BOYS
DIVISION I
Although El Camino is the defending champion here, Torrey Pines bunched its top five runners 33 seconds apart in the Avocado West League finals. El Camino won the Avo East and they always run well at the end of the year as does San Marcos, which was 31 points behind Torrey Pines. Individually, the top two finishers from a year ago graduated. Next up is Canyon Crest's Andrew Schulz who has had a big season with an expected push from the likes of San Diego's Henry McClish, Torrey Pines' Nick Salz and Helix's Jaden Forester. (Photo of Torrey Pines' Nick Salz and Sebastian Barclay from the Mt. Carmel Invitational by Clark Kranz)
DIVISION II
With Caleb Niednagel sitting out the league finals because of illness -- which may also keep him off the line here -- La Costa Canyon was third behind two D-I schools. If Niednagel is able to go, LCC should be right there with Poway and Del Norte in the team race. Niednagel would be the favorite here but if he's off at all, teammate Andy Pueschel, the league champ at 16:23.2, or a pair of juniors, Jake Richardson of Point Loma or Giancarlo Da Silva of Scripps Ranch, could contend. (Andy Pueschel photo by Patrick Corsinita)
DIVISION III
State-ranked Cathedral Catholic (No. 9) has improved throughout its lineup and like last year, should give defending team champion El Capitan all it can handle with superior team depth. El Cap has the front-runners with Grossmont Conference champ Andrew Sager, who was second a year ago, leading the way. Individually, Sager appears the clear but not prohibitive favorite. Keep an eye on Western League champion Max Wilson, a senior at Cathedral Catholic. (Max Wilson photo from Mt. SAC by Lizette Adams photo)
DIVISION IV
Although defending champ Sage Creek finished second behind El Camino in the league meet, the Bobcats are not as strong as a year ago, opening up the team race to the likes of Crawford and Coronado. Individually, No. 5 finisher Misgina Elias has been running behind greatly improved Crawford teammate Byaombe Mloko while Sage Creek sophomore Bryce Gilmore, sixth a year ago, finished second in the Avo East and unsung Drake Prince of Chula Vista High Tech has been steady. (Byaombe Mloko photo from the Mt. Carmel Invitational by Clark Kranz)
DIVISION V
Francis Parker edged Santa Fe Christian by 12 points a year ago and they figure to be at it again. Parker was very impressive in the Coastal League win over SFC by 15 points where the top nine runners were from those two schools. How close are these two schools? Parker is No. 2 and SFC No. 3 according to MileSplitCA. Individually, defending champ Riley Burns of Maranatha is the favorite but Parker soph Kenan Pala won the Coastal meet just four seconds slower over the same course. SFC junior Ryan Todd is the section leader for 3 miles and ran his 5K PR for third behind the Parker duo of Pala and junior Spencer Seay. D-V in the spotlight? You bet. (Francis Parker photo by Jeffrey Parenti)