Countdown to XC: Girls Honorable Mention Teams

Ayala Girls

This was the hardest team to drop from the countdown. There are always a bunch of teams that are clustered together statistically, and deciding between them can really involve splitting hairs. In this case, it was the Bulldogs' relative quiet track season that made the difference for me. I know that some schools just don't emphasize track season as much, and sometimes athletes play other sports, and of course track isn't required to be successful in cross country. However, so many strong programs field good distance squads in the spring, and track times can be an excellent way to keep up with the progress of individual runners and teams. For that reason, I'm waiting to see how much Ayala has improved since last November before jumping on their bandwagon. I will say this, however: the Bulldogs have enough returning talent to be a serious force in the Southern Section, and I can see them  making it back to the state meet even with the loss to graduation of star Mikaela Ramirez.