If you’ve ever been to the Lowell Invitational—aka the San Francisco Invitational—you know the vibe. It’s one part race, one part chaos, and one part Bay Area cross country Woodstock. You’ve got the endless trails of Golden Gate Park, the morning fog creeping over the start line, and about 3,000 high schoolers all trying to prove they’re the next Prefontaine. And into that storm of energy came the Milpitas Trojans.
This wasn’t just another tune-up meet. This was a chance to run against the big dogs. Teams from the Peninsula, East Bay, and Marin all showed up with their A-squads. It’s the kind of early-season test that either humbles you or confirms what you already knew: that you can hang with anybody.
Arnav’s Big Moment
Let’s start with the headline: Arnav Agrawal. The junior went full “I’m here, get used to it” mode. Out of 399 varsity boys, he crossed the line in 7th place overall—with a scorching 14:04.6. That’s a 5:03 per mile pace on a course that’s famous for chewing people up and spitting them out.
In Bill Simmons’ terms, this was Arnav’s “Game 6 Klay Thompson” moment. Everyone knows he’s good. Everyone knows he’s put in the miles. But then he shows up on the biggest early-season stage, goes toe-to-toe with some of Northern California’s elite, and drops a top-10 finish? That’s how you go from being “a solid runner” to being The Guy.
The Pack Behind Him
Cross country isn’t just about one star. It’s about depth. It’s about the pack. And this is where Milpitas made its money. Behind Arnav, the Trojans had their next four scorers rolling through in the top 85 places. That might not sound like headline material, but in a race this big, that’s huge.
The result? A 9th-place team finish out of dozens of squads. Not “oh wow, we survived.” More like, “hey, we just cracked the top 10 at one of the biggest meets of the year.” That’s a statement. It says Milpitas isn’t just leaning on Arnav—they’ve got a crew.
The Freshman Buzz
Let’s talk about the frosh boys, because this is where the future lives. Joash Thomas finished 6th overall in his race, dropping a 12:14.9 for the 2-mile course. That’s not a fluke. That’s the kind of time where you immediately circle his name on the roster and go, “yeah, we’re building around this guy.”
And he wasn’t alone. Milana, Iyer, Gill, Long—those names popped up in the results like a roll call of future varsity contributors. They may not be cracking varsity lineups yet, but give it a year or two, and this is the nucleus that keeps Milpitas relevant.
The Girls: Building Something
Now let’s talk about the girls’ team, because while they didn’t grab top-10 headlines like the boys, this meet was still huge for them.
Golden Gate Park is no joke, and the Trojan girls stepped up. They didn’t have a front-runner in the top 20 (this time), but what they did show was balance and resilience. The girls ran smart, packed together, and gave glimpses of a team that’s quietly laying a foundation.
If the boys are the flashy up-and-comers, the girls are the under-the-radar rebuild—think the 2013 Warriors before Steph became Steph. They’ve got pieces, they’ve got youth, and with steady development, they’ll be in the mix at SCVAL and beyond.
Angela Rokita: First to Cross the Line for the Trojans
If the freshman girls were the steady engine, Angela Rokita was the spark plug. She smacked down a 13:15.3, securing 2nd place overall in the race. Think about that: second out of the entire field, trailing only the Half Moon Bay runner who clocked in at 13:00.7. lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com
In cross-country terms, this was her “Game 5 Dame”—you didn’t know what you were watching until that race hit, and suddenly you realize you’re witnessing something special.
Golden Gate Park, the Great Equalizer
Here’s the thing about the Lowell course: it’s sneaky hard. It lulls you in with these wide-open meadows, then hits you with turns, uneven footing, and the dreaded finishing stretch in Hellman Hollow. It’s the kind of course where if you go out too fast, you’re toast.
That makes what the Trojans did even more impressive. They didn’t just survive it. They thrived. The veterans leaned on experience, the younger runners showed guts, and the whole squad walked away with battle scars that will pay off in October and November.
Big Picture: What This Means
So what’s the takeaway here? A couple things jump out:
- Arnav is legit. Top-10 at Lowell isn’t a one-off. That’s a warning shot to every CCS contender.
- The boys are deep. Top 10 as a team means they can hang with almost anyone when the stakes get bigger.
- The frosh have juice. Joash is the headliner, but the whole class looks ready to contribute sooner than later.
- Momentum matters. Early-season results don’t decide championships, but they build confidence. And confidence travels.
Final Word
Milpitas showed up to Golden Gate Park and proved they’re not just another team in matching uniforms. They’re a program. They’ve got a star in Arnav, a pack that can back him up, and a freshman group that looks like the next great wave.
If this were the NBA, I’d say the Trojans are a young playoff team on the rise—not a title contender yet, but a team that’s dangerous enough to make some noise. And if you were at Golden Gate Park last weekend, you’d know: the noise has already started.
