A month into the CIF cross country season is the ideal time for Southern Section editor Mark Gardner to ranks the top 20 girls and boys teams in the nearly 600-team CIF-SS. These are subjective rankings based on results as of September 25, 2018.
GIRLS
Junior Tori Gaitan (230) and senior Fatima Cortes lead top-ranked Great Oak. (Lizette Adams photo)
1) Great Oak (Div. I)
2) Claremont (Div. II)
3) Vista Murrieta (Div. I)
4) Mission Viejo (Div. II)
5) Saugus (Div. II)
6) Serrano (Div. II)
7) Mira Costa (Div. I)
8) Anaheim Canyon (Div. II)
9) Fountain Valley (Div. I)
10) Walnut (Div. I)
11) West Ranch (Div. I)
12) El Toro (Div. II)
13) Foothill Technology (Div. IV)
14) Ayala (Div. I)
15) El Segundo (Div. IV)
16) Harvard Westlake (Div. IV)
17) La Canada (Div. IV)
18) Palos Verdes (Div. III)
19) Redondo Union (Div. I)
20) Capistrano Valley (Div. II)
On the cusp: Chaparral, Dana Hills, J Serra, Laguna Beach, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Santiago, Westlake