Piedmont High School’s top runners finished off the 2024 cross country season at the California Interscholastic Federation championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 30.
Sebastien Swain finished 96th in the Division 4 boys race in 16 minutes, 45.2 seconds. It was the second consecutive year in the state meet for the sophomore, who finished 67th a year ago in 16:41.3.
“He did a nice job picking up 5 places over the final mile with a 5:19,” Highlanders coach Steve Zirkelbach said.
Eli Fitchen-Young won this year’s race in 14:41.3. Oaks Christian-Westlake Village was the team winner with 61 points.
Leighton Mand at CIF Cross Country State Championship Meet 
Amalia Gray
In the Division 4 girls race, sophomore Leighton Mand finished 74th in 19:52.7. Zirkelbach said she came through the first mile of the three-mile course in under six minutes and in 58th place. She lost some ground in the second mile, the toughest part of the course, but then came back to pass a couple runners in the final mile, according to Zirkelbach.
Amalia Gray, also a sophomore, finished 101st in the same race in 20:24.5.
“In her first time competing at the California state meet, Amalia found herself coming through the first mile in 6:05, and was in 86th place at the time, as with the others, the second mile was slower due to the hills and adjusting to the quick pace of the initial mile,” Zirkelbach said.
La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey won the race in 16:44.4, the top time all day. JSerra-San Juan Capistrano took the team title with an impressive 34 points with all five runners in the top 17.
Woodcrest Christian-Riverside’s Eyan Turk had the top boys time on the day, winning the Division 5 race in 14:32.5.
“Each of them had an injury or two this season, they have all been a little sick at times, but their perseverance and commitment to consistent training and taking care of themselves eventually paid off,” Zirkelbach said of his qualifiers. “Cross country and long-distance running events are difficult. It takes dedication and consistency of training. It takes showing up. Those who show up and put in the work eventually get rewarded with success.”