The Menlo cross country teams tore through the course at Woodward Park - site of the state meet. Credit: Allison Aldrich

The Menlo cross country teams blazed trails at the Rough Rider Invitational with the girls winning the team title, and the boys eclipsing a 22-year-old school record on the course Friday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The girls, led by senior Kyra Pretre in 18:30.2, shaving 37.3 seconds off her PR, won in 96:35.7 to set a school and league course record. This among 168 runners in the Small Schools Division. Her time would be second in the large school race.

Junior Kamran Murray won the boys’ race in a personal-best 16:10.5, taking 12.2 seconds off the time he ran here at state last season. He won among a field of 242 runners and his time was 15th among the 300 runners in the Large Schools Division

The girls are 5-0 in meets this season and set a program and WBAL course record with a team time of 96:35.7. The Knights have been bolstered by a deep team for the past couple of years, and even without one of their top runners, won the Small-Schools Division handily with 29 points. Head Royce was second with 102 and Acalanes third with 131.Junior Marisa Castagna was sixth in 19:22.0, and senior Katie Aufricht seventh in 19:24.8 - both impressive in taking more than 1:35 off their personal-bests. Seniors Cameron Boom was ninth in 19:32.0 and Amanda Foster 10th in 19:46.7 - both also hit big PRs from their times at the state meet last season. Sophomore Grace Tang was 28th in 21:02.4 for the Knights.  For the boys, junior Calvin Katz was fifth in 16:27.4,taking 2 seconds off the time he ran at state last season. Freshman Justin Pretre finished in 17:36.4, his first prep 5K. Senior Jackson Aldrich was 62nd in 17:46.6, taking 44.4 seconds off his 5K best. Senior Luke Virsik took 1:20 off his personal best at a WBAL meet, a much flatter couse. Sophomore Nishan Rajavasireddy and senior Ned Eyre rounded out the Knights corps on the tough, hilly course. The boys set a school record on the Woodward Park course in 86.48.1.

Boys (86:48.1 - School Course Record)

1. Kamran Murray 16:10.5
5. Calvin Katz 16:27.4 
55. Justin Pretre  17:36.4 
62. Jackson Aldrich  17:46.6
112. Luke Virsik 18:47.2
145. Nishan Rajavasireddy  19:19.3
183. Ned Eyre  20:29.7 

Girls (96:35.7 - School & League Course Record)
1. Kyra Pretre 18:30.2
6.  Marisa Castagna 19:22.0
7.Katie Aufricht 19:24.8
9. Cameron Boom 19:32.0
10. Amanda Foster 19:46.7 
28. Grace Tang  21:02.4