Peurifoy powers way to junior record, No. 3 all-time in meet history

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Cynthia Martin is back with her best friend running cross country.

Lauren Peurifoy could be back at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in December.

And Loyola High isn’t backing down from a challenge at any level following its return to California’s toughest division this season.

RESULTS | PHOTOS | INTERVIEWS

The 38th Mt. Carmel/ASICS Cross Country Invitational showcased the return of Martin, the resources of Loyola and a reminder that Peurifoy could be a Foot Locker All-American if she returns to San Diego in three months for the national championships.

Peurifoy, a junior at Martin Luther King CA who placed 25th at Nike Cross Nationals last season, set the all-time junior record for the 2.75-mile course by clocking 14 minutes, 46.8 seconds to win the Division 1 invitational race.

Only San Diego prep stars Molly Grabill of Rancho Bernardo (14:36) and Alli Billmeyer of Torrey Pines (14:43) – who squared off in a memorable 2010 invitational race – have run faster in meet history than Peurifoy.

La Costa Canyon CA standout Kristin Fahy ran the fastest Division 2 invitational time at 15:05.3, making her the No. 3 junior all-time behind Peurifoy and Grabill’s 14:48 in 2009.

Chaparral’s Cynthia Martin, sidelined all of her sophomore cross country season with a stress fracture in her left ankle, won the Division 1 junior race in 15:59.5, making her one of 10 female athletes to break 16 minutes for the meet.

Martin and teammate Grace Handler, third in 16:45.5, helped Chaparral edge Steele Canyon 47-56 for the junior class victory.

Loyola demonstrated its depth by capturing the Division 1 boys senior, junior and sophomore team titles, along with freshman Zachary Zambrano winning his 2.95-mile race in 16:43.4.

The Cubs also had Anthony Stone and Beikwaw Yankey take the top two spots in the sophomore race in 16:12.4 and 16:25.9, then produced a sweep of the top five spots – Vinnie Giachini, Ethan Stauber, Mason Ratkovich, Roberto Ruelas and Hudson Godfrey all ran from 16:16.4 to 16:18.8 – in the junior race.

Loyola capped the day with Shane Bissell placing fourth in the Division 1 senior/invitational race in 15:23, leading four Cubs – David McAndrews (15:44.7), Brandon Cobian (15:45.6) and Joshua Ma (15:49.9) – under 16 minutes in a 49-93 victory over Roosevelt CA, which rested more than half its lineup. Tyler Spencer (15:18.9) and Raymon Ornelas (15:20.8) were second and third for the Mustangs.

Thomas Cain of Cibola AZ won the Division 1 invitational race in 15:18.4, surging past Spencer and Ornelas in the final 300 meters to produce the fastest time of the day.

Del Norte CA senior Jaron Farnham won the Division 2 invitational race in 15:20.4 to hold off Mt. Carmel standout Samuel Boone (15:22.1) and Serra CA star Anthony Benitez (15:22.4), three of the 27 boys performances under 16 minutes for the meet.

Loyola had 13 of the top 50 performances overall, with Division 2 invitational winner Mt. Carmel producing four.

Rancho Bernardo took top honors in the Division 2 invitational girls competition and produced four of the top 50 performances overall.

Canyon Crest Academy, the Division 1 invitational winner, also had four top 50 efforts.

La Costa Canyon, the top team in San Diego, rested senior leader McKenna Brown and finished third overall behind Rancho Bernardo and Canyon Crest Academy. The Mavericks had junior twins Garrett Stanford (15:23.6) and Jacob Stanford (15:31.2) both finish in the top 10 overall, taking fourth and fifth in the Division 2 invitational boys race.

Salpointe Catholic AZ was the only school with two of the top 10 individual girls performances. Zoey Delgado won the Division 2 sophomore race in 15:57.4 and senior Ana Alvarez-Tostado placed fourth in the invitational race in 15:51.8.