Capistrano Valley CA senior Herberg smashes all-time girls mark, Dana Hills CA senior Landgraf runs No. 2 boys time in meet history

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Jack Landgraf left a legacy on his home course.

Haley Herberg made history for the second week in a row.

And the record books were also rewritten by several other California standouts Saturday at the 44th Dana Hills Nike Invitational in Dana Point.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS

Landgraf, a Dana Hills senior, became the first male athlete to win three consecutive Division 1 invitational titles, running the No. 2 time in meet history on the 3-mile course at Dana Hills High by clocking 14 minutes, 17.9 seconds to lead five Dolphins in the top 16 in a 39-116 victory over Granada.

Herberg, a Capistrano Valley senior, broke the girls all-time course record in the Division 1 invitational race, clocking 16:15.1 to take down the 2008 mark of 16:33 set by former San Clemente and Stanford talent Alex Dunne.

La Costa Canyon’s Kristin Fahy remained up front throughout the race, before Herberg finally created separation by covering the last 400 meters in 75 seconds. Herberg’s performance came on the heels of running 16:00.6 – No. 5 in meet history – to finish third in the sweepstakes race Sept. 16 at the Woodbridge Classic in Norco, Calif.

Fahy ran 16:16.6, the No. 2 time in meet history and the junior class record, taking down the 1987 standard of 16:35 set by Rancho Buena Vista’s Kira Jorgenson.

After winning the Division 2 freshman competition last season in 18:03.6, Caitlin Cornell of San Diego San Marcos placed fourth in the Division 1 invitational race, setting the sophomore class record of 16:48.4. Cornell improved on the mark of 16:54 set in 1996 by Irvine University’s Allyson Marquand.

Granada’s Colleen McCandless, part of the deepest junior class in California, took third in 16:45.5 for the Matadors, who prevailed by a 54-70 margin over La Costa Canyon in the Division 1 girls team battle. Granada is a podium contender at the state level in Division 2 and La Costa Canyon is among the favorites to win its first Division 3 title in November.

Granada secured its third consecutive invitational victory by having Gracie Dupuis, Kalea Bartolotto and Kinga Bihari join McCandless by finishing in the top 25 to hold off La Costa Canyon, which also had McKenna Brown and Jessica Riedman place in the top 20.

After only two female runners had broken 17 minutes in the past five years, five athletes achieved the feat Saturday, with La Jolla Country Day senior Lexi Watkins placing fifth in 16:57.3, a 59-second improvement from last season. Watkins is a returning all-state performer in Division 5.

Landgraf led 23 male runners under 15 minutes – nearly double the total from last year – including six from Dana Hills, with the Dolphins producing a 34-second gap among their top five after winning the Kaiser Invitational in Hawaii minus Landgraf last week. Landgraf had run 14:28.4 as a sophomore and 14:33.8 last year, before making a significant push at the 1983 meet record of 14:16 set by Pasadena’s Jesus Gutierrez.

Granada’s John Bennett placed second in 14:27.2, holding off Newport Harbor’s Alexis Garcia, who set the all-time junior class record of 14:27.8, breaking the 2002 mark of 14:29 set by Woodbridge’s Michael Haddan. Dana Hills’ Simon Fuller broke Landgraf’s Division 1 junior record placing fifth in 14:32.4.

Stefen Rasmuson of Mira Mesa won for the third consecutive year in Division 2, prevailing in the senior race in 15:03. Anaheim Canyon earned a 111-122 victory over San Juan Hills.

Ali Harper ran 17:56.8 to win the Division 2 senior girls race, helping Rancho Bernardo edge San Marcos by a 73-77 margin. The Broncos also won the Division 2 invitational race Sept. 16 at the Mt. Carmel Invitational at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego.

Mission Viejo sophomore Ashley Johnson ran the fastest time in the Division 2 girls races by clocking 17:24.8. Brawley freshman Jaasiel Contreras posted the top time in the Division 3 girls races at 18:10.9.

Ocean View junior Edwin Montes had the fastest performance in the Division 3 boys races at 15:13.6.