brooke O’Brien placing 14th in 17:47.7 and junior Georgia Jeanneret was 20th in 17:54.9.

It was especially meaningful for JSerra seniors Ellie Johnson (18:20.7) and Cameron Murphy (18:25.9), who placed 31st and 37th, since the Lions were edged 35-36 by Anaheim Canyon in last year’s sweepstakes showdown. JSerra became the first Division 4 program, regardless of gender, in county history to capture a sweepstakes championship.

Even senior Anastasia Snodgrass, a recent Cal Berkeley commit who is expected to return to competition for the Lions during the postseason, was in attendance to celebrate the memorable achievement with her teammates.

Huntington Beach junior Makenzie McRae finished fourth in 17:09.0, Dana Hills senior Allura Markow placed fifth in 17:18.2, Trabuco Hills senior Danica Brinkman secured sixth in 17:23.0, Portola senior Jadyn Zdanavage earned eighth in 17:31.4 and sophomore Dakota Danaher benefited from a big move in the second half of the race to take ninth in 17:40.8, with Santa Ana senior Sarahy Lopez rounding out the top 10 in 17:41.2.

Corona del Mar junior Melisse Djomby Enyawe won the Division 3 girls varsity race Friday in 17:24.6, the eighth-fastest time overall at the meet regardless of section, leading the Sea Queens to a 44-69 victory against Laguna Beach.

Marina junior Ella Murray prevailed in the Division 2 varsity competition Saturday in 17:54.6 to become one of 22 female athletes at the meet to eclipse the 18-minute barrier. Murray helped Marina take third with 129 points, with Portola – despite competing without Zdanavage – still holding off Orange Lutheran by a 99-112 margin.

Savanna junior Matthew Galindo clocked 15:08.0 to emerge victorious in the Division 3 boys varsity race Friday, with Brea-Olinda producing a 52-118 win against Mission Viejo.

Ansh Parashar, a senior at University High in Irvine, triumphed in the Division 2 boys varsity race in 15:16.1, helping the Trojans edge Portola with a 63-69 victory.