The MileSplit California 2019 All-State Freshman Boys Cross Country team is a subjective list that considers performance at the State Meet within the class, combined 3-mile and 5000-meter times within the class, and top performances regardless of class as the primary criteria.
Selection of the freshman boys team is different from the other grade-specific teams because few freshman boys run at the State Meet (62), few make an impact -- six placed among the top 50 in their division and only one was in the top 100 in the overall merge -- and some among the best in the 2023 class from deeper programs don't get the chance to take the line at Woodward Park for the State Championships.
With all of that in mind, we took a longer look at section results, fast times for 3 miles and 5K within the class, and 3M/5K combined rankings to come up with a 14-runner team with first and second teams based on a combination of combined rankings and placing in the class at State.
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Lex Young, Alexander Lodewick and Leo Young top our All-MileSplitCA Freshman Boys 2019 XC Team.
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FIRST TEAM
Athletes are listed alphabetically with school and section noted.
CHRISTOPHER CAUDILLO, Clovis (CS) -- His 15:10.06 time for 3 miles at the John Seaman Invite ranks No. 3 for 2023 boys in the U.S. He ranks No. 8 in the class for 5K, No. 5 for combined 3M/5K times and No. 3 CA for 3 miles.
ALEXANDER LODEWICK, Campolindo (NC) -- Placed 16th overall in the Division III race at the State Meet, running 15:48.20. His time was the second fastest among boys in the class of 2023 at State. His 15:17.80 at the North Coast Section Final ranks as the No. 6 fastest time in the U.S. in the class for 3-miles.
RYAN MITCHELL, Davis (SJ) -- Ran 16:05.60 at Capital Cross to rank No. 10 for 5K in the class. His 16:12.40 posting at the Division I race at State was the fourth fastest time on the course that day among 2023 boys. No. 2 freshman in the SJS D-I final as well as in the SJS Champion merge.
NATHAN LENNOX, Great Oak (SS) -- 15:11.30 at the Apache Invitational ranks as the No. 4 fastest time for 3-miles among freshman boys in the U.S. Ranks No. 7 in the class in CA for 5K, No. 4 in the class for 3 miles and No. 3 in the class from combined 3M/5K times.
JACOB SWANSON, Jesuit (SJ) -- Only boy in the top 89 of the Division I race at the State Meet, placing 68th in 15:58.00 and running No. 4 as Jesuit captured second place behind Great Oak. No. 1 freshman in the SJS D-I final (placing eighth overall, 16:30.20) as well as in the SJS Champion merge. Ran No. 4 for Jesuit as it captured the SJS title and No. 4 as it placed second at State.
LEX YOUNG, Newbury Park (SS) -- Ran the fastest 3-mile and 5000-meter times in the class before his season ended in mid-November. His 14:37.40 at Woodbridge ranks as the fastest 3-mile clocking among freshman boys in the U.S. His 15:37 at Clovis ranks as the fifth fastest 5K time among freshman boys in the U.S. Younger brother of senior Nico Young, the State D-II and NXN champion, and twin to Leo.
LEO YOUNG, Newbury Park (SS) -- Top freshman boy at the State Meet after placing 32nd in the Division II race won by Newbury Park (94th in the overall merge). His 15:40.60 time ranks U.S. No. 8 for 5K in the class. The only freshman boy in the top 115 in the Southern Section Finals merge, placing 49th overall in 15:11.7. His 14:58.80 at Woodbridge ranks behind only his twin brother Lex with the No. 2 time for 3 miles in the U.S. in the 2023 class. Took the line at NXN running No. 6 for the national championship team. Younger brother of senior Nico Young, the State D-II and NXN champion.
SECOND TEAM
MARK CORTES, Great Oak (SS) -- (pictured) Ran 15:17.40 at the Apache Invitational, which ranks as the fifth fastest time for 3-miles among freshman boys in the U.S. He posted the No. 4 time in the class for 5K (15:50.80), No. 5 time in the class for 3 miles and No. 6 in the class for combined 3M/5K times.
JUDE DEVRIES, Victory Christian (NC) -- Ranked 13th from the class at the State Meet (16:49.20, 38th in the Division V race). Ranks ninth in the class for 3M/5K combined times. Runner-up in the North Coast Section Division V Championship (15:39.60).
JACK GAITLEY, San Francisco University (NC) -- No. 2 freshman in the Division V race at State and No. 9 in the class (16:34.00). Ranked third in the class from the NCS Championship merge, running 15:52.40 at for 3 miles at Hayward, running No. 2 as his team won the title. No. 2 in the class in NCS behind Jude Devries.
LIAM MANLEY, Granada High (NC) -- Ran 16:23.40 at the State Meet, the No. 7 fastest time in the class at State. Ranks 13th in the class for combined 3-mile/5K times. No. 3 freshman in the D-II race at State, behind Leo Young and Casey Nuti.
HECTOR MARTINEZ, Oaks Christian (SS) -- No. 2 boy in the merge at the Southern Section Finals, placing 116th (15:32.0). Placed 42nd in the Division IV race at State, running 16:15.50, the fifth fastest time among freshman boys at the State Finals. His 15:24.40 from Woodbridge ranks as the No. 9 fastest time for 3-miles among freshman boys in the U.S.
CASEY NUTI, Willow Glen (CC) -- No. 2 freshman in the Division II race at State, placing 93rd overall. His time of 16:19.10 ranked as the No. 6 boy in the 2023 class at the State Meet. Placed 15th overall in the CCS D-II Championship and his time of 16:15.41 on the Crystal Springs course ranked as the top boy in the class at the meet.
KEVIN SHEN, St. Margaret's (SS) -- Top freshman in the Division V race at the State Meet (16:26.30), placing 23rd overall and the No. 2 scorer as St. Margaret's earned a runner-up plaque. Placed fifth overall in the class at the Southern Section Finals as the No. 1 freshman in the D-5 race, placing 17th overall.
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Photos by Patrick Corsinita, Pat Rhames, Raymond Tran, DeAnna Turner
