By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Competing against many of the best programs in California didn’t phase the Palisades High boy cross country team Saturday at the Mt. SAC Invitational.
Coach Bob Macias entered his talented squad in the top-level Sweepstakes Race and the Dolphins took 15th place out of 19 teams with a score of 336. Grat Oak of Temecula was first with 54 points, Claremont was second with 147 and West Ranch from Santa Clarita was third with 156.
Senior Jakob Pollack was the Dolphins’ top finisher, completing the twisting three-mile course in 15 minutes, 40 seconds to take 27th place. Burbank Burroughs junior Alexander Hirch was first in 15:05.
Sophomore Brent Smith was Palisades’ second placer at No. 41 in a time of 15:53. Junior Ben Hamer finished two spots behind Smith in 15:54. There was a large gap between Hamer and Palisades’ fourth runner Jake Greanias (16:44), who was 106th. Rounding out the lineup were junior Finn Cawley (17:02), senior Jack Hockley (17:11) and senior Ben Hansen (17:32).
In the girls varsity race, Palisades was 10th out of 19 teams with a score of 231. Torrey Pines won with 91 points, followed by West Ranch and Vacaville, each with 122.
Freshman Sarah Bentley was 13th overall in a field of 125 runners, clocking 19:01. Vacaville sophomore Jaxin Woodward won in 18:29.
Junior Kimia Samandi was Palisades No. 2 runner, placing 18th in 19:17 and sophomore Brittany Darrow was 51st in 20:11. Ninth-grader Elisa Kim finished in 20:33, senior Ariel Pollack clocked 20:57 and senior Shannon Lee finished in 21:22. Not far behind was sophomore Skylar Smith (21:35).
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Palisades took eighth place in the freshman boys race with 233 points. Alec Stewart led the way in 17:40 to take sixth out of 124 runners. Mark Barboza (18:59), Joseph Pollack (19:47), Hunter Steinman (20:02), Patrick Gowen (20:18), Kevin Dominguez (22:04) and Sean Choi (22:31) rounded out the Dolphins’ lineup.
Palisades was fifth in the freshman girls race with a score of 145. Casandra Hernandez was 26th in 23:40, Maya Datwyler was 29th in 23:42 and Quincy Timmerman was 32nd in 24:05. Alicia Sigworth (24:52), Kiara Bremner (27:15) and Maleia Miller (27:34) also contributed.
Palisades’ girls were eighth in the sophomore race, paced by Ellie Schultz (23:43), who was 31st out of 78 runners.
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