Dublin Distance Fiesta Meet Preview

The 2025 Dublin Distance Fiesta (DDF) is taking place one week later than normal and it's bigger and more robust than ever before. In total, over two almost full days, diehard fans will witness a record-setting number of distance heats. In 2024, two near WORLD RECORDS were established as 333 girls dipped under the 6 minute mark in the 1600 while 567 boys dipped under the 5 minute mark in the same event.

This season, the DDF will be held on the fourth weekend of March (normally the third), and this will be the largest one to date. For comparison check out this year's numbers compared with last year.

Year	Schools	Student-Athletes	Entries	Heats
2024	196	3,775	5,519	212
2025	225	4,047	5,863	226

According to meet director and Dublin coach Chris Williams, the DDF will once again be the largest distance-only meet in the United States based on the total number of entries. As shared in a previous post, Coach Williams needs your prayers as he battles cancer. Your prayers are always appreciated and if you can kindly donate at this LINK to support him and his family, it will be greatly appreciated.

OK, now a bit of history regarding this meet for those of you attending the soon-to-be-world-famous Dublin Distance Fiesta (RIP Peter Brewer) for the first time. The meet has been held at Dublin HS since 2009 with the lone exception being the 2020 season when it was not held. Before 2009, the meet was held at Skyline HS (one year), Cal Berkeley (one year), and then multiple years at the original location, Piedmont HS. 

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Aside from super fast competitive fields, the Dublin Distance Fiesta is known for its incredible efficiency. You can check this out in action, thanks to longtime Jesuit coach Walt Lange (over 50 years at Jesuit), in the following video. More on Coach Lange and his impressive team below.

Let's take a closer look at the "Sombrero" races

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Girls 4 x 800 

Meet Record - Campolindo - 9:31.93 ('24)

The defending champion Campolindo girls will be back to repeat as champions. This will be the first big meet for their team after multiple league meets. They will be challenged by Bay School, Menlo Atherton, Crystal Springs Uplands, and Branson.

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Boys 4 x 800 

Meet Record - Davis - 7:57.18 ('24)

The goal here for most teams is to break 8 minutes and if that happens, the meet record will be in danger. The Davis boys won last year and established the new standard for the meet. Host Dublin should be in the mix and are very capable of getting under the 8 minute mark. They will be challenged by Carlmont, St. Ignatius and Menlo Atherton.

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Girls 1600 

Meet Record - Riley Chamberlain (Del Oro/SJ) - 4:46.34 ('22)

For those of you interested in more DDF history, here is a bit more regarding this event. In 2015, Sonora's Cassi Land lowered the 1600 record at the DDF to 5:06.01. A year later, Miramonte's Hannah Fishlow lowered the record to 5:02.79. The first runner to lower the record under 5 minutes was Redwood's Gillian Wagner in 2017 as she raced to a 4:55.35 victory. That time held up until 2021 when Albany's Sophia Nordenholz ran 4:53.26 in the 3rd DDF that season (that's right, 3rd, thanks to COVID). In 2022, Del Oro senior Riley Chamberlain outran Montgomery's talented freshman Hanne Thomsen to set the new standard at 4:46.34. Chamberlain is now competing at BYU and was a key cog on their NCAA championship cross country team.

This Saturday, Thomsen, now a senior headed to Stanford University, will bypass this event focusing her efforts on the 800 and 3200. That leaves the field wide open with multiple runners capable of winning this event. 

The fastest personal best time belongs to Eleanor Raker of Galena, Nevada (Jason Bean/RGJ photo), who ran 4:51.81 and won last year's race in 4:54.26. Crystal Springs Uplands junior Anna Salter ran 4:53.63 at last year's CCS Top 8 meet. Other contenders include Norah Feldt of Davis (4:56.10),  Ani Stieg of Archie Williams (4:58.30 mile at St. Francis Invitational), Brenna Manion of Vista del Lago (4:57.07 at 2024 Sac MOC), Montgomery's Amrie Lacefield (4:57.44) and Ella Mogannam of Lick Wilmdering (4:58.12). A couple of wild cards are Lilly Montilla of Las Lomas and Monte Vista freshman Ava Padilla. 

Boys 1600

Meet Record - Ajani Salcido (Jesuit/SJ) 4:09.95 ('21)

If you are looking for the most competitive race of the meet, look no further than the boys' 1600m. For many years, the record at this meet was held by Novato's Erik Olson who ran 4:17.28 in 2009. In 2021, that record was smashed as Jesuit's Ajani Salcido and Amador Valley's John Lester dueled over three laps before Salcido pulled away to win in the still-standing meet record at 4:09.95.

The fastest personal record in the field belongs to Crystal Springs Uplands senior Benjamin Bouie (Tina Pretre photo above with Landon Pretre at St. Francis Invitational). He ran 4:06.92 to win last year's CCS final breaking a 50 year old record for the section championship meet. Many of the top contenders are all very familiar with each other since they are all seniors hailing from schools in the Central Coast Section. Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos has the 2nd fastest entry time at 4:08.01. Miles Cook of Sacred Heart Cathedral just ran 4:10.01 in the mile at Nike Indoor Nationals. Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz (4:11.16) and Landon Pretre of Menlo (4:12.61) now hold the two fastest time on the Crystal Springs cross country course. There will also be four Jesuit runners (Drake Hoferer, Kyle Jakary, Matthew Ogilvie and Navin Kadel) in the field following their NXN qualifying season in the fall.

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Girls 800

Meet Record - Alyssa Brewer (California/NC) 2:08.99 ('18)

This race should be a duel between seniors Kylie Hoornaert of Prospect (2:08.48)and Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery (2:12.47). Hoornaert was the CCS champion last year and qualified for the state final where she finished in 7th place. Thomsen will be looking to sharpen her speed in her third best distance race. Senior Sabrina Zanetto of St. Francis, MV (2:10.35) has the 2nd fastest personal best in the field which she accomplished winning the CCS final as a sophomore. Monte Vista freshman Ava Padilla won the Dan Gabor Invitational 800 a few weeks ago with a season best time of 2:17.69. Los Altos junior Lily Symon ran her best time of 2:13. 88 finishing in 4th place at last year's CCS final. 

Boys 800

Meet Record - Yutaka Roberts (El Camino/CC) 1:52.34 ('22)

The meet record will be within striking distance with a couple of runners capable of dipping under that mark. Pleasant Valley senior Jackson Hein (DeAnna Turner/CAMileSplit photo) was a state finalist last year where he finished in 5th place with a new best time of 1:51.61. Jesuit sophomore Lucas Alberts has already opened up the season with a lifetime best time of 1:52.58 set while winning the Bronco Roundup Distance Carnival. Those two will be at the front looking to control the race and besting the field with a potential new meet record. A couple of other contenders include Carmel's Mack Aldi who has a best of 1:54.16 and was a state meet qualifier in 2024. Shadow Ridge, NV senior Justin Rawe has a best of 1:54.65 and an equally impressive mark in the 1600 at 4:13.50. Nevada Union senior Josh Griffin ran 1:54.18 last year and seems to be working his way back to fitness heading into this weekend.

Girls 3200

Meet Record - Hanne Thomsen (Montgomery/NC) 10:14.46 ('22)

Montgomery senior Hanne Thomsen is the class of this field and will win going away provided she races here. She is one of the most successful distance runners in California history with multiple state championships and a best of 9:55.31 in this event. 

Galena, NV senior Eleanor Raker will be doubling back from the 1600 and looking to keep Thomsen in sight. Thomsen's teammates, Seelah Kittlestrom and Amrie Lacefield were quite a trio in Cross Country the past few seasons and will be looking to potentially sweep this event. 

Boys 3200

Meet Record - Matt Strangio (Jesuit/SJ) 8:47.97 ('19)

This used to be the main event for many years at past DDF meets. This year's race might not have the same depth as previous years but it's going to be another hotly contested race. Leading the way is De La Salle senior Trey Caldwell (photo above of Trey breaking the long standing Crystal Springs course record courtesy of Sean Laughlin) who has the fastest best at 8:53.69 set at last year's state final. Sonora senior Broen Holman will be making his season debut and has a best of 8:54.21. Santa Cruz senior Eli Fitchen-Young has a best of 8:57.13 and is coming off his best cross country season to date. Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos and Dougherty Valley senior Arrin Sagiriju are the other sub 9 minute 3200 runners in the field. Jesuit junior Isaac Abbott will also be in the mix and his dad Scott will be announcing each race over the two day event.

Girls Distance Medley Relay

Meet Record - Santa Cruz (CC) - 12:07.58 ('18)

This race will feature some of the top distance programs in Northern California. The Campolindo girls, one of the top Division III cross country programs will be looking to make a statement here. St. Francis, MV, a Division II 2nd place finisher can match talent with most of the top programs in the state. The Whitney girls finished just 3 points behind St. Francis at the cross country state finals and will be another strong team here. The Bay School in San Francisco has dropped some fast relay times in the past few seasons and should not overlooked here.

Because of COVID, this relay was not contested in 2021 and obviously in 2020 when the meet was not held at all. Here are the winning teams over the past few years.

2024 SF University 12:48.02
2023 Campolindo 12:36.04
2022 Tamalpais 12:34.83

2019 St. Francis, Sacramento 12:22.61

2018 Santa Cruz HS 12:07.58 (meet record)

2017 San Ramon Valley HS 12:23.41

2016 Monte Vista HS 12:16.21

2015 Bella Vista HS 12:14.03

2014 Las Lomas HS 12:31.29

Boys Distance Medley Relay

Meet Record - Davis (SJ) - 10:23.93 ('16)

This is always a tough event to predict as many of the fastest teams will include runners doubling back from the just concluded 3200m and other race distances. Based on their depth, the Jesuit team (photo above courtesy of Jesuit HS) should be favored and could put together two contending teams in this field. Their main competition should be a familiar one in the Bellarmine boys. Their coach, Patrick McCrystle, actually ran at Jesuit HS in his HS days and always puts together competitive relay teams. Other contenders include Foothill, St. Francis, MV and potentially two Mountain View teams who had top finishes at the just concluded St. Francis Invitational.

MEET PROGRAM LINK

Lastly, a shout-out to West Coast XC, who will be covering the meet. Here is an interview with Coach Williams regarding the Dublin Distance Fiesta which you can find HERE.