Boys Countdown to XC Day 3: Claremont

Despite graduating four seniors from their squad that finished 3rd in Division 2 last fall, Claremont will reload and be right back in the title hunt in 2019. That much has been proven by this program's outstanding year-to-year improvement - the Wolfpack have been California's best improvers over the past 5 years when using 3 Mile data. Track season results also show the impressive progress of their returning runners, with the team posting 8 returning runners at 10:03 or faster in the 3200 to go with 10 under 4:50 in the 1600. Claremont lacks the superstar #1 runner that their primary D2 competition has, but the Wolfpack makes up for it with their impressive depth. Their returning top 7 from cross country is only separated by a total of 35 seconds, and that exact same top 7 had the exact same split in the 3200 on the track. This is going to be a classic pack-running team that can outscore other squads at the back end, and if Claremont has a strong summer I won't be surprised to see them back on the podium this fall.