'22 CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW - Sac-Joaquin Section

BOYS

Jesuit, which won its 13th SJS title and placed fifth at the State Meet, returns three scorers from that lineup (Pat Rhames photo)

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2021 SJS Championship Review

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Division 2 

Division 3

Division 4 

Division 5 

Team Profiles on MileSplit

Davis | Jesuit | Oakdale | Whitney

More Teams to Watch

Beyer

Five runners, including three scorers from the lineup that placed second in SJS D-3 last November, including seniors Nathaniel Olsen and Ryan Elias, and junior Jackson Olsen. That trio ran 1-3-4 for Beyer in the section final. Olsen placed seventh overall, Elias 17th and the younger Olsen was 23rd. Also scheduled back from that group of seven is senior Ylijah En and junior Carson Pratt. 

El Dorado

The lineup that placed just 11 points behind Placer in D-4 returns five, including three scorer from both SJS and State. That group is led by senior Benjamin Sallee, who ran No. 1 at both post-season meets. Junior Braidon Campora ran No. 3 at SJS and No. 4 at State. Sophomore Tyler Lynn ran No. 5 at SJS and No. 6 at State. Another sophomore, Luka Peeters, ran No. 5 at State. Others scheduled back include junior Lukas Pagan, sophomore Camden Campora, and senior Ryan Simpson. El Dorado may have placed second to Placer at SJS but  the Cougars roared back at State to place ninth, the highest finish among SJS teams in that race. 

Folsom

Five return from the lineup that placed third in the tough large-school division behind two of the section's traditional powers, Jesuit and Davis. Folsom is scheduled to return five from that lineup, including three scorers led by seniors Nathan Short and Ethan Smith, who placed sixth and 10th, respectively in the D-1 final. Senior Liam Bayer also returns from the SJS lineup. While only the top two teams advanced to State, Folsom has to be encouraged about replacing four graduates with a strong lineup that placed a close third in the JV Championship race. Juniors Jeffery Deacon and Joseph Johnson, Dallin Nartker, and seniors Arsh Koneru-Ansari were scorers in that race.

Lincoln (Stockton)

Lincoln returns four scorers and six of seven from the team that placed fourth in a tight D-3 last season. Senior Jansen Gillig, who ran No. 2 and placed seventh in the section final, leads the returners. Seniors Daniel Gonzalez, Keith Mertz and Andrew Rigdon, and sophomore Caleb Cliburn round out the scheduled returners.

Nevada Union

Senior Wesley Selby, junior Koen Cayabayab, and sophomore Josh Griffin lead the returners from a lineup that placed third at SJS. Selby was fifth overall in the SJS race, earning a spot on the line at the State Meet, where he placed 17th and is the No. 2 returner from that race.

Placer

Only two scorers and three overall are expected back from the lineup that won the SJS D-4 title and ran at the State Meet. Senior Julian Doak placed ninth overall in running No. 1 in the SJS championship race and senior Braden Muzzy ran No. 3 in placing 15th. Junior Caleb Dickerson is the third member of the title team scheduled back.

Vacaville

The defending Division 2 champions are scheduled to bring back just three who took the line at the SJS final, led by senior Donovan Cheruiyot, and junior Colton Walker, who both scored at SJS and at State, where Vacaville placed fifth. Cheruiyot placed third at the section final and Walker crossed in fifth. Walker was 10 spots ahead of his teammate at State, in 26th, and is the No. 11 returner, and No. 2 boy from the 2024 class from that meet. Senior Evan Mitchell ran No. 7 at both post-season meets and is the only other returner. 

Top Returning Boys From '21 SJS Championships

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Division 2

Division 3

Division 4