SAGE CREEK READY TO REPEAT
As the year went on in 2018, it was clear that La Costa Canyon's boys weren't the only quality team in the San Diego Secton as Sage Creek's girls got stronger and stronger in Division IV.
Sure enough, with three runners among the top 15 overall, the Bobcats edged defending champ Ventura Foothill Technology, 110-119.
It's the same Sage Creek team that will open the season as the favorite since six of the seven runners at State return, including all five scorers.
Leading the way is senior Skyler Wallace, who placed third in 17:50.0 - six seconds behind Pasadena Mayfield's Audrey Suarez and less than two seconds back of Harvard/Westlake's Daniela Quintero. In the spring, Wallace showed her speed, finishing eighth in the 3200 meters at the State Meet (10:33.10).
Her sister, Stormy, now a sophomore, was only three places behind Skyler in the State Final at Fresno's Woodward Park, 11 seconds back, and now-senior Lavanya Pandey placed 15th. That's a strong trio, especially since Stormy clocked an 11:12.68 for 3200m and Pandey went 11:20.06.
There is absolutely no reason to think juniors Natalie Huestis (43rd in team scoring at 19:41.2) and Elizabeth Gerhardt (47th at 19:48.4) plus sophomore Kiaya Rowlett (58th at 20:02.4) won't be considerably faster this time around.
Oh yes, watch for freshman Malia Leupold, who posted times of 2:19.40 (800), 4:46.35 (1500) and 10:57.05 (3000) over the summer.
DOROSTKAR NOW NO. 1
After four years of seeing Kristin Fahy dominate, the girls focus will turn to unsung Carlie Dorostkar of Canyon Crest Academy.
Much like Niednagel vs. Young, Dorostkar has a formidable challenge running in the same division as Temecula Great Oak's Tori Gaitan. In fact, although Dorostkar was fifth in the Division I championships, she's the top returnee behind Gaitan. Well behind -- 23 seconds.
In track, Dorostkar focused on the 3200m, finishing sixth in the State in 10:26.15 behind Fahy. That was a personal best by two seconds, a sign she hasn't approached her top performances and is continuing her steady improvement.
With teammates Elizabeth Emberger and Allison Rios leading the return of all five of the top Ravens runners, Dorostkar will not lack for training partners.
FARMER IN SPOTLIGHT
As a freshman, Rancho Bernardo's Jacey Farmer was something of a wunderkind since she primarily known as a soccer player who was running to stay in shape.
Farmer admits she has caught the running bug which could mean a big season.
As it was, Farmer was second to Dorostkar in the section championships before placing 14th in her first state competition.
Moving onto the track, Farmer -- she with the blazing finish -- clocked 1600-3200 times of 4:53.75 (placing eighth in the state at 4:56.02) and 11:14.22 respectively.
While primarily a miler, Farmer has shown she can stretch it out to 3.1 miles and now with a year of experience, make a run for the podium.
That said, she might not be alone on that lofty perch as teammate Ashley Learn, who finished 24th at Woodward Park and clocked 10:58.60 on the track for 3200, is also back as the Broncos now look for some depth.
THE POWAY PACKS
Cross country coaches know while you need a front-runner to challenge for a state title, it helps to have a pack. Poway's boys and girls have the pack with the girls hoping one will emerge as a front-runner.
The boys already have that in Alejandro Barranco, a senior who placed 17th at state in Division II last year. The Pack includes juniors Josh Ligas, Zak Beckwith, Alexander Hirsh and Alex Fernandez de la Vega.
The top five Titan girls runners -- juniors Katie Downs, Eva Rethmeier, and Sophia Chittle plus freshmen MacKenzie Rogers and Alina Ruvalcaba -- return but someone needs to emerge.
MORE INDIVIDUALS TO WATCH
While there is no Fahy this year (there usually isn't), there are plenty of individuals who fared well a year ago and are looking to move up. Additional State podium alumni include:
- Mission Vista's Bella Longo was fourth in Division III after running 18:04.6. She's the No. 2 returnee and clocked a 10:49.73 for 3200 meters at Arcadia.
- Maranatha Christian's Riley Burns placed fourth in Division V at 16:07.5 and the only one above him returning is runner-up Jackson Adelman of San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret's (15:39.5).
- El Cajon Christian's Alaina Zamorano finished 10th in Division V and went on to clock a 5:03.74 for 1600 meters. She was 6th as a freshman.
DIVISION RUNDOWNS
BOYS
Division I -This is definitely not one of the section's stronger divisions. El Camino's Sam Jones (54th) and Canyon Crest's Andrew Schultz (55th) are the top two returnees. Torrey Pines was a distant eighth in the section meet but have a front-runner in Nick Salz and all seven runners returning.
Division II - As coach Bill Vice said, five of the seven who ran in the Nike Nationals return led by Caleb Niednagel. Poway will be right there and while Del Norte lost its top two runners to graduation, the Nighthawks should be tough.
Division III - This division should be improved this year. Cathedral Catholic finished second in the section last year and returns all of its scorers. Defending champion El Capitan is led by Andrew Sager, who placed second individually in the section, but the Vaqueros lost three seniors.
Division IV - Although Sage Creek graduated it's top two runners, the other five return led by now sophomore Bryce Gilmore who was 25th in State. Crawford, Coronado and Valley Center are all looking to move up.
Division V - When your top six runners, separated by just 41 seconds in the section championships, return, guess who's the favorite. That would be Francis Parker led by junior Spencer Seay. If one of the runners makes a big jump, look out. Maranatha's Riley Burns won the section by 32 seconds-cruising.
GIRLS
Division I - Rancho Bernardo and El Camino had a great battle last year. The Broncos return Jacey Farmer (second in section) and Ashley Learn (third). Three varsity runners return. El Camino's Mackenzie Kozina was 6th in the section and all but one Wildcat returns. Individually, Canyon Crest's Carlie Dorostkar is nails and the Ravens team is closing fast.
Division II - La Costa Canyon just reloads. Kristin Fahy can't be replaced but Kyra Compton (third in section) and Sydney Weaber (fourth) are joined by Rebekah Niednagel with another half-dozen freshmen battling to make the Big 7. Poway, led by Katie Downs (sixth), could easily unseat the Mavericks. Mt. Carmel should be greatly improved.
Division III - Section champ El Capitan's top four (Carolinh Calvert, Evelyn Anderson, Dayana Lopez and Daisy Tamayo) return and the Vaqueros are deep. But, Cathedral Catholic lost just one of its top six and got a huge boost when former Westview standout Trang Woolridge (23rd in state in Division I) transferred in.
Woolridge would have been second in the section with her 18:24. Individual champ Bella Longo of Mission Vista (17:48.4) won by almost a minute.
Division IV - State champ Sage Creek scored just 30 points in the section finals and the top six return led by the Wallace sisters, senior Skyler (17:23.2) and soph Stormy (17:53.9). No. 3 Valley Center returns every scorer led by Madeline Marron and No. 2 Ramona, with Amy Brown the front-runner, is always a threat.
Division V - Santa Fe Christian's girls placed fourth in the state meet and the Eagles are looking to move up and maybe even give Lick-Wilmerding, which has six of its seven back, a run for their money. Soph Eloise Martenson was the No. 2 freshman at 13th in this division at State last year. El Cajon Christian's Alaina Zamorano won this race by 33 seconds at the section final in 2018.