CIF Division 3 State Meet: Boys Preview
Runner to Beat: Kevin Ramos
Team to Beat: West Torrance
Division 3 Boys Teams to Watch
I admit it: West Torrance has flown under my radar this season, and I haven't been watching them closely enough. They certainly have my attention now, after defeating Palos Verdes (the #1 team in our virtual meet) solidly at the Southern Section Finals. The Sea Kings could rebound and take the title, too - this PV squads has been intriguing all fall.
Can anyone unseat the best from the Southern Section in this race? I see a lot of good teams out there, but none that make me think of a likely champion. La Costa Canyon looked very strong coming out of the SDS, and they could have the best chance to break into the top 3. The North Coast sends Maria Carrillo and Campolindo, two teams that have gotten looks in the Flo50 this season, and both could make the top 5 in this race. Watch out for Ridgeview in this race: the Central Section champs dominated in their finals, averaging 16:22 on Woodward (which would have been good for 11th place last year). If they have one more gear to go to this weekend, the Wolf Pack could be a surprise top 5 candidate. Of course, the best competition for the top Southern Section teams often comes from the next group of Southern Section teams, which this year includes Whittier, St. John Bosco, Brea Olinda, and Moorpark. Don't be surprised to see one or two of those schools sneak into the top 6.
It wouldn't be surprising to see three teams from the SJS make the top 10 here - Vista Del Lago, Del Oro, and Rio Americano all have solid squads, but none of them look like they have top 5 potential (on the other hand, when you're coming off races at Frogtown and Willow Hills, Woodward Park can bring MUCH faster times). I've been bullish on Chico all season, and I think they have a good chance to turn some heads this weekend with a top-10 finish. Aptos and Greenfield are good teams out of the CCS, which makes the competition for places 6-15 in this meet really intense!
Division 3 Boys Individuals to Watch
Liam Anderson is the top returner in this division, but Kevin Ramos has improved enough to be considered the slight favorite. Both of these stars are fully capable of winning! They did have a head-to-head match-up at Mt. SAC, which Ramos won - but it's always dangerous to base a prediction off a single data point.
Compare Athletes: Liam Anderson vs. Kevin Ramos
Nor are they the only candidates to take home the individual crown in this race, at least not with Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos around. His 15:03 at Balboa last weekend (while essentially unchallenged, winning by 17 seconds) shows that he is ready to roll this weekend. Those three are in a class by themselves, and the rest of the top individuals could find themselves battling for fourth in the final straight. That group includes Anthony Benitez (Serra), the Stanford brothers from LCC, Brett Beattie (Buena). Keep an eye on Garrett Gough (Nevada Union), who has raced well on tough courses in the SJS and could be the guy to make a leap forward and bridge the gap to the front three - he's my sleeper for a top 5 finish in this race, which is why I have him in the Flo50 this week.