Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut CA
Friday, April 17, 2015
Saturday, April 18, 2015

 

Distance Aces Unite for Epic Relay Battle; Girls Finish 2nd Behind National Record

The Cougar distance squad came together for another historic performance at Friday evening's Mt. San Antonio College Relays. Faced with a field that included that nation's best programs, Toni Finnane (15), Mary Orders (15), Hana Sun (16) and Brighie Leach (15) took their talents to the next level, battling through each leg of their 4 x 1600m race en route to a new school record and the 8th best mark in state history.

Finnane put her squad in contention with an even paced 5-flat effort before handing off to Orders.

The 2nd leg saw division rival Palos Verdes move up on the Cougars and challenge for 2nd place while both squads chased down front running Great Oak.

Holding on to 3rd place during her leg, Sun equalled her 1600m open PR to keep the Sea Kings within reach. Leach then closed in a career best 4:51.9 to regain the runner-up position.

The final time of 20:07.23 knocks a sensational 30 seconds off the pervious school record!

In the same race, Hannah Ruane (18) kept the "B" in the pack with a 5:17.0 split on the openning leg. Jenna Miles (18) closed in 5:26.7 to help the squad to a 14th place finish in the 17 team invitational section field.

Check out 2015 Mt. SAC Relays results HERE!

RESULTS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

FRIDAY GIRLS RESULTS

4xMile Relay Toni Finnane 5:00.4-Mary Orders 5:05.4-Hana Sun 5:09.2-Brighie Leach 4:51.9=20:07.23; Hannah Ruane 5:17.0-Sarah Cella 5:28.9-Rachel Johnson 5:22.2-Jenna Miles 5:26.7=21:34.93

 

Girls Battle Best, Set New DMR Record; Yabu Leads Boys to 4x1600m Open Win

Less that 24 hours after setting a new school record in the 4x1600 relay, the Cougar girl's distance divas returned to the Hilmer Lodge track at the Mt. SAC Relays to mix it up with the nation's top teams in the distance medley relay.

Toni Finnane (15) put her team in contention with another 3:40 split for 1200m, just behind Great Oak's lead-off runner. Julie Hyatt (17) followed with a sub-60 second 400m leg. Mary Orders (15) then ran 2:19 for 800m, handing off in 3rd place.

At that point, Brighie Leach (15) took over, moving into 2nd place by the start of her 2nd lap, and then hauling in Great Oak's Destiny Collins by the conclusion of her 3rd.

Leach came through the half-way point of her 1600m leg in 2:21. After erasing a 40 meter deficit, she clung to the shoulder of the leader as the bell sounded. Leach held on for another 250m before succumbing to the fatigue.

In spite of her struggles down the final stretch, Leach posted a 4:48.7 for her leg, fastest of any competitor in the race. The effort, which equals the open 1600m school record, helped her team claim 3rd place in the greatest DMR in California history.

The squad finished in 11:48.29, eclipsing the DMR school record they had set just 2 weeks prior at the Stanford Invitational by 8 seconds. The mark is #3 in the nation for the 2015 season, and #13 all-time in the state record books.

The boys' 4x1600m relay squad closed out the weekend with an impressive 18:21.31 win in the open division. Jared Yabu (17) contributed a 4:31 split to put the team in the mix early. After solid legs from Kevin Buckley (15) and Nathaniel Sauerberg (16), Jonathan Semenza (16) closed in a lifetime best 4:34 to ensure the victory.

SATURDAY BOYS RESULTS

4xMile Relay Jared Yabu 4:31.6-Kevin Buckley 4:37.2-Nathaniel Sauerberg 4:39.3-Jonathan Semenza 4:34.0=18:21.31

SATURDAY GIRLS RESULTS

Distance Medley Relay Toni Finnane 3:40.6-Julie Hyatt 59.9-Mary Orders 2:19.0-Brighie Leach 4:48.7=11:48.29

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