Running in two tight packs near the top, the Torrey Pines girls team sped to second place at the CIF San Diego Section Cross Country Division I championships, and qualified for the Nov. 26 state meet.
Competing at Morley Field on Nov. 19, the Falcons scored 90 points (first-place Westfield had 65) thanks to strong performances from junior Vanessa Beeler (17:42), junior Isabella Aguiar (17:47) and senior Ines Ramirez (17:52), who finished 14th through 16th overall.
Also running well for Torrey Pines were senior Gabi Dunkin (18:02, 22nd place) and a trio of juniors in Kylie Preske (18:03, 23rd), Habeeba Kamel (18:34, 34th) and Emma Largerie (18:58, 47th).
The state meet will be contested on the Woodward Park Course in Fresno.
Early on Nov. 19, the Falcons captured third place in the Division I boys race. That squad was paced by junior Robert Bartsch, who took 11th in 17:07.
Other top Torrey Pines finishers were senior Derek Parsons (26th in 17:32), freshman Nick Salza (29th, 17:39), senior Ethan Yeh, junior Travis Hellencamp, junior Blake Hayes and senior Michael McMahon.