The following is an excerpt from The San Diego Union-Tribune article, “Cathedral Catholic runners sweep at Bronco Roundup.”

By Steve Brand | August 29, 2026

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ESCONDIDO — After a breakout track season, Cathedral Catholic High School’s Grace Keefe added a strong summer of training.

It showed on Saturday. Keefe won the Bronco Roundup cross country large-school race in 11 minutes, 18.55 seconds over Kit Carson Park’s 2-mile course.

Keefe bolted into the lead and was seriously challenged only once. Scripps Ranch’s Olivia Liu met her at 1 1/2 miles; they ran shoulder to shoulder for a time.

“I know how to be an aggressive hill runner, and I dropped her,” the Dons senior said. “Then I just raced to the finish.”

Keefe, who ran a 4:49.67 in the state 1,600-meter prelims on the track, placing 10th overall, collected her first cross country invitational win. She hopes it’s the start of a big season.

“This was a good race, and I enjoyed it,” said Keefe. “Cathedral Catholic has such a good program, and it’s fun running against the others. But I have so much more in me.”

It was a Cathedral Catholic sweep as Lukas Derheimer made his first high school cross country race a big one, winning in 9:44.40.

A freshman winning is rare, but Derheimer is no newcomer to the sport. He placed second and fifth the last two years in the USATF Junior Olympics.

Derheimer, who fell back to ninth place early, was second after the hill but rallied to beat Mt. Carmel veteran Josh Bell, who was just a step back in 9:45.70.

“I was a bit intimidated before the race, but I knew I had a faster 3,000 time than the others,” he said. “I used my speed to win.”