Senior Billy Gaudreau first Tartan to win Orange County Championships Sweepstakes Race

By Rob Lakeman

Posted October 16

It was an historic day at the 45^th running of the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Not only has a division 5 runner never won the boy’s sweepstakes race but it may be the first time a division 5 team was invited to run with the so called “big boys”. They only invite the best to the sweepstakes race, so that’s why your Tartans were in the mix. Having already been called “The best division 5 squad in California state history, Period!” by Rich Gonzalez of dyestatcal.com, this year’s team looked to challenge themselves against the best.

The race of the day was turned in by senior, Billy Gaudreau who sat back in about 10^th place at the mile mark then moved into the top 5 at 2 miles, where the race really starts. Feeling pretty good with about 800 meters to go he made his move, breaking the spirit of his competitors, the best of the best in Orange County, finishing the 3 mile course in a time of 14:41. This puts him as one of the fastest all time on the Irvine Regional Park course.

Not only is Billy the Champion of Orange County for all divisions but his teammates also put in outstanding performances to finish as the 5^th place team regardless of division. Junior, Brandon Price, finished 20^th in a time of 15:20 making him the 7^th fastest junior of the day. Senior, Paul Brenneman finished in 15:24 placing the Tartan trio among the best top three runners in the entire state.

On the girl’s side, injuries and illness have plagued the Tartans most of the season but that didn’t stop the girls from putting forth their best effort. Freshman, Samantha Geller turned in the fastest time for the Tartans running a personal best time of 22:20. Senior, McCaully Patch ran the 3 mile course in 22:25 having just returned to the team from some early season injuries and illness.

The next big test for the Tartans will be this Friday at the Mt. SAC invitational where the boys will try to defend their sweepstakes title.

Click Here to read about the OC Championships on OCVarsity.com

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