Photo By Sam Givner
Four of the country's top distance programs came to Irvine. The Carroll boys beat all of them.
The Dragons, ranked No. 2 in the nation, scored 140 points to capture the school's first-ever Woodbridge Invitational Sweepstakes title, topping nationally-ranked Herriman, San Clemente, Coeur d'Alene, and Crater.
Senior Claudio Auns led the field through the first half mile as the Dragons went through the opening mile in under 4:40. Junior Kai Gutierrez then broke from the chase pack to finish second overall in 13:40, the highest finish ever by a Dragon in this race.
Senior Jaxon Glenn, a United States Military Academy commit, placed 43rd in 14:22, followed by seniors Grant Norgart (45th, 14:24), Auns (54th, 14:29) and Adhavan Palanivelrajan (61st, 14:32). The combined score of those five is the third-fastest in the meet's 45-year history.
Senior Evan O'Donnell (80th, 14:41) and sophomore Cameron Perez (124th, 14:57) rounded out the lineup.
The girls placed 23rd with 531 points. Senior Abigail Perez, making her season debut, led Carroll with a 61st-place, 17:06 finish. Seniors Grace McIlvain (88th, 17:26) and Landry Lambert (140th, 17:54) also broke 18 minutes, followed by sophomore Nora Farden (158th, 18:10) and junior KC Dukes (175th, 18:23). Seniors Megan Bergman and Quinn Salstrand also ran for the Lady Dragons.
The boys now chase an eighth straight UIL 6A state title, while the girls hope to return to the national stage in Portland after a two-year absence. Both junior varsity squads run at the Byron Nelson Invitational on Saturday, September 26, and the varsity teams race at the Arkansas Chili Pepper Festival in Fayetteville on October 3.
Southlake Carroll – Woodbridge Invitational Sweepstakes Results
Boys (Sweepstakes 5K)
1. Kai Gutierrez (Junior) 2nd; 13:40
2. Jaxon Glenn (Senior) 43rd; 14:22
3. Grant Norgart (Senior) 45th; 14:24
4. Claudio Auns (Senior) 54th; 14:29
5. Adhavan Palanivelrajan (Senior) 61st; 14:32
6. Evan O'Donnell (Senior) 80th; 14:41
7. Cameron Perez (Sophomore) 124th; 14:57
Girls (Sweepstakes 5K)
1. Abigail Perez (Senior) 61st; 17:06
2. Grace McIlvain (Senior) 88th; 17:26
3. Landry Lambert (Senior) 140th; 17:54
4. Nora Farden (Sophomore) 158th; 18:10
5. KC Dukes (Junior) 175th; 18:23
6. Megan Bergman (Senior) 195th; 18:32
7. Quinn Salstrand (Senior) 201st; 18:34