'22 CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW Central Coast Section

GIRLS



2021 CCS Champions (Team/Score)

Division 1 - Los Gatos 47, Los Altos 56, Menlo Atherton 56

Division 2 - St. Francis 45, Willow Glen 94, Archbishop Mitty 113

Division 3 - Aptos 45, Notre Dame San Jose 85, Sacred Heart Cathedral 90

Division 4 - Scotts Valley 35, Sacred Heart Prep 41, Carmel 64

Division 5 - Nueva 35, Castilleja 39, Crystal Springs 81


Teams To Watch Profiles on MileSplit


Quick glance at all five divisions


Division 1
As predicted, the 2021 Division 1 section final for the girls included some of the best teams in the section with several teams battling for only two automatic team spots to the state meet. The result was a victory for the Los Gatos girls and a heartbreaking near miss for the Menlo Atherton girls as they finished in 3rd place behind the Los Altos girls, losing on the 6th man tie-breaking rule.

This season, Menlo Atherton will be the strong favorite to win their first-ever section team title. They return a very strong group and will be super motivated to qualify to the state meet in 2022. 

Division 2
As mentioned above, the Los Altos girls will be the team to beat in this division. Aside from Lauren Soobrian, the team will also return Fiona Bodkin and Jasleen Sidhu, both vital members of the 2021 team. What will make Los Altos even better was the breakout spring track and field seasons by Ella Fadil (4:56.66/10:45.03) and Emily Soobrian (5:05.21). Los Altos had an impressive 6th place finish at the 2021 California State Cross Country meet Division I race and could contend for a podium finish in Division II this year. 

The St. Francis girls have had an impressive run including a section title last year as well as a 4th place finish at the state meet. They will more than keep Los Altos honest as they will be led by impressive sophomore, Sabrina Zanetto.

Division 3
When it comes to success in this division, one team stands above the rest and that is Aptos. Since the Central Coast Section had its first section competition for girls in 1977, Aptos has captured the most section titles for girls with 16. They added their 16th title in 2021 and should be strongly considered as one of the favorites in this division this coming season. Coach Dan Gruber seems to always find a way to get his teams to compete at their best in November and this year should be no different.

Division 4
As mentioned above, the Scotts Valley teams swept this division and their girls will be back to defend their team title here. They will be led by one of the most impressive runners in this section in Ashlyn Boothby. She posted marks of 2:14.34 and 4:51.90 during the spring after a nearly undefeated cross country campaign in the fall. Senior Amber Boothby gives Scotts Valley quite a one/two punch and with an influx of young runners, this team could be tough to beat.

Division 5
This season, the CCS girls will qualify four teams for the state meet in this division. With the recent success of the Nueva, Castilleja, and Crystal Springs Uplands School girls at the state meet, the result was the addition of one automatic qualifier. As with the boys, the Menlo School drops down to this division and will certainly be a factor with an influx of quality freshmen.

The favorite to win the team title should be the Castilleja girls. They have a strong trio up front with Samira Kennedy, Perry McElhinney, and Daniella Henderson. The rest of the contending teams should include Nueva, Menlo School, and Crystal Springs Uplands School. The favorite to win the individual title will be Crystal Springs Uplands School senior Kaiya Brooks. She recorded bests of 4:53.10 and 10:23.66 during the spring Track and Field season.


Top-10 Returning Girls - 2021 CCS XC Finals


Division 1


Division 2


Division 3


Division 4


Division 5



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Photos by DeAnna Turner and Dan McSweeney