Photo: Braden Drewitz/MileSplit California
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The top team in the state on both sides was electric under the lights at the Cool Breeze Invitational, with both of Sommerset Academy Sky Pointe's teams finishing toward the top of the team scores in the meet's highest division, the Sundown Showdown. In the midst of the team's success, four of the Eagles excelled and helped lead their squads to big-time performances.
Aislin McMahon (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe): The Las Vegas native opened her senior cross country season with a statement, winning the Sundown Showdown race at the Cool Breeze Invitational in 17:06.60, a time that ranks No. 1 in Nevada through the opening weekend. McMahon was the class of the field from the start, finishing well clear of the pack in a performance that signals she could be one of the top distance runners in the region this fall and a threat to Gioia Coudriet's (Galena) 5A title defense.
Rayna Lewis (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe): One of the more impressive freshman debuts of the opening weekend came from the Class of 2030 runner, who placed seventh overall at the Cool Breeze Invitational in 17:33.40. In just her second race of her high school career, Lewis became the second-fastest freshman over three miles in the country so far this season and the second-fastest freshman in state history at the distance. Lewis was also the top freshman in the field.
Ryan Petty (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe): A strong opening cross country effort from the junior, who clocked 14:53.60 at the Cool Breeze Invitational to sit No. 1 in Nevada on the three-mile. Petty placed eighth in the Sundown Showdown field, continuing a junior season that also includes a 15:52 5K PR from the Red Rock Running Company Invitational last month. The junior, who ran 9:54.76 in the 3200m last spring, looks to be carrying his track fitness cleanly into the cross country season.
Shane Ramirez (Somerset Academy Sky Pointe): Fresh off an outstanding spring track season, the sophomore had little trouble making the transition to cross country, finishing 10th at Cool Breeze in 15:00.60 to rank No. 2 in Nevada behind teammate Ryan Petty. Already one of the more versatile distance runners in Nevada, Ramirez is fresh off a lifetime best as he looks ahead to this weekend.