WATSONVILLE >> The closest thing to a lead pack was the congested start line at the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Cross Country Championships on Thursday. Santa Cruz High senior Eli Fitchen-Young made sure of it.

Fitchen-Young repeated as individual champion in 14 minutes, 26 seconds, a course record on the 3-mile course at Pinto Lake County Park. His previous best of 14:34 on the course came in his title win last season.

“It started out a little fast and I kinda found a rhythm,” Fitchen-Young said. “It was a fun race. It’s kinda very bittersweet racing here for the last time.”

Fitchen-Young, who will announce his commitment to an NCAA Division I program in the coming weeks, posted four top-five finishes in the league championships during his high school career. He took fifth as a freshman and second as a sophomore.

On a perfect, 67-degree, cloudless afternoon, Fitchen-Young led by roughly 100 yards by the time he hit the mile mark and maintained his powerful stride the rest of the way.

“It wasn’t like I really tapered for this in any way,” he said. “I took a day off yesterday, but it was the first day off in a long time. So, not really tapered, but I wanted a really good effort, and I got that today.”

Fitchen-Young’s early finish allowed him to cheer his teammates as they approached the finish line.

Aptos sophomore Sam Hansen (15:29) took second, and senior teammate Vincent Sandford-Carroll (15:33) was third.

Hansen was in awe of Fitchen-Young’s effort.

“Oh, my gosh. He just pulled away super quick,” the Mariner said. “He just got in my head. There’s no way you can keep up with that kid, he’s incredible. It’s an honor to race around such incredible runners.”

Hansen, who was sick the last time he ran the course, and Sandford-Carroll both set massive personal bests.

Hansen said Mariners coach Dan Gruber had some simple advice: ” ‘Just give it all you got. We’re not going to give them any chance.’ We just care about this so much.”

Hansen said he and his teammates gave “every ounce.”

Said Sandford-Carroll: “Thankfully, I took enough time off. I did enough hills, so I was crushing hills. Hills are my weakness, but not today. I felt fluid today. This means so much to me. I mean, a year ago I got 15th on this course. From a year ago, I PR’d by around two minutes. I’m Christian, so I thank Jesus for today, for allowing me to become so strong over the course of a year.”

Scotts Valley junior Aaron Weiss (15:40) took fourth, and Aptos junior Brady Bliesner (15:48) was fifth.

The top three teams advanced to the Central Coast Section Championships at Crystal Spring Cross Country Course in Belmont on Nov. 16, and the three individuals not on the top three teams advanced with at-large berths.

All five Aptos scorers finished in the top 10. Sophomore Anthony Sandford-Carroll (16:11) took sixth and senior Andrew Pursley (16:43) took ninth as the Mariners won the team title with a score of 25.

Santa Cruz (45) took second, and Scotts Valley (69) was third.

Senior Emiliano Villarreal (seventh in 16:17), sophomore Nico van der Meer (10th in 16:46), freshman Anders Lauberg (12th in 16:52), and senior Marco Jimenez (15th in 17:02) also scored for the Cardinals.

Sophomore Jackson Stull (11th in 16:50), junior Nate McKeon (14th in 16:55), sophomore Joshua Adams (19th in 17:22), and junior William von Haunalter (21st in 17:24) also scored for the Falcons.

Sophomore Colton Ryssemus, a team newcomer, took eighth in 16:38 to advance to CCS as an individual and help San Lorenzo Valley (101) take fourth place. Senior teammate Cian Ryan took 20th in 17:24 and also qualified for the section championships.

Soquel junior Levi Larsen took 18th in 17:15 to qualify for CCS and help the Knights (135) place fifth.

Harbor freshman Santiago Hanna (19:18) took 31st and the Pirates (175) took sixth.

Mount Madonna had an incomplete team. The Hawks were led by junior Hans Hagge (18:19), who placed 27th.