Cathedral Catholic boys’ and girls’ cross country teams delivered impressive performances at the HOKA 2-Mile event on October 31 at University City High School. Despite the rain, the Dons rose to the challenge, competing against top runners from across San Diego County in a series of 17 races.

For many Cathedral athletes, the event marked their first opportunity to compete in a two-mile race on the track. The HOKA 2-Mile is held at locations across the country throughout the cross-country season, allowing teams to compare performances nationally. Schools submit their five fastest times in each of three divisions—varsity, sophomore and freshman—with nearly 700 teams from across the country submitting results this year.

Varsity Girls Capture Local Championship, Rank Third Nationally

The varsity girls delivered a dominant performance, placing five runners in the top six overall to easily capture the team championship. Cathedral’s top finishers crossed the line in first, second, third, fourth and sixth place, securing the team’s standing as the third-fastest varsity girls team in the nation.

The performance also marked the second-fastest varsity girls’ team time in school history. Grace Keefe led the way, recording the fastest time by a Cathedral athlete in school history at this event. She was followed by a strong group of Dons, with Kristine Bickler, Callie Schulteis, Phoebe Brink, and Eva Smith.

Varsity Boys Finish Second, Rank No. 16 Nationally

The varsity boys also delivered a strong performance, finishing second overall at the local event and earning a current national ranking of No. 16.
Freshman Lukas Derheimer once again paced the Dons, finishing third overall. Quinn McGivern, Caleb Reid and Zachary Albers also turned in impressive performances, each breaking the 10-minute mark.

Sophomore Girls Earn No. 2 National Ranking

Cathedral’s sophomore girls added another outstanding result, combining for the second-fastest sophomore girls team performance in the nation.
Emma Sandberg, Sienna Struyck, Samantha Chaconas, Bridget Kruszewski and Brigit Fairbanks made up the scoring group, highlighting the depth and strength of the program’s younger athletes.

The HOKA 2-Mile results underscore the continued success and depth of Cathedral Catholic cross country, as multiple groups earned recognition on the national stage. Congratulations to all the Dons on an outstanding evening of competition.