STATE MEET PREVIEW What to Watch for in Division V

GIRLS

D-V Meet Records

Top Individual Storyline

Can Crystal Springs Uplands School senior Kaiya Brooks win the school's first state championship of any kind?

Individual Competition

As a freshman in 2019, Kaiya Brooks (DJ Patil photo) of Crystal Springs Uplands School finished in fourth place at the California State Meet Division V race after winning the WBAL and CCS individual titles. COVID and Osgood Schlatter limited her running as a sophomore before returning last year in the fall to finish in fifth place once again at the State meet. During the spring, Brooks really hit her stride as she posted personal records of 4:53.10 and 10:23.66 and finished in 2nd place at the CCS meet in the 3200m. She finished in ninth place at the State Meet to complete the most impressive season of any Division V runners.

This fall, Brooks has raced six times winning five of those races with her lone defeat taking place at the Rough Rider Invitational where she placed second behind Campolindo senior, Ellie Buckley. Brooks raced to a personal best time of 17:26.6 to win the WBAL individual title on the Crystal Springs course which was the fastest time on the historic course this season.

Brooks's main competition will be from North Coast Section runners Adeline Johnson of Branson and Sienna Faidi of Convent & Stuart Hall. Both runners returned from injury at the NCS MOC meet to finish in first and second place, respectively.

Also in the mix will be the Southern Section champion, freshman Chloe Elbaz of Xavier College Prep (SS). She was followed by senior JiaLian Mackey of Viewpoint (SS) who will be leading her team to a potential podium finish. 

Other notable runners are Castilleja senior Samira Kennedy who finished in second place at last year's State championship race. Teammates Daniella Henderson and Perry McElhinney give Castilleja quite a front trio and all three will be racing up front. Oceana runner Lara Scanziani-Grijalva finished behind Brooks and ahead of the Castilleja trio at the CCS championship race.

Top Team Storyline

Can the University girls add to their already state meet record of 11 team titles?

Team Race

In the past three State championship races, the Lick-Wilmerding girls won in 2018 and 2019 while the University girls edged L-W last year for their record-setting 11th team title. Both schools compete in the BCL West and if iron sharpens iron, both teams will be ready to compete once again for that top spot in the Division V race. University will have the edge as they have really hit their stride late season and will be coming off their 19th section team title last Saturday. University will be led by junior Lucinda Laughlin and senior Mia Giles. Lick-Wilmerding will be led by senior Amelie Maltz.

The Convent & Stuart Hall girls have certainly injected themselves in the battle between the two San Francisco Schools. With their lead runner Sienna Faidi returning from injury, Convent rolled to a 2nd place finish behind University at the NCS MOC meet. 

The Southern Section champion Viewpoint team will also be aiming for a podium finish at the state meet. They were impressive in defeating other state-ranked teams, Xavier College Prep, Cate and St. Margarets.

In the Central Coast Section championship race, the Crystal Springs Uplands School girls won their first section title since 2015 finishing just in front of Castilleja and Menlo. They were led by senior Kaiya Brooks who should give the young Gryphons (four freshmen) a very low stick to start their team score.

Top Individual Storyline

We will have a new state champion after Francis Parker senior Kenan Pala rolled to a Division V course record 14:52 in 2021. 

Individual Competition

The top returners from last year's state meet are St. Margaret's junior Everett Capelle and Woodcrest Christian sophomore Eyan Turk who finished in sixth and seventh place respectively. Turk just won the individual title at the Southern Section final edging out Capelle. 

At the Central Coast Section final, Menlo senior Justin Pretre (photo courtesy of Steve Pretre) recorded a sub 15-minute time on the rugged Crystal Springs course and will be aiming for a similar time on the Woodward Park course. His brother Landon Pretre has been racing with him the entire season and will be in the front pack as well.

Sonoma Academy senior Tiernan Colby won a very competitive NCS MOC meet finishing ahead of Convent & Stuart Hall junior Malcolm Oakes and Lick-Wilmerding's top runner, Sean Green.

In the San Diego Section final, Liberty Charter senior Micah Sanchez edged Francis Parker junior York Bourgeois to win the individual title. Both runners should be in the mix for a top-10 finish.

In the Sac-Joaquin Section, the best runner in that section is Sacramento Country Day sophomore, Andrew Burr. He finished in 13th place at last year's State Meet and was the 2nd fastest freshman in the field. 

Top Team Storyline

This year's chase for the team title should be an interesting one with lots of contenders. Yosemite has been the top-ranked team most of the season and has pitted itself against some of the top teams in the state. They are led by sophomores Jack Olney and Ben Olney. Last year, Yosemite finished in 14th place in the Division IV race and will now get their opportunity for a much higher finish in the Division V race.

Another team that moved down from Division IV is Menlo School. They also have a brother duo at the front with Justin Pretre and Landon Pretre. They finished in seventh place in the 2021 Division IV race and return a very talented group that is aiming their sites on the team championship.

The Crystal Springs Uplands School team finished in third place in the Division V race as they made the podium for the first time. They were also the first boys' team to make the podium with four freshmen in their top five scoring runners. They narrowly defeated Menlo at the WBAL and CCS meets and were led by sophomore Benjamin Bouie who finished in 14th place at the 2021 State Meet.

The Lick-Wilmerding boys won the team title last year and just repeated as section champions last Saturday. Just like their girls' team, the L-W boys are tested routinely by the University boys in the tough BCL West. The Tigers were impressive last week at Hayward HS and shouldn't be counted out this Saturday.

The previously mentioned University boys finished placed second at the NCS MOC meet with several team members running under the weather. They should be back to full strength this Saturday and will run their usually patient race to pick off teams in the final two miles.