The Highlanders proved they were the best of the best.

The Royal High boys’ cross country team won the Divisions I-II team sweepstakes at the 62nd annual Mount San Antonio College Invitational in Walnut last weekend with four of its top five runners earning top-13 finishes.

Travis Edwards led the way for the Highlanders, finishing the 2.91-mile course in 15 minutes flat.

Sean Davidson (eighth, 15:14), Paul Jesson (ninth, 15:16) and Korey Yoakum (13th, 15:22) aided Royal.

Christian Garza rounded up the Highlanders’ superb scoring effort by finishing in 16:01 for 55th place.

Colin Keane (16:12) and Sean Upson (16:24) also ran well for the Highlanders.

RHS’ team time of 76:53 was the second-fastest total in the history of the prestigious Mt. SAC Invitational. The Highlanders hold the course record of 76:22, set in 2005.

Royal, ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section Division I and in the state, is also considered the best boys’ team in the country by The Harrier online report.

Simi Valley’s boys were third in the Division I race.

David Nelson (10th, 16:05), Michael Vorgitch (11th, 16:09), Tyler Apperson (20th, 16:22), Kolten Mcleod (27th, 16:37) and Jesus Mendoza (53rd, 17:05) paced the Pioneers. Matt Lee (17:39) and Troy Curnel (17:42) also ran for SVHS.

Simi Valley’s girls were third in the Division I individual team sweepstakes.

Liberty Miller broke a school record at the course by completing the race in 17:13, good enough for third place overall.

Karla Vernola (25th, 18:50), Nicole Rietveld (37th, 19:27), Amanda Miller (47th, 19:53), Mila Maddalone (52nd, 19:58), Hanna Jeters (53rd, 19:58) and Maddison Hawk (60th, 20:21) also contributed for Simi.

The Royal girls’ squad was seventh in the Division I race.

Sophie Mateu paced RHS by finishing 10th in 19:14.

Kelly Upson (33rd, 20:19), Alyssa Moore (42nd, 20:27), Caroline Foudy (44th, 20:29), Makenna Miller (97th, 22:01) and Hannah Safford (104th, 22:21) also competed for Royal.