DIVISION I
BOYS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- Captured the SS Division 1 Title without their top six?!?!? As crazy as that is, what is more crazy is that we're no longer surprised by it! With their 'A' team nice, rested and ready to roll for these last two weeks of the season, they should have the extra motivation of watching Newbury Park compete earlier in the day.
2. Bellarmine Prep (CC) -- (Pictured) With the squad being able to rest an extra week, and get a few healthy from illness, the all-underclass squad will be ready to roll. But can they hold off the determined Dublin and Jesuit squads?
3. Dublin (NC) -- Not the sharpest of efforts in holding off Amador Valley for the North Coast Section title with a reshuffling of the scoring order than what we've seen this past month.
4. Jesuit (SJ) -- We saw another wrinkle in their arsenal at the Sac-Joaquin Section Finals, where Michael Chambers was their second scorer and overcame an 'off' race from Spencer Pickren. With all cylinders firing, this group could very well work their way onto the podium!
5. Clovis North (CS) -- Losing their third scorer from their Clovis Invite performance has us leaning more toward Jesuit claiming that fourth spot. Isaiah Galindo will earn a podium spot as an individual, but this squad knows the Woodward Park course better than any other squad in this group.
6. Crescenta Valley (SS) -- Going into the SS Finals, we highlighted how well they've developed their 4-6 slots and those three were the difference in earning the runner-up plaque spot last weekend.
7. Roosevelt (SS) -- Wow! The new coaching regime timed the Mustangs peak just right, holding out a key scorer for the past month to rest for last weekend. This was only the second time this season that they presented their true top five.
8. Torrey Pines (SD) -- We could easily place them at sixth as not much separates them from the two ranked just ahead. As expected, they captured the San Diego Section title, but not by as much as we had projected.
9. Burbank (SS) -- They've been as consistent this season as any other in this group, with the same scoring five for the past two months. With their fourth-place finish at the SS-Finals, they continue to prove that they handle the big races while would not be surprised if they finished higher this weekend.
10. Long Beach Poly (SS) -- They landed right where we predicted them a week ago. Veteran savvy group of seniors made it happen once again. Nice development considering that they graduated five from last year's sixth-place State Meet squad.
10t. Amador Valley (NC) -- THE key to this group finishing in the top 10 is their fifth scorer. They had Dublin beat after four scorers at the North Coast Section finals but could not overcome their fifth scorer. We may have this squad under-ranked. We'll find out on Saturday!
Others: Davis (SJ), La Serna (SS), Martin Luther King (SS), Mira Costa (SS), San Marcos (SD), Vista Murrieta (SS)
GIRLS
1. Great Oak (SS) -- The Wolfpack has mastered the tactical art of sitting back the first mile and maintaining the same pace all throughout as a unit, thus moving up like no other. Without being at full strength, they easily captured their eighth straight CIF-SS title.
2. Buchanan (CS) -- Coming in with the obvious 'home field' advantage, they motored to the Central Section title with ease (as expected). And that was with one of their scorers off her game and out of the scoring mix. They are competing for an NXN at-large berth as Corie Smith should win the title and be invited as an individual.
3. Saugus (SS) -- They were not at full strength but saw two step-up performances from Isabella Duarte and Kaela Berretta to earn the runner-up plaque at the SS Finals. With their grit and ability to overcome adversity, Saugus passed the test last week on competing strong. Saugus Strong!
4. Vista Murrieta (SS) -- We were not surprised by their step-up performance a week ago, but do admit that the third-place finish surprised us. Glancing back to last year's State Meet, we would be fools to overlook how their coaching staff has the Broncos ready when it counts most.
5. San Clemente (SS) -- We were not surprised with their high finish at the SS Finals whatsoever. They actually did not run well at the SS Finals as their four scorers, outside of Hana Catsimanes' run to the individual title, all ran slower at finals than they did at prelims.
6. Canyon Crest Academy (SD) -- Carlie Dorostkar will be in the top five this weekend, but that three-minute gap between her and their fifth scorer, in capturing the San Diego Section title, remain a red flag (especially in the deep field this weekend).
7. Oak Ridge (SJ) -- Cruised to the Sac-Joaquin Section title with relative ease. Not much separates them and the squads just below them. But they've had an extra week off. Only red flag we have is their drop off after five scorers so all need to be 'on' to compete for a top-five finish.
8t. Mira Costa (SS) -- Dalia Frias looked sharp and back to 100% in placing runner-up at SS Finals. But they had a major scorer out of the mix last weekend. We expect them back at full strength this weekend. At full strength, they can challenge for a podium spot.
8t. Yucaipa (SS) -- We've been impressed by how well their back scoring four maintain a minute gap of their top scorer. They executed that plan to perfection a week ago with their next five all within a minute of front running Danielle Gee. Ran almost a minute slower at the SS Finals than the prelims so we know they have more in them.
10. Tesoro (SS) -- Came way off the radar to crash the party with a fifth-place finish at the SS Finals. The improvement in freshman Kate Rowe has been the difference. We're not betting against them for a second week in a row, but do feel that two other SS squads still have more in their arsenals.