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Mt. SAC Victory Sets up Postseason Run for Cross Country
The Tartans gear up for a shot at CIF glory.
After 46 years of tradition, the Mt. SAC Invitational unveiled its new racecourse for the 2024 season. Gone was one of the significant hills, but in its place was some added distance and a finish in the newly renovated Hilmer Lodge Stadium. The initial analysis indicates the new layout to be 20-30 seconds slower than the previous iteration.
Changes to the racecourse did not phase the St. Margaret’s cross country team as the boys walked away with an 18-point win over perennial power Flintridge Prep, while the girls finished third behind state-ranked Branson and Southern Section-ranked Cate.
"It looked like a dual meet in the boys race at the 1.5-mile mark, but Zaiden Gurusamy dropped a big move off the first set of hills and dismantled the Flintridge Prep pack," said head coach Patrick Bendzick. "His assertiveness changed the entire race, and I was proud of his calculated risk-taking and leadership."
The girl's team sat their two top runners, Joyce Li and Sara Bendzick, due to injuries, and the freshman trio of Heidi Beshk, Kate Sullivan, and Megan Mohler are proving that they can run with anyone.
"The goal for the girls team was to get comfortable in their new roles and be very technically sound on the new Mt. SAC course," said Bendzick. "Their talent, coupled with great senior leadership from Coco Johnson and America Reyes-Mendoza, has the group poised to take a shot at repeating as the CIF Southern Section Champions."
The Tartans have the week off from racing and will focus on preparing for the Pacific Coast Conference Championships on November 6 at Carbon Canyon Park in Brea. St. Margaret's is the host school, and races start at 1:30 p.m.
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Changes to the racecourse did not phase the St. Margaret’s cross country team as the boys walked away with an 18-point win over perennial power Flintridge Prep, while the girls finished third behind state-ranked Branson and Southern Section-ranked Cate.
"It looked like a dual meet in the boys race at the 1.5-mile mark, but Zaiden Gurusamy dropped a big move off the first set of hills and dismantled the Flintridge Prep pack," said head coach Patrick Bendzick. "His assertiveness changed the entire race, and I was proud of his calculated risk-taking and leadership."
The girl's team sat their two top runners, Joyce Li and Sara Bendzick, due to injuries, and the freshman trio of Heidi Beshk, Kate Sullivan, and Megan Mohler are proving that they can run with anyone.
"The goal for the girls team was to get comfortable in their new roles and be very technically sound on the new Mt. SAC course," said Bendzick. "Their talent, coupled with great senior leadership from Coco Johnson and America Reyes-Mendoza, has the group poised to take a shot at repeating as the CIF Southern Section Champions."
The Tartans have the week off from racing and will focus on preparing for the Pacific Coast Conference Championships on November 6 at Carbon Canyon Park in Brea. St. Margaret's is the host school, and races start at 1:30 p.m.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
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