GIRLS

2021 NCS Champions (Team/Score)

Division 1 - Dougherty Valley 16, Dublin 68, Berkeley 73

Division 2 - Granada 32, Monte Vista 84, Redwood 84

Division 3 - Campolindo 47, Tamalpais 71, Maria Carrillo 86

Division 4 - Miramonte 51, St. Mary's College HS 61, Acalanes 63

Division 5 - Lick Wilmerding 41, San Francisco University 54, College Prep 136

Granada | Campolindo | St. Mary's College HS | San Francisco University

Seven More Teams to Watch

Acalanes (D-4)

Junior Olivia Williams (pictured) won the NCS title, placed second at the CIF-State Meet and made the West Regional team for the EastBay Nationals. It was a heck of an introduction to cross country for a water polo player! Williams' brilliance lifted Acalanes to a narrow third-place finish at NCS and fifth place at the State Meet. The Dons return four of their seven from '21, including two other scorers: Junior Megan Yee and sophomore Cameron Powell. Senior Emma Hunt also returns, looking to move up into the scoring group. Yee ran No. 3 at State and Powell ran No. 5. Junior Nina Gehrig could figure into the mix pushing the returners. Acalanes appears on the ascention while '21 champion Miramonte graduated six of the seven, and all five scorers, from the lineup that beat St. Mary's by 10 points and the Dons by 12 at the NCS Final.

Dublin (D-1)

The Gaels closed '21 with a runner-up finish at NCS and a trip to the State Meet. Four return from that lineup, led by senior Medha Gowda, who ran No. 1 at both meets. Sophomore Melia Prenton ran No. 2 at NCS and No. 6 at State. Senior Yashvi Srivastava ran No. 2 at State and No. 4 at NCS. Senior Elissa Delgado ran No. 3 at State and No. 6 at NCS. Sophomore Laasya Balupari, who ran No. 7 at NCS, is also expected back.

Lick Wilmerding (D-5)

The Tigers emerged from the pandemic interruption and returned right where they left off, winning a fourth consecutive NCS small-division title with then-junior Amelie Maltz leading the way with the section individual title. The 13-point victory over rival San Francisco University was short-lived, however, as the Red Devils turned the tables with a three-point victory for the CIF-State D-V title. Seniors made up the core of the scoring behind Maltz in '21 and developing that depth behind their senior leader will be essential if there is to be a five-peat. Rising junior Mira Hoey was a consistent No. 6 in the post-season meets as was rising soph Saskia Lee at No. 7. 

Maria Carrillo (D-3)

The Pumas placed third at NCS and seventh at State last fall. Five return from that lineup including four who scored at the State Meet. Senior Avery Hedden ran No. 2 at State and No. 3 at NCS. She has the top 5K time among returners at 19:0.50. Junior Gracie Trenam ran No. 2 at NCS and No. 4 at State. Senior Rebekah Taylor ran No. 3 at State and No. 4 at NCS. Sophomore Brooke Szczekocki scored No. 5 at State, and 2025 classmate Katherine Choe also brings big-meet experience from last November. Junior Mia Carra and senior Ella Chong could figure into the mix looking for top-seven spots. 

Monte Vista (D-2) vs. Redwood (D-2)

While defending division champion Granada still appears as the team to beat, the battle behind the Gaels, if it's anything like it was in 2021, is worth the price of admission.

Consider that last November, Monte Vista and Redwood needed to go to a sixth-runner tie-breaker to determine the section's runner-up after an 84-84 tie through the first five. And a week later at the CIF-State Meet, these seemingly identical twins again went even through five runners, 284-284, requiring another sixth-runner tie-breaker to determine the 11th-place finisher. 

What's to think that '22 could be a mirror image of '21? Monte Vista returns five runners, including its clear No. 1, senior Sally Binder. And Redwood also returns five runners, including its clear No. 1, senior Audrey MacLean. 

Behind Binder for Monte Vista is sophomore Allie Turns, who rank No. 3 at both post-season meets last fall. Senior Shelby Lew ran No. 5 at NCS and was the No. 6 tie-breaking runner at State. 

Sophomore Alexa Leahey was the tie-breaker at NCS and ran No. 7 at State. Junior Peyton Dolan did not run NCS but scored No. 4 at State. 

For Redwood, behind MacLean, senior Jean Baker ran No. 4 at State and No. 7 at NCS. Senior Sofia Nogieiro ran No. 5 at State and No. 4 at NCS. Sophomore Marley Nacco ran No. 5 at NCS and No. 6 at State. And senior Tawny Strotz was No. 6 at NCS and No. 7 at State. 

Any chance of garnering a bit of separation when looking at 3200-meter times from the track season gives us five a 12:26.10 or faster at Redwood and five at 12:37.98 or faster at Monte Vista. For 1600m, Monte Vista has five under 5:31 and seven under 5:39. Redwood has five under 5:45. 

Should be a fun fall watching these two push each other.

Top-10 Returning Girls - 2021 NCS XC Finals

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 4

Division 5