Sac-Joaquin Section XC Preview

2019 XC Season Preview

Aug 21, 2019

Del Oro sophomore Riley Chamberlain won the State Division III title as a freshman. (Credit: DeAnna Turner)

Defending titles appears to be the overriding storyline of the Sac-Joaquin Section heading into the 2019 cross country season.

At the State Meet level, the SJS has two of the elite distance runners in the U.S. in Jesuit senior Matt Strangio (No. 4 returner from NXN), and Del Oro sophomore Riley Chamberlain (No. 4 U.S. in her class, No. 17 overall returner for 5K).

Both won SJ Section titles, went on to also win divisional championships at the CIF-State Meet last November, and run as individuals at NXN.

Strangio and Chamberlain are two of the seven returning SJS divisional champions from 2018, including all five girls divisions.

On the pages below we take a closer look at storylines in the Sac-Joaquin Section heading into the 2019 cross country season. And be sure to check out our list of the section's top 250 returners for 5K.

10 HOT DATES

Sampling of 10 key meets in the Sac-Joaquin Section

Aug. 23 - Lodi Flame at Lodi Lake

Aug. 31 - Oakmont Invitational at Maidu Regional Park, Roseville

Sept. 7 - Lagoon Valley Classic, Vacaville

Sept. 20 - Yuba-Sutter Invitational at Feather River Parkway, Yuba City

Sept. 21 - Pacific Invitational at Stockton

Sept. 28 - Capital Cross Challenge at Arcade Creek XC Course, Sacramento

Oct. 5 - Bret Harte Frogtown Invitational at Angels Camp

Oct. 19 - Bella Vista Bronco Invitational at Johnson Springview Park, Rocklin

Nov. 9 - CIF-Sac-Joaquin Sub-Sectional at Angels Camp

Nov. 16 - CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Finals at Willow Hill Reservoir, Folsom