'22 CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW - Southern Section Boys

Division 5

In their divisional finals debut in 2021, Providence of Burbank made the most of it hitting paydirt with the Div. 5 championship! With 10 of the top 13 individuals since graduating, the title is up for grabs in 2022.

In what expects to be their 13^th trip in the past 14 postseasons to the State Meet, St. Margaret's comes into the season as slight favorites in what will be a tight battle for the title. Junior Everett Capelle is their top returner and placed fourth at the 2021 divisional finals while five others from that squad return, led by Kevin Shen.

Despite graduating their top two, Aidan Urbina will lead the charge for the Pioneers of Providence in 2022. As a freshman, Henry Virtue played a huge role in earning the title as their fourth scorer while Trevor Deane returns, coming off a strong track season.

Viewpoint has placed third in the past two postseasons and will travel back to the State Meet for the fourth year in a row. Returning six from last year's squad, they will have to overcome their top scorer from a year ago. But, remember that their next four crossed within an 11-second bubble in 2021. Kasey Lee and Ethan Argano-Rush are their top two returners.

Led by Andrew Grinsfielder and Sam Gandoli, Pacifica Christian of Santa Monica returns the firepower to advance to the State Meet for the first time in school history.  

Earning the runner-up plaque in 2021, Windward will have to overcome the graduation of their top two but do return four from last year's team.

With Eyan Turk (pictured) leading the way, the Royals of Woodcrest Christian looks to improve upon its sixth-place finish a year ago. As a freshman, Turk placed second in the division for a shocking 15:16.6 performance.

Also looking to break into one of the top seven spots to the State Meet, watch for Valley Christian (Cerritos), Cate, Sage Hill, Flintridge Prep, Pasadena Poly, and Ontario Christian.

Individually, Woodcrest Christian's Turk comes into his sophomore season as the favorite. His runner-up, 15:16.6 performance was one of the shockers at last year's finals, crossing with the third-fastest freshman times in the history of the Mt. SAC course.

But, while placing fourth at the divisional finals, St. Margaret's Capelle came up big, placing seventh (15:41.3) at the California State Meet, just ahead of Turk. Chadwick's Joshua Thomas placed 11^th at the State Meet (15:56.0).