DIVISION 2 GIRLS - 7:45 am
The favorite is Newbury Park as the Panthers have demonstrated on multiple occasions just how much firepower they possess. Led by Archana Mohandas and Fiona Hawkins, Sam McDonnell has now joined those two up front to make them even more lethal and eyeing a possible State Meet Championship next week. 
With Hailey Golman joining the group this season, they now possess the depth that will be tough for any other team to overcome. The top squad in Orange County, El Toro has developed well this season as Kasey Lynd took over up front while Alexis Neuville and Grace Griffin look to return back to form and remain with her all throughout. This will be the Chargers fourth straight appearance at the California State Meet.
Claremont, Serrano, and Canyon (Anaheim) could very well supplant El Toro from that runner-up spot with their best performances of the season. While all four teams possess top-tiered talent up front, Canyon possesses the most depth on the back end of their scoring. Claremont is led by defending champion, Maddie Coles (pictured) while Serrano's Tiani Goeson will look to finish in the top five once again. Goeson will look for teammate, Maribel Aguilar, to keep a close distance in this talented field while Coles is looking for her counterpart, Angie Gushue to finish in the top-15. Emma Hadley leads those Comanches of Canyon and is looking to see her strong pack of 4-5 finishing not too far behind her and within a 15-second bubble of one another. Meanwhile, Simi Valley has come on strong this past month with a two-time State Meet qualifier, Jill Walker, taking center stage. With how they've been performing since the Clovis Invite, they should finish in the top five and back to the State Meet for the first time since 2014.
While these six should punch their tickets for a trip to Fresno, that seventh spot is up for grabs between several squads, including the Madeleine Locher led Ventura (who is our pick to win the individual title), Dana Hills and Foothill. With everybody clicking, the spoiler could very well be Northwood as they have the talent to compete with those just mentioned.
Top Individuals
MaKayla Browne (Riverside North)
MacKenize Browne (Riverside North)
Maddie Coles (Claremont)
Carly Corsinita (Capistrano Valley)
Tiani Goeson (Serrano)
Emma Hadley (Anaheim Canyon)
Fiona Hawkins (Newbury Park)
Madeleine Locher (Ventura)
Sam McDonnell (Newbury Park)
Archana Mohandas (Newbury Park)
Amber Rios (Colony)
Jill Walker (Simi Valley)
DIVISION 3 GIRLS - 8:05 am
This race should be the closest competition for a divisional title on the day as Palos Verdes and Brea Olinda will face off!
Palos Verdes seemed to be the runaway favorites in September en route to defending their title. That was until Brea Olinda stepped up to the plate in October to join them. Both are very similar in that they possess two of the strongest pairs in the section up front with Palos Verdes boasting Samantha Steman and Savannah Scriven (pictured) while the Wildcats answer back with Whitney Valenti and Mia Douge. Whichever squad shows up with the best 'back three' will decide the title. This will be the 13th straight season for the Sea Kings in qualifying for the State Meet as they seek their seventh CIF-SS Title this decade! Brea Olinda last won the title in 2003.
Beyond those two, the battle for third place is there for the taking between several squads. Led by Siena Palicke, Yorba Linda has been strong all season and is all too familiar with competing against neighboring Brea Olinda (pictured). The Mustangs placed seventh last year and projects to finish third and punch another ticket to the 
State Meet. Arroyo's girls have taken some of their recent boys' success and transferring into their vision, as they are projected to qualify for the State Meet for the first time ever. The Knights are led by the improved senior, Kelly-Luna Flores.
The newcomer into the picture started the season in Division 4 but actually improved their fate by moving into Division 3 last month. With this being their first class of seniors, the Bulldogs out of Irvine are actually led by one of the top freshmen in the section, Jadyn Zdanavage. Despite being an at-large entry, they should also be in the mix for a top-five team finish. South Torrance, Torrance, Granite Hills, and Dos Pueblos will all be competing for the last two spots to the State Meet. Meanwhile, do not count out Corona del Mar, who looked sharp at last weekend's prelims.
Top Individuals
Lily Albert (South Torrance)
Mia Chavez (Chino)
Mia Douge (Brea Olinda)
Georgia McCorkle (Agoura)
Siena Palicke (Yorba Linda)
Nicole Reeves (Esperanza)
Savannah Scriven (Palos Verdes)
Samantha Steman (Palos Verdes)
Whitney Valenti (Brea Olinda)
Jadyn Zdanavage (Portola)
DIVISION 2 BOYS - 8:25 am
Second-ranked in the nation and defending champions, Newbury Park is THE overwhelming favorite. Looking down below, you will notice that we are projecting four of the Panthers to finish in the top 10, 
while Riverside Championship Course record holder, Nico Young to defend his individual title. Continuing to add to his legacy, Young used last week as a threshold workout and crossed with the fastest time of the two days, in 14:56!
Before Newbury Park steals all of the headlines, keep in mind that Dana Hills is the third-ranked squad in our recent Southern Section overall rankings! Sophomore Jai Dawson has joined seasoned veteran Carrick Denker to pose a lethal 1-2 combo up top. If not for the Dolphins, NP may very well outscore the entire field of 24 squads by themselves!
The fight for third place is one of the more intriguing ones on the schedule, as Claremont, West Torrance, Thousand Oaks, and Redlands East Valley could all very well claim this spot. But, keep in mind, few teams peak their athletes better for the championship season than Loyola!
Claremont has dominated the division of late as we project them to finish in the top five (and qualify for the State Meet) for the sixth year in a row. Adam Trafecanty and Jack Keough-Lansford both seek top 15 finishes to lead the cause. West Torrance was the Division 3 runner-up in 2018 and has matched the higher level of competition in Division 2 this season. The last time in this division, they claimed the title in 2015. They are seeking their sixth straight trip meet to the State Meet. Headlined by Jake Parker (who rested last week), Josh Murray and Alex Mainville looked sharp at last weekend's prelims.
Led by Michael Mireles (pictured), Thousand Oaks seeks a trip back to the State Meet. Along with Michael Cooper, 
the squad has been consistent this season and seeks to improve upon its fifth-place finish in 2018. Meanwhile, Redlands East Valley is seeking its first-ever State Meet berth! Michael Casillas leads the Wildcats as he looks for needed support from a tight pack to earn the spot to Fresno.
Loyola is trying to maintain its streak of 12 straight years of qualifying for the State Meet. Anthony Stone has all plans to compete in his fourth straight state meet while his fellow Cubs have developed into a nice pack. Don't ever bet against Loyola in late November! They will have their hands full as two Orange County powers, Capistrano Valley and El Toro, look to leapfrog the Cubs for a trip to Fresno. Capo, led by Sean Robertson, has never been to the State Meet while the Chargers seek a third straight trip.
We could see the top five squads in the Division 2 Championship run faster than the Division 1 runner-up!
Top Individuals
Jace Aschbrenner (Newbury Park)
Matthew Casillas (Redlands East Valley)
Jai Dawson (Dana Hills)
Carrick Denker (Dana Hills)
Nick Goldstein (Newbury Park)
Cole Havins (Murrieta Mesa)
Ewan Macfarlane (Peninsula)
Michael Mireles (Thousand Oaks)
Jake Parker (West Torrance)
Sean Robertson (Capistrano Valley)
Colin Sahlman (Newbury Park)
Anthony Stone (Loyola)
Nico Young (Newbury Park)
DIVISION 3 BOYS - 8:45 am
After learning that West Torrance had moved to Division 2, and the season opened up, it was clear that a 
great summer of training made Agoura the favorites. But, it was at the Clovis Invite where we realized that they were also one of the top ten squads in the section, regardless of division. Ryan Koepnick (pictured) and Beau Bordelon were vital in their sixth-place effort from a year ago, but they now look for much more than just a divisional title. A great battle for second place will ensue behind the blue and gold of Agoura.
Brea Olinda and the all-underclass Royal squad will clash with Arroyo. While Arroyo (pictured below) receives the nod up front with two of the division's best, Saket Sama and Josh Orellana, but the rest of their scoring trio has been falling further behind of late. The team favorite going into this past summer, Brea Olinda features Shane Gaffikin, but have not been the same since 
losing a major scorer early in the season. With that, they can very well claim the runner-up spot and earn their 11th consecutive trip to the State Meet! Meanwhile, Royal has displayed flashes of brilliance and will definitely be the favorites moving into the 2020 season. With that, all three are competing for the runner-up spot and will qualify for the State Meet. For Arroyo, this will be their first appearance in over 25 seasons! For Royal, it is a step forward to returning to the glory days where they last claimed the runner-up spot in Division 1 in 2009. Watch for Angus Fitzgerald to lead Royal.
But, just when you considered it to be a rebuilding year, where they were just hoping to make the State Meet, defending champion Palos Verdes is back! With only one returner from the 2018 squad, they revealed their cards at the Bay League Finals two weeks ago with a 21-second scoring gap. The much improved Owen Ladinig has led the charge. Meanwhile, another squad that graduated the majority of their squad, Esperanza (fourth in 2018 and led by Ryan Manes) is right there competing for a spot to the State Meet along with Moorpark (led by Keith Murray), Bonita and Oak Park.
Top Individuals
Beau Bordelon (Agoura)
Eduardo De Paz (Baldwin Park)
Shane Gaffikin (Brea Olinda)
Isaiah Givens (Pasadena)
Ryan Koepnick (Agoura)
Keith Murray (Moorpark)
Josh Orellana (Arroyo)
Kishan Patel (Gahr)
Joseph Pearlman (Dos Pueblos)
Saket Sama (Arroyo)
Sebastian Sawyer (Oak Park)
DIVISION 4 GIRLS- 9:05 am
Of the 10 races scheduled, this division has led to the most head-scratching and questioning all season long. It what should come down to the fifth scorer, there are five squads all vying for the team title in Covina, Foothill Technology, Laguna Beach, Mayfield, and Orange Lutheran. With two of the best individuals 
from the 2018 finals not competing this season, it left the competition for the team title wide open and it's anyone's guess on will emerge with the championship.
In referring to history and tradition, one immediately leans towards Foothill Technology to defend their title for the third year in a row. With Brooke Secreto transforming into one of the most improved girls in the Southern Section and valuable support coming from Gretchen Scherrei, the Dragons have a habit of not 'revealing their cards' until this time of the season!
Defending Division IV State Champion and Footlocker National Finalist, Audrey Suarez (pictured above) leads the scoring up front for Mayfield. They were fifth a year ago and should easily qualify for a fifth straight season to the State Meet. Orange Lutheran impressed at the Clovis Invite last month and with a similar effort, could very well pull it off for the title. Led by Sophia Gutierrez, they have not qualified for the State Meet since 2005, when they captured their second straight divisional title.
Covina is yet another squad that will up front, competing for the title after an 18th place finish last year. Katelyn Vuong looks to erase a frustrating race from a year ago and compete for a top-five finish while freshman Miranda Palacios and improved Audrey Carrillo lead the support group. If Laguna Beach can 
tighten that team scoring gap, the Breakers will also be in the thick of the battle for the title! Jessie Rose was the Sunset Conference Champion while this should be a third straight trip to Fresno (sixth place last year).
State Meet qualifier a year ago, Ellaney Matarese will have her La Canada squad ready to claim one of the seven slots to the State Meet while this will be the fourth year in a row that El Segundo moves onward. Led by Sophia Zago, they have produced back-to-back third-place efforts coming into this weekend. Do not overlook Costa Mesa as they are much more than Diane Molina (pictured at right). As she has advanced to the State Meet the past two seasons, she wants the team to join her to close out her senior campaign.
No divisional team title race is as wide open as this one!
Top Individuals
Sarah Auther (La Canada)
Sophia Gutierrez (Orange Lutheran)
Ellaney Matarese (La Canada)
Diane Molina (Costa Mesa)
Sydney Morrow (South Pasadena)
Jessie Rose (Laguna Beach)
Gretchen Scherrei (Foothill Technology)
Brooke Secreto (Foothill Technology)
Audrey Suarez (Mayfield)
Angelina Vasquez (Barstow)
Katelyn Vuong (Covina)