Oakdale, Matilda Torres cross country teams in fast company at Golden Eagle Invitational

The Oakdale High boys cross country team felt snubbed last year when it wasn’t admitted to the Clovis Asics Invitational, then went on to capture the Division III state championship.

The Matilda Torres boys team, in its fourth year of existence, wanted to run with the big dogs at last Friday’s 20th Golden Eagle Invitational at Woodward Park but didn’t get in. Instead, its runners were relegated to the varsity small schools division.

Those two teams dominated in the small school division, with Oakdale capturing the Clovis West meet title 26-37 over runner-up Matilda Torres. The Oakdale and Matilda Torres runners posted six of the fastest times Friday on the 5-kilometer course.

“We didn’t really come here to win. We just came here to see where we’re at and get experience for Ismael (Domíguez) and hopefully get him on track,” said Oakdale head coach Víctor Moreno, who welcomed back two top runners from the state title team: Omar Alsaidi and Jackson Olveira, both seniors this season.

Olveira turned in a winning 15:42.94 to win on Friday, just ahead of Matilda Torres sophomore Hunter Hannah (15:43.64).

The Mustangs also counted on Alsaidi (third, 15:54.97), Mason Oliveira (fourth, 15:56.26), junior Jacob Cavanaugh (ninth, 16:37.03), and Domínguez (12th, 16:54.09). Mason Oliveira missed last cross country season after getting hit by a bus. Domínguez transferred to Oakdale from Gregori High (Modesto).

“We didn’t have the best day today. I know there’s probably going to be people out there looking at our times today and say, ‘Oh man, they ran kind of slow,’” said Moreno. “Hey, it’s hot. We had a tough workout on Wednesday, and I didn’t want them to run fast today.”

Moreno, in his tenth year at Oakdale, expects Jacob Oliveira “to be right up there with the top guys in the state at the end of the year.” He is Mason’s twin brother.

“Those guys put in the work, they put in the miles, they put in the time and it’s showing,” said Moreno.

Oakdale runners account for four of the seven-fastest times in the Sac-Joaquín Section.

Moreno hopes a state title and a win over a highly ranked Matilda Torres school can get Oakdale into the Clovis Asics sweepstakes division on Oct. 7.

“We are planning on it,” said Moreno about the Asics meet. “We haven’t heard whether or not we’re going to get in the championship race.

“Last year we got snubbed. They didn’t let us in, and I think they should have. Hopefully they see us as a top contender and let us in.”

Matilda Torres, sixth in Division IV at last year’s state meet, has a young team that is the Central Section’s top-ranked team in Division III.

Sophomore Benjamín Fernández – 21st at the state meet on the same Woodward course at 15:53.8 – settled for sixth (16:10.61) behind sophomore teammate Hunter Hannah (second, 15:43.64). They were followed by junior Noah Félix Andrade (seventh, 16:22.05) and senior Ozzy Hernández (10th, 16:49.0).

Parlier senior Evan Torres was fifth in 16:09.09, and Fresno High senior Tyler Speir was eighth in 16:28.51.

“I wanted to stay with the Oakdale kids on the front end, and ran a fast first mile,” said Hunter, who stayed within sight of Jackson Oliveira throughout the race.

“My goal today was to run sub-16 because I had a 16:30 as a freshman,” he said.

Hunter said it was nice running against Oakdale. “You see your competition; you get to experience what they’re like before you go into state.”

Clovis East boys dominate

Led by the section’s top runner, senior Carter Spradling, Clovis East ran away with the large school title. The Timberwolves scored 37 points to outdistance runner-up Clovis High, 37-77. Spradling timed 15:46.6 as the next four teammates placed in the top 11.

“This race was to help my teammates,” said Spradling. “I wanted to win, but the big goal was winning as a team. We did that.”

Paso Robles junior Tyler Daillak was second in 15:51.07, followed by Clovis High senior Jason Morales (16:09.09), Sanger senior Daniel Galvez (16:11.83), and Roosevelt senior Isaac Medina (16:34.38).

Spradling said he was aiming for the top spot rather than shooting for time.

“It takes a lot of guts to lead from start to finish,” he said. “I didn’t really care about the time today.”

Sanger’s Allan takes girls race

Clovis West sat out its top runners, leaving the field open to teams like Clovis High and Clovis East to battle for the top spot. Clovis High won with 36 points to Clovis East’s 47.

Sanger had three runners among the first five, but didn’t field enough for a full team.

Sanger sophomore Kinsley Allan won in 19:57.82, while teammates Zowie Hernández (fourth, 20:50.73) and Genoveva Vaca (fifth, 20:59.38) contributed.

Clovis High was led by Jaslín Arana (second, 20:28.31), Izzy Fielding (third, 20:40.9), and Priscilla Navarro (eighth, 21:23.34).

Sanger head coach Sean Marzolf held out three of his top runners due to either illness or injury. He will rely on a healthy squad if Sanger is to break into the top three in Division I and qualify for state.

“Our goals going into this year was to win our league (CMAC) and make the state meet,” said Marzolf, admitting it will be tough to get past top-ranked Buchanan, Clovis North and other contenders like San Luis Obispo and Clovis West.

Sanger girls, just like the boys, were elevated to Division I in 2021.

Marzolf was pleased with Allan’s race.

“She looked strong all the way through,” he said. “Her calf has been kind of tight lately, so we’re keeping a close eye on that.”

He was also pleased with sophomore Angelic Velásquez, who won the junior varsity race. “She ran that first mile really smart and just kept the leaders in her sights and closed really well,” said Marzolf.

In the small team varsity race, Matilda Torres senior Sophia Mirelez won in 19:42.6, ahead of Taft Union senior Maya Katz (19:58.26).

Mirelez was hoping to break 19 minutes, but was happy with her result.

“I felt good and stayed in front,” said Mirelez. “No one passed me the entire race.”

Oakdale, which was led by sophomore Bradie Evans (sixth, 21:21.72) and junior Audry Scott (seventh, 21:33.0) won the team title with 76 points, ahead of Wasco (85 points).

Buchanan girls, boys dominate in Visalia

A week after a third-place finish in the Woodbridge Classic, the section’s top-ranked girls team breezed to first in the 50th Douglas P. Rudolf Invitational at Mooney Grove Park.

Junior Elle Lomelí took first in 17:24.4 as Buchanan took the first four places, and six of the first seven. Buchanan totaled 16 points to defeat runner-up Immanuel (61 points).

The Buchanan boys, also top-ranked in the Central Section, rolled to a 34-59 win against Monache in a 12-team field.

El Diamante senior Devin Ibarra won the individual title in 15:20.85.