DIVISION I
BOYS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- They will compete with their 'B' team at this weekend's SS Finals and save their 'A-team' for the California State Meet and NXN. Yep, in the largest division in the most competitive section in the USA and yes, they are still the favorites!
2. Bellarmine Prep (CC) -- We're still wrapping our minds around their eye-popping performance where they set a new course record at the Crystal Springs course two weeks ago. As they cruised to the Central Coast Championship last weekend they've been with the sick bug as of late as three took last weekend to hopefully recover to 100% for the State Meet.
3. Dublin (NC) -- Heavy favorites to capture the North Coast Section Championship this weekend even with a tough Amador Valley group to compete against.
4. Clovis North (CS) -- One final tune-up last weekend in capturing the TRAC Championships. They are the favorites to capture Central Section title today, after their runner-up team effort from a year ago.
4t. Jesuit (SJ) -- Doubled up on a stingy Davis crew to capture the Division 1 title at the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships last weekend. Their stock value increased in our eyes as they took a step closer to ending up on the podium Thanksgiving weekend.
6. Crescenta Valley (SS) -- The Falcons looked very controlled in their 79:00, 21-second scoring spread at last weekend's SS prelims. They are primed to earn the runner-up spot at this weekend's finals as we were impressed with their confidence.
7. Torrey Pines (SD) -- Workmanlike effort at the Avocado West League finals in outdistancing themselves from the strong San Marcos and La Costa Canyon squads. They are the heavy favorites to capture the Division 1 title at this weekend's San Diego Section Finals. (They finished back in eighth place in 2018).
8. La Serna (SS) -- They ran to a conservative 79:19 team time at the CIF-SS prelims. Ready to roll to their first ever State Meet this weekend, after just narrowly missing a berth in 2018.
9. Burbank (SS) -- They looked sharp in their 'run just to qualify' 79:06 team effort last weekend. They've proven themselves to be battle tested and compete for the runner-up spot at this weekend's Southern Section Finals.
10. Amador Valley (NC) -- Ready to give Dublin all they can handle at this weekend's North Coast Section finals. Another Mt. SAC-type performance for the Dons and it may get interesting.
10t. Long Beach Poly (SS) -- They cruised to a 78:50 team time at last weekend's CIF-SS prelims, qualifying with the second-best effort in the division. The 16-second scoring spread further convinced us that the five scoring seniors are ready to roll this weekend.
Others: Arcadia (SS), Buchanan (CS), Davis (SJ), Mira Costa (SS), Roosevelt (SS), San Clemente (SS), Vista Murrieta (SS) Note: three of the SS squads listed will not advance.
GIRLS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- Locked and loaded for this weekend's SS Finals where they are favored to capture their EIGHTH consecutive title. They cruised on auto-pilot at last weekend's prelims as a final tune-up for the next three weekends.
2. Buchanan (CS) -- Cruised through at last week's TRAC Championships. They are heavy favorites to claim another sectional title today at the Central Section Finals. Corie Smith will use the Woodward Park course once again as another workout before next week's State Meet. Very much in the mix for an at-large bid to NXN!
3. Saugus (SS) -- As we still haven't seen their best yet this season, they will push Great Oak as much as they can as the Southern Section Finals. They will easily advance onto to next week's State Meet, which will be their 15th straight year in qualifying!
4. Canyon Crest Academy (SD) -- We will see if the Ravens can get back to what we saw at the Clovis Invite as they the favorites to capture the San Diego Section crown this weekend. We would like to see some improvement from their back-end scoring but for now, they are narrowly maintaining the edge over several others.
5. Mira Costa (SS) -- With Dalia Frias back and on the mend, the Mustangs should secure their fifth straight trip to the State Meet. Not much separates them and those right behind, so expect a tight scoring gap between third and eighth place at this weekend's SS-Finals.
6. Oak Ridge (SJ) -- They easily captured the Sac-Joaquin title last weekend and can rest up for next weekend's State Meet! Abigail Fletcher and Ava Maier claimed runner-up and third place medals in racing to the title. Based on what we see this weekend, this group could move or down as not much separates the middle of our group.
7. Vista Murrieta (SS) -- A question mark here because of the status of one of their top runners; the Broncos are a State Meet team without her, but with her ... they can compete for a top-five finish at the State Meet. The rest looked sharp in easily qualifying for the SS Finals.
8. San Clemente (SS) -- We can very well see this squad taking third at this weekend's SS-Finals while front-running Hana Catsimanes is one of the state's best. It will come down to their fourth and fifth scorers staying as close as possible to their third.
9. Beckman (SS) -- They continue to excel in looking comfortable at last week's CIF-SS Prelims. If we see another 14-second scoring spread like we witnessed at last month's Riverside Invite, the Patriots should secure their first State Meet berth.
10. Quartz Hill (SS) -- Freshman Brianne Smith will compete for a top ten finish at this weekend's SS Finals. How much of the group can stay a minute behind her will make the difference in qualifying or staying home next weekend. Several others in the section could easily take this spot.
Others: Aliso Niguel (SS), Ayala (SS), Clovis West (CS), Granada Hills (LA), Trabuco Hills (SS), Yucaipa (SS). Note: four of the Southern Section squads mentioned will not advance to the State Meet.