Barnett continues California girls dominance by following recent regional winners Fahy and Lane, Althouse earns first victory for Oregon male athlete since Maton in 2013 on rain-altered course at Mt. SAC

By Alex Valladares for DyeStat

Rain turned the Foot Locker West Regional into a road show Saturday in Walnut, Calif.

Heavy rain that drenched Southern California turned the historic layout at Mt. San Antonio College into a muddy mess in several areas, causing officials to alter the course into a complete 5-kilometer asphalt race due to safety concerns.

The changes didn’t deter from one of the most thrilling finishes in recent memory in the boys championship race with the top 10 qualifiers all coming within two seconds of each other. It also produced a tight finish in the girls championship race as well.

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Lincoln High OR junior Mateo Althouse held off a pack to become the first Oregon boys individual winner in six years and Village Christian CA junior Mia Barnett was the third straight California girls individual winner.

Althouse, who finished seventh at the Oregon 6A state championships, clocked 14 minutes, 53.2 seconds to edge fellow Oregon talent Charlie Robertson of Franklin High (14:53.3) and Skyline UT senior Thomas Boyden (14:53.4).

“I was just trying to hang on,” said Althouse, who is the first Oregon individual winner since Summit High’s Matthew Maton in 2013.

“Honestly, I didn’t know where the finish line was. I kept turning back and saw a big group behind me. I felt them on my shoulder. I gave a final push in the last 50 meters and crossed the finish line. It was just really crazy.”

Boyden, who was the lone returning boys qualifier and earned All-America honors by placing 13th at the national meet last year, finished third.

“I’m excited to be back.  It’s going to be awesome,” said Boyden, who is one of four Utah runners who qualified for the National Championships Dec. 14 at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego, Calif.

“The goal this week was to get top 10 and to qualify. Obviously, I wanted to win, but the race in the first mile and a half was super tactical.”

Bellarmine Prep junior teammates Colin Peattie and Nolan Topper finished fourth (14:54.4) and seventh (14:55.2), respectively, as the California qualifiers.

“We’re both thrilled,” Peattie said.  “To have not just one of us but both of us come is an awesome feeling.”

Peattie and Topper followed in the footsteps of former Bellarmine Prep standout Meika Beaudoin-Rousseau, who qualified for the national meet in 2016 and 2017.

Ignatious Fitzgerald of Hellgate High became the first Montana individual qualifier in seven years as he clocked 14:55.1 to place sixth.

“I finished third at state and did not expect to be here six weeks later,” said Fitzgerald, who is the first Montana boys qualifier since Glacier High’s Troy Fraley in 2012.

“I came down here knowing I had an outside shot. It all came together. It’s an honor.”

Bountiful High junior Dalton Mortensen (fourth place, 14:54.9), along with brothers Creed Thompson and Davin Thompson (eighth and 10th, 14:55.3 and 14:55.9) of Skyridge High were the other Utah qualifiers.

Parkrose OR senior Ahmed Ibrahim, who finished second at the Oregon 5A state championship, placed ninth in 14:55.1 and joined Althouse and Robertson, who finished second at the Oregon 6A state meet. It's the first time Oregon will send three boys to the finals since 2002.

California had the most girls qualifiers with six individuals, led by Barnett.

The junior, who finished second at the California Division 5 state meet, broke away in the final 75 meters to win the girls championship race at 17:02.4.

“Last year, I got 69th place and this year I wanted to get top 10,” said Barnett, who is the third straight California individual winner following La Costa Canyon’s Kristin Fahy last year and Malibu’s Claudia Lane in 2016-17.

“I didn’t think first was a possibility, but I’m just honestly so excited and grateful to God for giving me this opportunity. I knew this road race would play into my strengths. I knew from the first mile I was going to have a good race.”

Sage Creek CA senior Skyler Wallace will get to end her career on her home course at Balboa Park as she finished second at 17:06.3.

“This has been my ultimate goal since my sophomore year,” said Wallace, who is the California Division 4 individual state runner-up and helped Sage Creek capture its second straight team title.

“I have a big support system, so it’s exciting. It means so much.”

Barnett and Wallace will be joined by Granada Hills CA sophomore Sofia Abrego, the CIF L.A. City Section Division 1 individual champion, who finished fifth (17:08.4) and Capistrano Valley CA senior Carly Corsinita, the seventh-place finisher (17:10.2).

Sophomores Dalia Frias of Mira Costa CA and Cate Joaquin of Sacramento St. Francis CA, who both earned all-state honors in their respective divisions, came in eighth (17:10.4) and 10th (17:14.8), respectively.

Lehi UT senior Anna Martin qualified for the West team for the second straight year, as she placed third at 17:06.7.

“Last year wasn’t my best performance at nationals,” Martin said. “That’s one reason I have been really motivated to get back there this year and just give it my all…and get redemption for that race I had.”

Desert Vista AZ junior Grace Ping accomplished the rare feat of qualifying for her fifth national race of her career, representing two different states.

Ping placed seventh in the Midwest regional and finished 31st at Foot Locker nationals representing Winona Cotter MN last season.

“I was kind of excited for the race to be on the road because I love road racing,” said Ping, who finished fourth at 17:08 to become the first Arizona qualifier since 2017.

“When I was in Minnesota, you could start racing high school races as seventh and eighth graders. I was able to run national meets those years too. All of that has given me a lot of experience.”

Hellgate High junior Abby Kendrick finished ninth (17:10.8) to become the first Montana girls qualifier since Glacier High’s Annie Hill in 2015.

Bellarmine Prep WA sophomore Ella Borsheim, who finished 16th at the Washington 4A state meet, rebounded to place sixth in the regional at 17:09.