After 19 years, the state titles are back in the hands of VHS Girls Cross Country

On Saturday, Nov. 25 in Fresno, VHS Girls Cross Country crossed the finish line with the new title of Division ll CIF State Cross Country Championship winners. 

Ventura won its third state championship that day in Woodward Park, Fresno. The team won with a score of 85 points by a 29-point margin over Whitney High School, who placed second. 

Sadie Engelhardt ‘25 won the individual title as well as breaking the Division ll course record with a time of 16:40.7. Sarah Baxter, a former Simi Valley High School runner, held the Division ll course record of 16:43 since 2013. 

Aelo Curtis ‘26 said, “Going into [the] state meet we all had our own individual plans that our coach laid out for us, so we knew what we were supposed to do going into the meet.” 

Coach Josh Spiker said these pre-race words to the team: “You are fit and do not need to pull out a miracle to win. Do what you have been doing all season.”

Engelhardt placed first (16:40.7), followed by Melanie True ‘26  in sixth (17:57.1), Tiffany Sax ‘25 in 22nd (18:26.0), Curtis in 23rd (18:29.2), Violet Hurguy ‘24 in 54th (19:11.4), Bailey Burman ‘25 in 88th (19:33.7) and Sophia Denzler ‘25 in 95th (19:40.5). 

Curtis said, “The plan going into the race was that the first mile I would take it slower than I usually do, so I think I went out at [a pace of] 5:38 so I could have more energy for later in the race. So I was feeling good and trying to stay relaxed during the first mile. Mile two the plan was to go and catch up to as many people as I could to make up points. The first half mile of the second one was pretty good and I was catching people but then we had to go up this hill called ‘killer hill’ and I was starting to struggle then.” 

Hurguy said, “I felt physically very tired, but mentally it was easier for me to keep running because I knew [state championships were]  such a big deal and I wanted to run well for the girls on my team.”

Sax said, “I had to step up for the team and being a part of a team that contributed to winning CIF for the first time in about 20 years was really special for all of us.” 

“Cross country is a hard sport…we are basically teaching the athlete to run a lot and to push their mind and body harder and harder and we want the athlete to feel like rockstars and proud of what they do,” said Spiker.

The varsity girls group that ran consisted of one senior, five juniors and two sophomores.

Hurguy said, “I’m the only senior that ran on the state team and last year I was the only upperclassman on the varsity team, so I’m so sad to leave my closest friends. [At state] it was sad to think about not running with them anymore, but to have [the season] end by winning is the best way it could have ended.” 

“The plan was to win and run as hard as we could and the girls did a great job in carrying it through,” said Spiker.