XC PREVIEW Northern Section Boys and Girls

GIRLS

As a sophomore, University Prep's Becca Gaido (Patrick Corsinita photo above) was the No. 2 scorer for her team at the 2019 CIF-State Cross Country Championships.

She is the top returner among 17 Northern Section girls who competed at State in 2019 and are scheduled to return for the 2021 fall XC season.

Chico, which returns three runners, placed 14th at the 2019 State Meet. University Prep, which was 15th in D-IV, returns its No. 2 scorer. Sutter (D-IV) and Etna (D-V) also were State qualifying teams. 

At an initial glance, Chico appears well-stocked to defend its title. That was the first section division championship for the Panthers girls since ending a run of 11 in 12 years in 2015. 

University Prep has won three consecutive lower-division titles but will need to find support for Gaido and junior Emma Gaddy. 

In the small school group, Etna is coming off its first NS division title and returns two juniors who were key to 2019's success as freshmen. 

Here's a closer look at some of the top returning girls in the Northern Section. 

Lower Divisions

Becca Gaido (University Prep, Sr.)

She placed 48th overall and 37th among scoring runners as a sophomore at the 2019 CIF-State Cross Country Championships and is the only returner for University Prep from that meet. She laid claim to the top returning runner in the section by winning the Shasta County Championship meet in March by 24 seconds over the runner-up. The next closest returner was junior teammate Emma Gaddy, who was fifth, 1:33 back. 

Jenna Justice (Etna, Jr.)

As a freshman, she ran No. 1 for her team at the 2019 State Meet, crossing 45th among scoring runners in the D-V final. During the winter XC season, she ran 21:59.99 for 5K to win the Yreka Duals in February, and 20:42.00 for 3-miles to win the SCL Championship in March. That latter mark ranks fourth among returners in the NS. On the track this spring, she went 5:42.96/12:54.52.

Elizabeth Yokel (Etna, Jr.)

She was the other returning scorer from the 2019 State Meet, running No. 2 for Etna and placing 109th among scorers. Her 21:18.00 for third at SCL Championships in March ranks No. 7 among returners for 3-miles. On the track this spring, she posted bests of 5:43.37 and 12:57.76.

Mackenzie Ritner (Sutter, Jr.)

Ritner was the top scorer for Sutter at the 2019 CIF-State Championships, placing 99th among scoring runners as a freshman. During the winter XC season, her 21:29.88 to win a February dual with GHS, ranks No. 8 among returners for 5K, and her 21:40.21 to win a dual with Colusa, ranks No. 8 for 3 miles. 

Macie Molter (Redding Christian, Jr.)

Ranked sixth in the class and 10th overall in the NS for 3-miles from the winter 2021 season.