MHS Cross Country Sophomore Continues Winning Streak

Malibu High School sophomore cross-country sensation Carolyn Pietrzyk continued her winning streak this week with back-to-back victories at the first Tri-Valley League Meet on Thursday and at the Brentwood Invitational on Saturday.  

“Caroline’s confidence is growing with each race. She’s going to go out with whoever takes the lead and then see what she can do from there. Her work ethic in practice is showing in her races,” said Malibu High School Head Cross Country Coach Karen Costello.  

Pietrzyk ran a 19:39 on the 3.1mile course at Carpinteria High School to lead the Sharks to a sixth-place team finish at the Tri-Valley League Meet. Freshmen phenoms Charlotte Jackson and Caitlyn Myers finished 21st and 30th out of a field of 51 girls, in 22:00 and 22:49 respectively.  

Junior Dyer Pettigrew was the number one runner for the Malibu boy’s team finishing 29th in 19:14. Juniors Erik Rosenberg (19:38) and Aidan Pascucci (20:12), finished 38th and 41st out of field of 51 boys.   

“Dyer, Erik and Aidan are forming a solid top three. We have several athletes vying for the fourth and fifth spot. It should all come together in the next few weeks,” said Costello. “I’m impressed with the improvement I’ve seen in such a short period of time.”  

On Saturday, Pietrzyk knocked off almost three minutes from her last year’s time at the Brentwood Invitational, to place first with an outstanding time of 17:56 on the hilly 2.9 mile course.

The freshmen duo of Jackson (20:27) and Myers (20:37)  finished 13th and 15th out of  a field of 159 runners, to round out the medal winners for the Malibu girl’s team.  

Pettrigrew ‘s 16th place finish in 17:42, followed by Rosenberg’s 21st place finish in 17:52, notched two more medals for the Sharks.  

Next up for the Sharks is the 29th Palos Verdes Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 29, in Palos Verdes Estates, beginning at 12:35 p.m.