'22 CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW - Southern Section Boys

Division 2

So, can they break their Woodward Park State Championship record of 73:28? The group does not plan to reveal their complete squad until early October at the Clovis Invite but they will definitely challenge that new standard.

Leo Young (14:28.0), Lex Young (14:30.3), and Aaron Sahlman (14:43.5) all return from the squad that scored only 16 points to capture the Div. 1 state meet. With the addition of Florida transfer, Brayden Seymour, has the talent to train with the aforementioned trio.  Looking at the top times returning from the Mt. SAC course, the fourth-fastest returner in the division is Dev Doshi at 15:00.1, only behind his teammates. At this point in regard to the best squads in national history, the only team you can compare this one to is that Panthers squad from last year!

CIF-SS Div. 2 defending champions, Mira Costa, return a strong group once again. Their top scorer from that squad, Andrew Martin (15:22.4) returns. Sean Alliegro, Parker Stickney, and Owen Franck all return with sub-16:00 minute resumes from last year's championship run at Mt. SAC.  One of the top returning groups in California for the 3200-meters this past Spring, the Mustangs are projected to be as good as they were a year ago.

The Cougars of Ventura were third a year ago before placing eighth at the State Meet. Not only do they return six of their top eight, but five of those six are juniors and in regard to this past track season, they were sixth in California for the underclassmen for the 3200 meters. Anthony Fasthorse, Henry Hammel, Nick DeGeorge, and Micah Grossman will switch off in those first several scoring slots as they employed a sub-15 second scoring slot in 2021 - expect it once again!

Jonah Bazerkanian (pictured), who was an individual State Meet qualifier, returns to lead a Royal squad that placed 10^th in 2021. They return their top five and are projected to return to Fresno, as they did in 2019 when they earned the runner-up plaque in Division 3.  Noah De la Rionda, Asher Frizzell, and Samuel Bado all dipped under 16:30 at Mt. SAC in 2021.

Despite losing their top scorer early on, Hart still managed a fifth-place finish in 2021. Based on this past track season, the Indians are ready to roll back to the State Meet, placing seventh in the state for 3200-meter underclass results. Owen Ahten (coming off a 9:13.33 track season) leads a group of five returners from the Fresno group a year ago, with his 15:54.2 performance. Also watch for experienced Paul Mangione and Nathaniel Branda.

We project Ayala, Santa Barbara, and Tesoro to fight for those last two spots to the State Meet.

 Ayala brought their 'A' game last November with their best performance of 2021 and a runner-up finish at the Div. 2 final. They graduated two of their top three but do not be surprised to find them in the hunt once again. Santa Barbara placed 13^th in 2021 but return their top four. Led by junior Conor Campion, Tesoro was 12^th last year and return their top three.

On the outside looking in, going into the season, El Toro, Saugus, Citrus Valley, and Claremont will look to play spoilers.

Individually, after Newbury Park's monopoly up front, Royal's Bazerkanian is the top returner as he placed ninth at the California State Meet last year. Mira Costa's Martin and Hart's Ahten are also two of the top returners.

Returning as a State Meet individual qualifier, El Toro's Garrett Hartline brings a Mt. SAC best of 15:26.8. At the same time, a pleasant surprise in 2021 was Norco sophomore, Ben Rippe, who also advanced to the State Meet (15:30.).  But also keep your eyes on Walnut's Joshua Razo, who returns with a Mt. SAC best of 15:18.5.