Highland's Choate gets best of Paraclete's Bauer again

Two of the state's top sophomores competed at the same invitational for the second time in less than a week Thursday at the High Desert Classic at Pelona Vista Soccer Complex in Palmdale, and Highland of Palmdale's Caylie Choate made it two for two in the bragging rights department against Paraclete of Lancaster's Melissa Bauer.

Unlike last Friday's Seaside Invitational in Ventura when both runners competed in the sophomore class race -- Choate taking third behind Saugus' Kaylin Mahoney and Stephanie Bulder to Bauer's seventh-place finish -- the talented 10th graders didn't run head to head Thursday.

But Choate's winning mark of 18 minutes, 53.84 seconds in the large schools race was better than Bauer's effort of 19:07.59 on the 5-kilometer course in the small schools race. Choate clocked 17:49.50 to Bauer's 18:11.83 on the 3-mile course at Sanbuenaventura State Beach.

Highland's girls' team, led by a sweep from Caylie Choate, Marilyn Cortina and Caitlin Choate, had enough to defeat Knight of Palmdale 33-40.

Paraclete, with Bauer supported by a third-place finish from Breanna Pagan and a fourth-place effort by Haley Kennedy, cruised to a 22-42 victory over Desert Christian of Lancaster.

Knight won the boys' large schools race with brothers Ulises and Uriel Aquino taking first and second in 16:18.60 and 16:19.05, leading the Hawks to a 33-point effort and a victory over Highland (42).

Scott Bauer, Melissa's brother, prevailed in the boys' small school race in 16:41.30, just ahead of Rosamond's Christian Powers (16:42.88). Paraclete (35) secured the victory in the small schools competition, with Alemany of Mission Hills (48) taking second.