Drips wins thriller, Pats win division

By Ramon Scott
Updated: August 28, 2026

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP CROSS COUNTRY

Sophomore prevails by two-tenths of a second as Patriots place five scorers among top 15 finishers at Cumming-Latham Invitational

EastCountySports.com staff report

BONITA — Brooklyn Drips began her sophomore season as a proven state-level runner.

She may now be ready to lead an entire championship contender.

Drips won a dramatic duel by two-tenths of a second, and Christian placed five scoring runners among the first 15 finishers to capture the girls varsity Red Devils Division championship Friday at the Ian Cumming-Tim Latham Invitational at Rohr Park.

Drips completed the two-mile course in a personal-best 13 minutes, 4.5 seconds, barely holding off San Ysidro senior Miah Bermudez, who crossed in 13:04.7.

The victory continued a promising opening to the season for Drips, who ran 13:31.30 at the Vaquero Stampede in her first competition of the fall. Athletic.net designated Friday’s performance as a two-mile personal best.

Drips qualified for the Division V state championship as a freshman last season after placing eighth at the San Diego Section finals. She finished 63rd at the state meet in 19:52.4 over the 5-kilometer course at Woodward Park.

Her development gives Christian an accomplished front-runner, but the Patriots’ depth made the difference Friday.

Senior Gracie Peterson placed third overall with a personal-best 13:56.9, giving Christian two of the race’s first three finishers.

Sophomore Gaby Scott added another personal best by placing 10th in 15:22.3. Junior Jayda Medina followed in 13th at a season-best 15:40.9, and junior Brooke Dayton completed Christian’s scoring five by placing 15th in a season-best 15:44.6.

Junior Madison Willis supplied further insurance as Christian’s sixth runner, recording a personal-best 16:03.3 to finish 19th overall.

After runners from incomplete teams were removed from the scoring, Christian’s top five received places of 1, 2, 8, 11 and 13 for an official total of 35 points.

Sweetwater finished second with 49 points, giving Christian a 14-point victory. Our Lady of Peace placed third with 54, followed by Castle Park with 92 and Palo Verde Valley with 130.

The Patriots defeated the runner-up despite Sweetwater placing all five of its scorers among the first 18 overall finishers. Christian countered with the race champion, two of the top three and a tightly grouped third-through-sixth contingent separated by only 41 seconds.

Four of Christian’s six varsity finishers—Drips, Peterson, Scott and Willis—established personal bests. Medina and Dayton recorded season-best performances.

Christian also received a top-10 showing in the boys frosh-soph Red Devils Division from freshman Malakai Bright, who covered two miles in 13:19.4 to finish ninth.

In the boys varsity Red Devils race, senior Jacob Bement led the Patriots in 17:13.0 over 2.5 miles. Senior Charlie Flannery finished in 18:58.1.

Granite Hills’ leading varsity performances came from senior Jack Digenan, who finished the boys Mustangs Division course in 15:06.5, and freshman Madison Pollard, who ran 15:11.1 in the girls Mustangs Division.

Freshman Ryder Leaverton produced the Eagles’ highest individual finish, placing sixth in the boys JV Red Devils two-mile race in 11:55.2.

Palo Verde Valley senior Miguel Guerrero supplied the leading Imperial County performance. Guerrero placed third in the boys varsity Red Devils Division, completing 2.5 miles in 14:53.3.

IAN CUMMING-TIM LATHAM INVITATIONAL

At Rohr Park, Bonita
Friday, Aug. 28

GIRLS VARSITY RED DEVILS DIVISION

TEAM SCORES: 1. Christian 35; 2. Sweetwater 49; 3. Our Lady of Peace 54; 4. Castle Park 92; 5. Palo Verde Valley 130.

TOP INDIVIDUALS: 1. Brooklyn Drips, Christian, 13:04.5; 2. Miah Bermudez, San Ysidro, 13:04.7; 3. Gracie Peterson, Christian, 13:56.9; 4. Robin Mathewson, Our Lady of Peace, 14:09.9; 5. Marianne Zhuang, Madison, 14:11.9; 6. Itzel Ojeda, Sweetwater, 14:43.8; 7. Fiona Gerding, Our Lady of Peace, 14:50.1; 8. Mia Alvarez, Sweetwater, 14:55.5; 9. Jaslynn Perez, Castle Park, 15:21.4; 10. Gaby Scott, Christian, 15:22.3.

CHRISTIAN FINISHERS: 1. Brooklyn Drips 13:04.5; 3. Gracie Peterson 13:56.9; 10. Gaby Scott 15:22.3; 13. Jayda Medina 15:40.9; 15. Brooke Dayton 15:44.6; 19. Madison Willis 16:03.3.

OTHER EAST COUNTY RESULTS

Boys frosh-soph Red Devils, 2 miles: 9. Malakai Bright, Christian, 13:19.4.

Boys varsity Red Devils, 2.5 miles: 26. Jacob Bement, Christian, 17:13.0; 39. Charlie Flannery, Christian, 18:58.1.

Boys varsity Mustangs, 2.5 miles: 44. Jack Digenan, Granite Hills, 15:06.5; 61. Francisco Perez, Granite Hills, 15:58.6; 63. Leviathan Elias, Granite Hills, 16:06.6; 71. David Flores, Granite Hills, 17:13.8; 73. Tony Healu, Granite Hills, 17:47.8.

Girls varsity Mustangs, 2 miles: 43. Madison Pollard, Granite Hills, 15:11.1; 49. Yumi Martinez, Granite Hills, 15:44.3.

Boys JV Red Devils, 2 miles: 6. Ryder Leaverton, Granite Hills, 11:55.2.