The JSerra Girls Cross Country team proved to be more than ready for their national showdown on the regular season's largest stage.

The Lions prominently displayed their credentials as a national force to be reckoned with, as they finished second overall (tops among all California teams) in the Bob Day Sweepstakes Race at the 2023 Woodbridge Cross Country Classic Saturday night at the Great Park in Irvine.

JSerra, the top ranked team in the state in Division 4, toed a starting line boosting one of the deepest fields of nationally ranked teams ever assembled in the 42-year history of the mid-September juggernaut invitational.

Junior Brynn Garcia, racing competitively for the first time this season, served as the lead catalyst for the Lions' effort finishing in team-best 16:48.9.

Sophomores Summer Wilson (16:56.7) and Kaylah Tasser (17:00.5) were strong in support of Garcia's lead pacing.

The Lions received a massive boost from junior Anne Elise Packard (17:02.7), who climbed a staggering 26 places over the final mile and finished right behind Tasser.

Freshman Reese Holley capped the scoring quintet for JSerra, as she moved up eight places in the final mile to finish in 17:14.3.

With five scoring runners in the top 45, the Lions' final point tally of 146 points was 50 points better than third place Buchanan High of Clovis (the next best scoring team from California).

Air Academy High of Colorado (scoring four in the top 20 and five in the top 40) was an impressive team sweepstakes winner with 77 points.

It was also a strong evening of racing for the Boys Cross Country team.

The Lions, competing in the Rated Race, finished fourth overall with 321 points.

Junior Bradley Arrey paced JSerra in the race, as he finished seventh overall in a time of 14:36.3.

Sophomores Luke Friedl (14:48.7) and Alden Morales (14:51.5) also finished in top 30 overall.

Head Coach Chase Frazier had a simple, yet highly accurate assessment of Saturday's results.

"It was a BIG night for us," Frazier said.