The Monte Vista Invitational - Home of the Eliminator!

The second 'modern' running of the 3200 time trial at SRV brought out the MVXC Varsity runners, as well as a number of FS/JV teammates to test their fitness against the clock and other league runners.  Granada and host school SRV joined the Mustangs today.  Only two heats - one girls, one buys - were contested.  Up first, the Girls took off fast, with the entire pack coming through the first lap in sub-12 pace!  Sr Chloe Wood charged out to set the early pace, with a Granada runner on her outside shoulder.  Soph Nicole Aha was close behind, with the rest of the Mustangs settling into their pace.  With a first 1600 of 5:51, the coaches and runners knew that a sub 12 was certainly possible (last year, only league champion Diana George broke 12).  With two laps to go, Nicole moved up front to push the pace, but the Granada runner and Chloe would not let up.   At the end, Laura Jansen of Granada (qualified for NCS in the 3200 last year) sprinted home for 1st, but both Chloe and Nicole dug deep and powered home easily under the 12 minute mark!  Close behind, Brett Zorich - running her first workout since league - steadily moved up and ended up in a solid time of 12:21 - a big PR from her only other track 3200 last year!  Kimmy, Anna, Kaitlin and new NCS Alternate Kelly Peterson all ran solid times.  Sr Kristen Hugo (a hurdler in track) rounded out the MV field.

The Boys race was crazy from the start.  SRV's Jason Silva broke to the lead and pushed the pace fast from the front, with MV's Harry Nunns close behind.  A few steps back, the main chase pack jockeyed for position, with runners 3 across heading into the turns.  By the 1600, it was clear that a sub 10 performance was not only possible, the question was "by how many?"  With the torrid pace, the race began to string out, with Bhavik Kanzaria moving up to Silva's shoulder, and the MV Varsity pack of Mike, Harry, Dustin, Danny and Connor right there.  With two laps to go, Bhavik put the hammer down, slowing pulling away from the field, and an intense last lap brought him to the line in a personal best 9:40.6 time - bettering his NCS Meet of Champions pace last spring!  Silva hung on for second in a PR of 9:47.  In an amazing display of depth, Jr Mike Roderick, Sr Harry Nunns and Sr Dustin Harris all came through the line in sub 10 times as well.  Harry was over a minute faster than his 11 minute time a year ago!  800 meter runner Danny Bartz completed his first ever track 3200 in an impressive 10:07 clocking, while Jr Connor Donley was right behind in 10:08!  Sr Clinton McAdams got off to a slow start, but starting picking people off towards the end, and finished in a solid 10:18 time.   NCS Alternate Alex Morris was next across, with 'volunteer' MVXCers Michael Garraventa, Chris Hassoon, Vincent Kot, Eric Bergquest, Evan Chan and Colton Anderson joining the morning fun!

Great job to all - you are ready to go at NCS!!