Wolfpack standouts both win 1,600 and 3,200, with Haley Herberg taking over national lead in mile at APU

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The addition of an invitational double 1,600 meters to the schedule at the 27th New Balance Azusa Meet of Champions Distance Classic allowed Great Oak CA standouts Carlos Carvajal and Tori Gaitan to pull off impressive sweeps along with their 3,200 victories Saturday night at Azusa Pacific University.

Because of the compressed schedule of elite races, most athletes choose to focus only on one distance during the night session at the annual event. But with meet director Tim O'Rourke adding high-caliber boys and girls 1,600 races earlier in the afternoon, it allowed more rest time for those individuals interested in pursuing a second event.

Carvajal and Gaitan took advantage of the opportunities to secure 1,600 victories against smaller fields, before prevailing in the marquee sections of the 3,200 against two of the deepest fields in the country.

INTERVIEWS | BOYS PHOTOS | GIRLS PHOTOS

Gaitan, a sophomore, won her 1,600 in 4:51.59, before returning to produce a national-leading 10:18.79 in the 3,200. Junior teammate Fatima Cortes took second in both in 4:53.21 and 10:25.90, with Ayala CA junior Mikaela Ramirez placing third in both races in 4:57.10 and 10:26.18, as 22 individuals overall broke 11 minutes, including rated race winner Clare Hernandez of Buchanan CA in 10:58.84.

Carvajal prevailed in the 1,600 in 4:13.92, then clocked a state-leading 9:06.10 in the 3,200. Roosevelt CA senior Raymon Ornelas took second in 9:08.36, with 14 athletes running under 9:20.

Capistrano Valley CA senior Haley Herberg, already with a 10:23.17 effort March 10 in the 3,200 at the Irvine/ASICS Invitational, added a national-leading performance in the mile to her impressive resume by clocking 4:53.16.

Village Christian CA freshman Mia Barnett was second in 4:54.83 and Walnut CA junior Chloe Arriaga took third in 4:54.96, followed by Buchanan teammates Meagen Lowe (4:55.54) and Corie Smith (4:58.59), as five athletes had sub-5 performances.

Mira Costa CA senior Xavier Court won the boys invitational mile in 4:15.86 to edge Bakersfield Highland CA senior Moises Medrano (4:16.56), with six individuals running under 4:20.

Saugus CA senior Mariah Castillo, third at Nike Cross Nationals, showed her range by winning the invitational girls 800 in 2:10.68, with Los Alamitos CA senior Delaney Sanacore taking second in 2:11.50. Castillo also placed seventh in the 3,200 in 10:40.25.

Mission Viejo CA senior Brett Hickman won the invitational boys 800 in 1:53.40, the second-fastest time in the state this year.