Frankian surges at end of frosh/soph race, Saugus goes 1-2-3

After running stride for stride with sophomore teammates Stephanie Bulder and Danielle Hernando past the 2-mile mark Saturday in the girls' large school frosh/soph race at the 30th annual Clovis Invitational, Saugus freshman Karis Frankian relied on a late surge to win in 18 minutes, 28 seconds in the first race at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Bulder was second in 18:35, another impressive drop from her 19:58 effort last year on the 5-kilometer course, and Hernando took third in 18:38 for the Centurions, who won with 17 points and a team time of 94:31.

After running in fourth for the majority of the race, freshman Katie Shirley took fifth in 19:13. Alex Hampton relied on a magnificent kick in the final 200 meters to hold off Long Beach Poly's Elliott Gentile for sixth, as both runners clocked 19:37.

Amy Haukka gave Saugus six runners in the top 10 with her ninth-place effort (19:50) and Emily McCarty rounded out the Centurions' effort, taking 16th (20:08).

Long Beach Poly (100:29) took second with 77 points and Oak Park (102:01) was third with 79.