36th Annual Monte Vista Invitational set for Tuesday, Sept 3rd

A maximum field of 20 teams with over 1300 runners entered will once again kick-off the east bay cross country season at the historic Monte Vista Invitational.  Established in 1983, this meet switched in 2005 to feature grade/gender level races, over a 2-mile course which runs through the high school campus and into hilly Oak Hill Park.  With the usual afternoon heat and the rugged "Eliminator" hill waiting in the second mile, this meet is a great indicator of which individuals and teams have put in the work over the summer and who has an early edge going into the season.

Last year in the Senior Boys race, Preston Norris of Las Lomas and Russell Sullivan of Foothill broke away from the pack early and pushed each other to new course records.  Norris won in an unbelievable 10:29 time, breaking the mark of 10:37 that had been held by Danny Stalters of Northgate since 2012.   Sullivan's 10:36 also bettered the mark.

On the girl's side, San Ramon Valley's senior Kate Tavella was the fastest on the day, with a 12:20 clocking that is good for 5th fastest all time.  The girl's course record is held by Chloe Hansel of Las Lomas in an eye-popping 11:55 mark.

This year's meet features not only teams from the East Bay but entries from San Francisco, Stockton, and the South Bay.  

Races kick off at 4PM at Oak Hill Park in Danville with the Boys Junior race and conclude at 7PM with the Freshman Girls race.  

LIVE Results can be found at Diablo Timing live during the meet: http://diablotiming.com/results/2019-09-03/

Mike Davis and Mile Huntsman

Meet Directors

Monte Vista Invitational Top 10 Fastest Times 
- Current Course Configuration (since 2005)

Boys Name School Year Time 
1 Preston Norris Las Lomas 2018 10:29.6
2 Russell Sullivan Foothill 2018 10:36.0
3 Danny Stalters Northgate 2012 10:37.1
4 Nolan Peterson Washington 2012 10:42.1
5 Jason Intravaia San Ramon Valley 2013 10:42.5
6 Jackson Crose Livermore 2014 10:43.4
7 Mike Roderick Monte Vista 2008 10:44.4
T8 Peter Schlachte Amador Valley 2014 10:45.2
T8 Tom Robey Las Lomas 2015 10:45.2
T10 Alex Summers Granada 2009 10:46.2
T10 Aiden Boyle Amador Valley 2018 10:46.2

Girls Name School Year Time 
1 Chloe Hansel Las Lomas 2014 11:55.8
2 Megan McCandless Granada 2014 12:12.6
3 Jena Pianin Amador Valley 2012 12:14.4
4 Brooke Starn Monte Vista 2014 12:20.1
5 Kate Tavella San Ramon Valley 2018 12:20.2
6 Kelsey Santisteban Castro Valley 2010 12:23.2
7 Meredith Corda Monte Vista 2016 12:27.2
8 Carina Novell Granada 2011 12:28.6
9 Colleen Lillig California 2009 12:31.6
10 Madison Ricks California 2013 12:32.8

Accepted Teams for the 2019 MVI

1. Monte Vista (host)
2. Dougherty Valley
3. Las Lomas
4. Liberty
5. Miramonte
6. Antioch
7. De Anza
8. Castro Valley
9. Foothill
10. San Ramon Valley
11. Heritage
12. Sacred Heart Cathedral
13. Mission San Jose
14. California
15. Northgate
16. Newark Memorial
17. Irvington
18. Quarry Lane
19. St Marys Stockton
20. St Marys College High School (Berkeley)

photos:  Norris and Sullivan/Tavella in 2018

photos:  the Eliminator Hill profile