Vista del Lago’s varsity girls’ cross country team is defying their age.

Even with three freshmen in the top-five of the lineup, the Eagles placed second in the Saturday’s Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III championships at Willow Hills in Folsom to advance to the state meet on Nov. 28 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“Without a doubt the girls put together their best performance of the year, when it counted the most, and gave the defending Division III champs, Del Oro, a run for the team title,” Vista coach Mike Livingston said. “A mere six points separated the two teams after the final scores came in. For a first year varsity program with three freshmen in the top five, it’s just been remarkable what these girls have accomplished this year.”

Madeleine Ankhelyi, a freshman, led the way for the Eagles on Saturday, placing third in 19 minutes, 17 seconds. Junior Marissa Mendez finished in fourth place well behind her teammate in 20:01. Freshman Jennifer Morgan placed ninth in 20:12 followed by freshman Hannah Osuna (19th, 20:47) and junior Jennifer Arbaugh (30th, 21:33).

Sophomore Maddie McFarland (46th, 23:15) and junior Chelsea Gorman (50th, 23:27) rounded out the varsity squad.

The varsity boys’ team placed ninth with Ian Kennedy leading the way by placing 28th in 17:59. Matt Winkler ran 43rd in 18:33 followed by David Howell (59th, 18:59), Riley Martin (62nd, 19:21), Bobby Melchin (64th, 19:59) and Tony Christiansen (70th, 23:09).

In the freshman/sophomore division, Sam Ruby placed 14th to earn a medal, as did Elizabeth Anderson, who placed 13th. Mitch Thompson placed 17th in the freshman race, while Paige Robinson ended up 34th in the freshman-sophomore race.