The Central Section championships are Thursday at Woodward Park in Fresno. Buchanan is the favorite to win a third consecutive girls section title in Division I.
Buchanan (D-I), Monache (D-II), Ridgeview (D-III), Avenal (D-IV), Chowchilla (D-V) are the defending division champions among the boys.
Monache (D-II), Bakersfield Foothill (D-III), Corcoran (D-IV), and Wonderful College Prep (D-V) are the other defending team champions among the girls.
Here's a look at the top returning runners in each division based off of 2017 results.
Girls D-I
Buchanan senior Meagen Lowe is the defending champion after placing third as a sophomore. Junior Corie Smith was second to Lowe last year after winning the section title as a freshman. Smith is the defending DI State champion. Clovis senior Olivia Herrera was third last year and seventh as a sophomore.
Smith went 17:05.30 on the Woodbridge 5K course as a sophomore and no doubt has the 16:59 section course record on her radar at some point before her day...
