TIER 2
Roosevelt - Despite graduating four of their top six from last year's state meet runner-up squad (15th at NXN), Roosevelt will be right there to rise to the top beyond those top two powerhouses up top. After finishing 3rd in 2016, the Mustangs gave Great Oak all it could handle at the divisional finals and State meet a year ago. Juniors Raul Chavez (4:22/9:22), Michael Sahagun and Ricardo Sainz will be up front along with senior Aaron Lieberman. Incoming freshman Andres Chavez, a successful age group runner, will step in and shore up that depth that Roosevelt lacked on paper. Head Coach Joe Robles also mentioned some new younger faces stepping into the mix as well. The program has ascended to one that performs well on the big stage and no doubt, expects to be at the State meet from here on out.
Long Beach Poly - On paper, is projected to travel back to the State meet after their 6th place finish at the 2017 Div. I finals. Senior William Frankenfeld comes in as one of the best in the section, leaving the track season with 4:21 and 9:09 credentials. Junior Ronan McMahon-Staggs (9:23.0) displayed tremendous improvement this past spring as Poly returns four of its top six from last year's divisional finals. Poly has not qualified for consecutive State meet appearances since those nationally ranked squads from the late 1990's and early 2000's. Daniel Bautista and Devin Koval return with State meet experience as well. Zane Witter is coming in, just off a 9:56 track season.
West Ranch - As the division lost two of the state's best squads, West Ranch moved over to Division I this season and will look to replace one of those departing programs. With West Ranch competing in the Foothill League, arguably the toughest boys' league in the state, it is coming off a 3rd place finish at the 2017 Div. II finals to go along with finishing 6th at the previous two finals. A fourth straight trip to the State meet is expected, regardless of division. Seniors Evan Bates (4:18/9:19) and Isaiah Seidman (9:09) are coming off great track seasons and provide one of the best 1-2 combos in the entire section up front. But the depth was a huge question mark for the program. That lack of depth is no longer an issue as two high-level transfers come over to the Wildcats! Alexis Romero (4:24/9:51) joins the crew, coming over from nearby Golden Valley. Also adding to the pot, Hunter Romine of Trinity Classical transfers his talent as well, while coming off a 4:24 sophomore track season. Another 3rd place finish at the divisional finals is not out of the question for West Ranch.
Arcadia - Arcadia has put in another productive summer of miles on them and will be right in the mix for making the trip back to Fresno for the first time since 2015. From 2005-2015, Arcadia qualified for the State meet 10 times with three titles, including the NXN team championship in 2013. Returning its top two in seniors Soichiro Nagao and Jack Ruan from last year's finals is a good start. Along with four underclassmen that broke 4:38, they need to close that gap on those two front runners or the door will be left more open for others to jump onto those coveted team spots. Arcadia '13 alum, Chris Lee, is coming over from North Torrance as head coach with the mindset to restore the State meet regime of one of the most successful programs in Southern Section history.