Boys Countdown to XC Day 10: Burbank

If you're surprised at how high I have Burbank in the countdown, you have some good reasons. The Bulldogs compete in Division 1 and they didn't even make it to Southern Section Finals as a team last fall. Plus, their returning cross country rankings are inflated by running at Woodbridge (3 mile) and Master's College (5K), arguably the fastest courses of their distance in the state. I put them here to draw your attention to the factors that are in their favor: returning depth and very strong improvement during track season. Burbank only had one senior in the top 7 and two in the top 14 last fall, which gives them a deep group of returning runners to build with. This year, however, this team will be loaded with seniors, and that (along with the disappointing end to the previous season) should provide the motivation to break through not only to CIF finals but to the state meet. Returning #1 runner Andres Leon will be a junior in the fall, but he should be pushed by senior Victor Goli, who led 5 returning Bulldogs under 10 minutes in the 3200 during the spring (he also ran 4:23 for the 1600). I don't have enough date on this team to really determine how good they are at year-to-year improvement. Given that both the girls and boys from Burbank appear to be on the rise, I am seeing this as a program that is getting ready to make noise in the Southern Section. That makes the Bulldogs my ultimate sleeper pick for 2019!