2022 Cross Country Preview:
The Golden Knights return to action this fall after their most successful Cross Country season in over 25 years. With a mix of league competition and prestigious invitationals, this season is shaping up to action packed. This year’s schedule will include Mission League competition as well as the invitationals such as the Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational (Griffith Park) Woodbridge XC Classic (Orange County Great Park), Clovis Invitational (Woodward Park, Fresno), and Mt. SAC.
Over the last few seasons the Golden Knight program has enjoyed growing success. In 2018 the team qualified for the CIF Divisional Finals for the first time since 2011. In 2019 they repeated their trip to CIF Divisional Finals, narrowly missing a bid to the CIF State Championship. After a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Epidemic, they returned in full force in 2021 finishing 5th in Division 4 at the CIF Divisional Finals, and earning the team’s first bid to the CIF State Championship since 1995. They finished 12th out of 25 team at the CIF State Cross Country Championship held at Woodward Park in Fresno.
This year’s team returns five Varsity runners from the 2021-2022 where the team qualified for the CIF State Championship. These runners include Seniors Hayden Owen and Noe Barazza, and Juniors Luke Metcalf and Samuel Franco, and Sophomore Auge Martin. These athletes come off a strong 2022 track season that saw numerous PR’s in distance races. Hayden Owen (1600, 3200) and Luke Metcalf (800, 1600) were both double event qualifiers for CIF Prelims in the 2022 track season. A new cadre of runners will join the ranks of the returning Golden Knights looking to earn their way into the program’s history.
After a great summer of training the athletes are looking forward to starting the racing season. With the top runners logging up to 500 miles this summer, it should be another memorable season for the Golden Knights.
Coach Patrick Donovan, ’03, who begins his 16th season as the Golden Knight’s coach is excited about this season’s prospects: “Last season was the most exciting season I have ever been a part of. Seeing the team realize their goal of qualifying for the State Championships was an incredible experience, and I was so proud of the poise they showed all season. Considering the talent we have returning this season, and the new talent in the wings, that shows me that we’re in position to improve on our success from last season. The team had a great summer of training and the motivation level of these athletes is incredible. Watch out for some scorch marks on the trails because these guys are fast, motivated, and hungry for success.”