Countdown to XC: Girls Honorable Mention Teams

Ventura Girls

One of the problems with ranking CA cross country teams is the discrepancy between courses around the state: 5K vs 3 Mile (and others), and also difficulty level. That is why we use both 5K and 3Mile rankings in looking for strong returning teams, but you have to take 3 Mile rankings with a grain of salt. The Southern Section courses tend to be flatter and faster than, say, in the North Coast (with some noteworthy exceptions, of course), and so the 3 Mile rankings favor those teams. That's why Ventura's 26th-place rankings would not be enough, on its own, to get this team consideration for the countdown. However, the Cougars posted some interesting track times, especially in the 1600 - Madeleine Locher led three runners at 5:16 or better, with three more under 5:35. Taylor Sovich and Rebecca Locher both clocked 5:16, which could indicate they are ready to compete for spots in the top 3 on the 2019 squad. If so, this team is going to be quite strong by November.