2019 Central Coast Section Championship Preview

Nov 14, 2019

Girls Division I (Top 2 teams qualify for CA state XC meet)
Coming into this season, it appeared that Division I would be the most competitive division in the Central Coast Section. Now that we are rapidly approaching the section final, one team has risen above the rest and that is the Palo Alto girls (John Hale photo above of Paly's Ella Ball). They will be chased by the Homestead girls who would be thrilled by a 2nd place finish since that would also qualify them to the state meet. The Monta Vista girls appear to be the 3rd best team and will need an inspired effort to get by Homestead. The 4th best team will be another SCVAL team, Gunn. The favorite to win the individual title will be Los Altos freshman, Lauren Soobrian. She secured one of the fastest time at this week's league final with a winning 17:46.6 at the SCVAL final. Her two closest competitors will be Los Gatos senior Annika Paylor and Sequoia junior Yvonne Brien Miller.

Boys Division I (Top 3 teams qualify for CA state XC meet)

Bellarmine has won the last six Division I section titles and this year's team may be the best XC team in school history. Last week, the Bellarmine boys broke the team time record on the historic Crystal Springs course with a team time of 76:10. They will be lockdown favorites to win their 7th straight title and will be eyeing their first podium finish at state since a 3rd place finish in 1994. With three teams qualifying to the state meet, it appears that Los Altos has a slight edge for 2nd followed by Monta Vista and then Palo Alto. Homestead will need an improved effort this Saturday to put itself into state contention. The favorite to win the individual title will be Bellarmine junior Colin Peattie. He will have a familiar pursuer in teammate and fellow junior Nolan Topper. The rest of the Bellarmine pack will also be among the leaders as well as Carson Smith of Santa Teresa, Adam Sage of Los Altos, Aiden Dimick of Carlmont, and Rohun Agrawal of Monta Vista.