TIER 4
Newbury Park - Making the move back here after a couple years in Division I, the Panthers possess one of the strongest duos up front in the section. Sophomore Fiona Hawkins took 11th place (17:20) at last year's Division I finals. This past track season, she solely focused on the 800 meters (2:18 best, CIF qualifier). One of the most improved girls in the section in 2017, Archana Mohandas comes in off a 5:17/10:57 track season and with a best of 17:38 on Riverside Championship course. Those two represent one of the rare combos that both broke 17:50 on that course last postseason. Depth will be the main concern though. Gretchen Slattum, Katie Rose, and Abagail Gulbranson will try to overcome the graduation of two of their top four from last year's divisional finals. Slattum is coming off a 2:25/5:32 spring.
Thousand Oaks - Samhal Asfaw qualified as an individual, despite finishing in 18th place, but among the top five individuals not on qualifying teams. The Lancers return their top six from last year's finals. Last year, their freshmen trio finished behind Asfaw. Sophomores Emily Richmond, MacKenzie Kelly, and Daphne Delmar will now look to break into 18's this fall and perhaps surprise some squads projected to finish ahead of them. Thousand Oaks still needs to shore up some lack of depth and help could come from another sophomore that impressed this past track season, Kiara Benioff (2:24/5:44). Jalyn Mayer also possesses postseason experience. This should be their third straight trip to the divisional finals.