In a deep field of 2023 girls, Del Norte's Hannah Riggins placed 13th overall in Division I at the 2019 CIF-State Cross Country Championships. She was the No. 5 freshman in that race and No. 7 frosh at the meet. (Patrick Corsinita photo)
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Having an individual champion (Canyon Crest's Carlie Dorostkar in Division I) and a record-setting team titlist (Sage Creek in Division IV), 2019 was a memorable season for the San Diego Section girls. So, Sage Creek will return looking for its third straight title and with Stormy Wallace leading the way, the Bobcats could match 2019 in one race.
But the section is not one-dimensional as there is quality elsewhere as well.
Top Returnees
Division I
Hannah Riggins (Del Norte), Annika Salz (Torrey Pines), Mallory Asis (Mira Mesa), Morgan Young (Carlsbad), Ashley Purcell (San Marcos), Scarlett Taylor (Torrey Pines), Emma George (Torrey Pines).
Division II
Mackenzie Rogers (Poway), Tessa Buswell (Poway), Sydney Paul (Mt. Carmel), Sophie Compton (Point Loma), Breea Selbrede (Mt. Carmel), Chloe Ellermeyer (Scripps Ranch), Sophia Chittle (Poway).
Division III
Amber Chase (El Capitan), Mikayla Horning (Santana), Madelyn Basinet (Cathedral Catholic), Lexi Arambulo (Cathedral Catholic), Georgia Patyna (La Costa Canyon), Kyra Compton (La Costa Canyon), Rebekah Niednagel (La Costa Canyon).
Division IV
Stormy Wallace (Sage Creek), Malia Leupold (Sage Creek), Kaya Scuba (Sage Creek), Madeline Mack (Sage Creek), Kyra Fisk (La Jolla), Dana Jennings (Coronado), Tania Reyes (Del Lago).
Division V
Eloise Martenson (Santa Fe Christian), Revere Schmidt (Santa Fe Christian), Clara Steer (Pacific Ridge), Elsa Steer (Pacific Ridge), Madeline Cramer (Bishop's), Stella Gladden (High Tech NC), Jenny McMillen (Santa Fe Christian).
2019 Team Champions
Division I: Canyon Crest Academy (4th at State)
Division II: Mt. Carmel (16th at State)
Division III: Cathedral Catholic (2nd at State)
Division IV: Sage Creek (1st at State)
Division V: Santa Fe Christian (4th at State)
Can't Miss Invitationals
Bronco Invitational at Kit Carson Park, August 28
Mt. Carmel Invitational at Balboa Park, September 18
Kit Carson Invitational at Kit Carson Park, October 22
OVERVIEW
Sage Creek's Stormy Wallace (Clark Kranz photo) capped off a stellar junior season by winning the Arcadia State meet 3,200 at 10:31.65 and her sixth-place finish at the state cross country meet in 18:04.5 at makes her the top returnee in that division. The No. 2? Leupold (18:13.9), with Scuba (18:33.3 for 3.1 miles) joining the fun last year. An added note: longtime San Rafael High mentor Jason Jacobson is the new head coach.
But there are potential Top 10 finishers all over the place. Santa Fe Christian's Eloise Martenson was seventh (18:36.8) two years ago in D5 but has been rehabbing an injury; El Capitan's Amber Chase was 7th in D3 at 18:09.5 and Del Norte's Hannah Riggins was 13th as a freshman in 2019 in D1 at 18:01.2.
And then you have those who had breakout years in 2021 like Mira Mesa's Mallory Asis who clocked 10:37.70 for 3200 meters on the track and 18:00.0 for the 3.11-mile course record at Balboa Park, Torrey Pines' Annika Salz, who was 31st in D1 at 18:20.4 but went 10:35.93/4:57.48 on the track and super frosh Tessa Buswell of Poway who went 4:56.90 for 1600 meters with 2:11.61 800 speed.
On the team front, Torrey Pines (D1), Poway (D2), La Costa Canyon (D3), Mt. Carmel (D2), and Sage Creek (D5) are loaded but so are the divisions in which they compete. Rancho Bernardo's No. 1 girl from last year, Emma George, transferred to Torrey Pines, as did the Dorostkar twins, Nikki and Sammi, making the Falcons that much deeper.
One of the big questions for individual and team honors is the status of Rancho Bernardo's Jacey Farmer. The section champion as a freshman, she was injured her sophomore year and had a spotty junior mini-season. She certainly has the ability to be a factor, if she's healthy.
