DIVISION 1 BOYS
Bruno Amon-Franceschi (1078) and Sean Larbaoui (770) are among the the top boys in the LA City Section.
Teams to Watch (Full Rankings)
Despite losing Justin Hazell, El Camino Real has won three of the last four titles and remains the team to beat until someone steps up. And no less than five teams are ever so curious to see just how vulnerable the Hazell-less Conquistadores just might be. Marshall, with two of the top returning runners and a 15:52.21 overall 3 mile average, may actually be the team to beat. But it won't be easy with the likes of Palisades, with senior Brent Smith, who has the potential to be the top runner in the section. Pali returns three FS from last year under 17:00. Not to be overlooked is Granada Hills, which returns four under 17:00 from the 2017 third-place team, including stellar senior Sean Larbaoui. Adding to optimism at Granada Hills is a rising FS group that won the section title in 2017. Garfield is intriguing with five returners under 17:00 from the City Final but a sizable dropoff after that. San Pedro, the section D1 champion in 2013, returns two sub-16 minute runners but needs improved depth to challenge for a top-five finish.
Athletes to Watch (Full Rankings)
The aforementioned Brent Smith (No. 1291 pictured above) is the top returning runner from the 2017 LAC final. He has a shot at becoming only the second boy in LAC history to place in the top 10 in the section varsity final all four years. His 15:40.31 over the hilly Pierce College course placed third overall last fall.He wasn't able to carry that success up to Clovis where he placed 100th overall and sixth among LAC runners at the State final. Smith is, however, the No. 3 returner among LAC runners from the 2017 State Meet, behind the aforementioned Sean Larbaoui, who was 53rd (16:11.30 over the Woodward Park 5K layout) and Marshall's Bruno Amon-Franceschi, who was 55th overall. Larabaoui and Amon-Franceschi (post-section race interview below) are the Nos. 18 and 19 returners among D1 finishers at the State meet. Larabaoui was the City 1600 meter champion on the track. Others to note: Birmingham senior Marvin Guardado was 5th at the LAC Section meet and fifth among LAC finishers at State. Senior Jose Torres is the top returner for ELR. Sophomore Mason Cadden of Palisades was the No. 2 freshman finisher in D1 race at State. Marshall senior Elias Cannesson is the No. 5 returning from last year's section final.