RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – St. Francis senior Daphne Witherell bested all runners with a winning time of 11 minutes, 11.83 seconds in the fourth and fastest two-mile heat of Cordova's HOKA Invitational Saturday. She finished more than seven seconds faster than her nearest competitor, McClatchy's Louisa McNatt.
Although considered part of the cross country season, the HOKA ONE ONE Postal Nationals are a series of track meets conducted around the country throughout the season. All runners compete in the same event – the two-mile run – then results are aggregated into standings and rankings at the end of the year. The Cordova site featured four girls' heats, with the fourth being the fastest of the day.
Witherell was one of five Troubadours to break the 12-minute barrier, all in that fourth race. Paige Quigley finished third at 11:21.50, with Kayla Towne close behind in fourth at 11:24.54. Grace Dunham then placed eighth (11:43.08), with Ryann Strawn crossing in 11th (11:54.56). The fast heat was dominated by St. Francis, with Emma Dobson (12:29.13), Remi Vrilakas (12:46.11) and Pamela Vargas (13:11.76) part of the 17-person field.
Junior Kelsey Sutch led the Troubies in the third heat with a fifth-place 12:31.06. Stella Davenport (13:51.61) and Anita White (13:54.45) finished 11th and 12th, respectively, to pace St. Francis in Heat 2. The day's opening race had the largest delegation of Troubies, with Lucie Pickering Pick placing seventh at 14:34.57, almost a minute after than her closest teammate in the race.
The national rankings are hosted at www.hokaoneonepostalnationals.com.
St. Francis cross country returns to action on October 22 for one of the area's premier prep meets, the Flat SAC Invitational at Gibson Ranch. The girls' large-school frosh-soph race is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., with varsity at 10:55 a.m. and junior varsity at 1:10 p.m.
2022 CORDOVA HOKA INVITATIONAL
Cordova High School (Rancho Cordova, Calif.)
All races are two miles • Heat winner plus SFHS finishers listed
GIRLS' HEAT 1 - Emma Ralli, Granite Bay, 13:10.16… 7. Lucie Pickering Pick, 14:34.57; 14. Jordan Brace, 15:20.25; 18. MacKenzie Olmstead, 15:51.87; 20. Evelyn McNearney, 15:53.85; 26. Olivia Charles, 16:47.87; 27. Bianca Espanola, 16:48.15; 33. Tiana Smith, 17:46.90; 34. Grace Mastagni, 18:11.41; 37. Adeline McKrell, 18:31.85; 40. Sonalika Prasad, 19:23.12; 42. Alexandria Reznikoff, 19:38.69; 44. Hailey Ritter, 22:19.72.
GIRLS' HEAT 2 - 1. Zoe Corder, Bella Vista, 12:21.04… 11. Stella Davenport, 13:51.61; 12. Anita White, 13:54.45; 15. Ashlyn Smith, 14:03.59; 17. Zoe Smith, 14:07.83; 19. Lena Schnack, 14:31.49; 20. Kyra Lueras, 14:35.02; 21. Sierra Lesniewski, 14:46.74; 24. Chloe Harrison, 15:06.24; 25. Ashley Sexauer, 15:14.13; 27. Anna Harrison, 15:52.76; 28. Rebecca Mochel, 16:02.60.
GIRLS' HEAT 3 - 1. Tessa Vasquez, Folsom, 11:54.39… 5. Kelsey Sutch, 12:31.06; 10. Chloe' Hickey, 13:06.26; 12. Magdalena Becerril, 13:11.03; 17. Amelia Bell, 13:58.19; 20. Mykaela Le, 14:25.65; 21. Sarah Charles, 14:59.63.
GIRLS' HEAT 4 - 1. Daphne Witherell, St. Francis, 11:11.83… 3. Paige Quigley, 11:21.50; 4. Kayla Towne, 11:24.54; 8. Grace Dunham, 11:43.08; 11. Ryann Strawn, 11:54.56; 14. Emma Dobson, 12:29.13; 16. Remi Vrilakas, 12:46.11; 17. Pamela Vargas, 13:11.76.
