DIVISION I
BOYS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- Captured another Southwestern League title as they prepare to rest most of their varsity squad over the next two weeks. The master plan is to emerge fresh for another State Title and to improve upon their runner-up finish at NXN a year ago! Stay tuned....
2. Bellarmine Prep (CC) -- Setting a new course record at the Crystal Springs course was inspiring! Another performance like that will have them pushing Great Oak to the limit at the State Meet as they are now a legit prospect for a NXN berth. Their top eight are ALL juniors!
3. Dublin (NC) -- Chris Middleton-Pearson rebounded VERY well from a tough outing at Clovis to capture the EBAL championship and lead his team to victory. Their remaining scorers all came in within a 15-second bubble to cap off the title.
4. Clovis North (CS) -- Sat out two top scorers at the John Steaman Invite two weeks ago. They prepare for a strong showing at this weekend's Tri-River Athletic Conference Championships on the Woodward Park course.
5. Jesuit (SJ) -- Squeaked out the victory over Davis at the Delta League Championships with a couple sub-par performances. With that, we aren't going to over react and move them down based on that one race as few programs have consistently peaked their athletes for prime-time more than Jesuit has! They came back, performing well at the Sac-Joaquin Subsections last weekend.
6. Torrey Pines (SD) -- Not much to report as they prepare for this weekend's North County Conference Championships. They cruised and pack ran (5-second gap for their front three) in beating San Marcos and La Costa Canyon two weeks ago.
7. Crescenta Valley (SS) -- Solid, determined performance to hold off Burbank and Arcadia to capture the Pacific League Title. While possessing more depth along with an improving Dylan Wilbur and Erik Faeustle up front, they rise as the favorite to capture the runner-up spot in the SS-Div. 1 battle.
8. La Serna (SS) -- Their consistency impresses as they continue to string along some great efforts over this past month. A talented crew from California High could not keep up at the Del Rio League Finals with the Lancers placing five in front of their second scorer! Gerald Baltzer's stock continues to rise with another front-running performance.
9. Burbank (SS) -- Great showing at the Pacific League Championships but could not match the improved depth of Crescenta Valley. Andres Leon and Victor Goli were unable to match CV's No. 2 and lightening fast course at Arcadia Park.
10t. Long Beach Poly (SS) -- They barely hold onto this spot as there really isn't much that separates them from several other Southern Section squads looking to claim a State Meet spot next weekend. We're leaning toward the all-senior squad for now as they captured another Moore League title.
10t. Amador Valley (NC) -- Nice effort at the EBAL Championships, as they tied a tough Granada squad, but settled for third on the sixth runner. Their lack of fifth runner worries us but their top four have been outstanding this past month, led by John Lester and Aidan McCarthy.
Others: Arcadia (SS), California (SS), Davis (SJ), Mira Costa (SS), Roosevelt (SS), Vista Murrieta (SS).
GIRLS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- Easily rolled to the Southwestern League title despite sitting out several key varsity components. With a late start to her season, Arianna Griffiths' confidence is soaring while Tori Gaitan looks to lead this squad to another state title and NXN berth.
2. Buchanan (CS) -- Corie Smith and Sydney Sundgren led 27-point (53 second gap) team victory at John Seaman Invite.
3. Saugus (SS) -- Ran away with the Foothill League title but still not quite 100% from what we suspect them to be once Thanksgiving weekend rolls around. Their top girl from 2018 continues to round into form and looks to join the main group at this weekend's CIF-SS prelims.
4. Vista Murrieta (SS) -- Despite last year's top girl, Devyn Candaele, barely utilized this season with very limited training, we suspect that the Broncos are still holding back from what we've thus far. They've done a great shoring up their back end while still returning a nice group with top-ten NXN experience!
5. Canyon Crest Academy (SD) -- Heads into league this week, SDS finals next week.
6. Oak Ridge (SJ) -- Top team at SJS Sub-Sectional heading into this week's SJS Championships.
7. Mira Costa (SS) -- Sat out Dalia Frias and still won Bay League title. SS Prelims this weekend.
8. San Clemente (SS) -- Hana Catsimanes continues to roll as one of the best in California, but the rest of the Tritons continue to roll as they captured the Sea View League title over strong Aliso Niguel and Tesoro squads. (If you included their freshman league champion, Kennedy Banks, into the varsity race, they win by much more).
9. Beckman (SS) -- Great team performance to capture the Pacific Coast League title against two solid opponents. With what has become a tight pack with an interchangeable lineup, Mackenzie Eloe stepped into a scoring role as their third scorer to pave the way for their title.
10. Ayala (SS) -- Their top three shined at the Palomares League Finals, led by Shaina Berk. But, to secure a spot to the State Meet, they need to close that gap from that trio to their next two scorers.
10t. Quartz Hill (SS) -- Several seconds here and there only separate the SS girls in regard to those last few spots to the State Meet. One could very well be ranked top ten in the state, but yet, NOT make the State Meet.