Top Individual Storyline
Who will win his first individual State title: Leo Young or Lex Young of Newbury Park?
Individual Competition
The Stanford-bound Young brothers have won countless races, taken turns winning races, crossed the finish line first in tandem and always with a smile on their faces. But what is one title that has eluded them both since their 2019 debut? An individual State title. Older brother Nico Young won CIF-State Division II individual titles in 2018 and 2019. Covid-19 wiped out the 2020 race. And last year, in Division I, then-senior teammate Colin Sahlman, older brother of current Newbury Park senior Aaron, won the individual title.
Newbury Park is back in Division II this year, leaving open the possibility of seeing one of the brothers finish first. Will we see a double Young victory so they share a State individual title? Will they be fine with just being three-time State team champions in 2019, 2021 and, perhaps, 2022?
They like the Woodward Park course. They've been running it since freshman year. They last ran it Oct. 8 in the Clovis Invitational. Leo Young won in 14:25.90, followed by Lex at 14:31.70. In the 2021 CIF-State Championship Division I title race, Leo went 14:28 and Lex 14:30 to finish second and third, respectively.
And yes, if someone else steps up to win the Division II State individual title -- whether from another full team or one of the 35 runners who'll compete at State from a non-qualifying team -- who has the best chance?
Could it be junior Roland Ruckmann-Barnes of Granada (NC), the 2021 Division II runner-up? Ventura juniors Anthony Fasthorse and Micah Grossman ran sub-15s at the Nov. 19 CIF-SS Division II final at Mt. SAC in the same race with the Young brothers. Could Aaron Sahlman, who recently committed to join Colin at Northern Arizona, finish his high school career with a State title win instead of running behind the Youngs?
Newbury Park's team is the favorite to win another State title, but first things first -- who will be first across the finish line?
Top Team Storyline
Can anyone challenge Newbury Park (SS), the nation's top high school boys cross country team, or is everyone else resigned to be racing for second?
Team Race
San Luis Obispo, the defending division champion is running at State again this year, but can't repeat in this division because they moved up to Division I. Newbury Park, after winning the team title in Division I, has returned to D-II and looks to add to its previous D-II title wins in 2018 and 2019. So what team might be due for a State title victory in this division? The familiarity of Newbury Park or maybe an upset pick?
San Luis Obispo won the 2021 CIF-State championship in come-from-behind fashion. The team rallied from a woeful first mile in which it was in 13th place, to move up eight spots after the two-mile mark and win the team title.
Leading at both the first and second mile check, Granada was in control. Until they weren't. Granada, a North Coast Section member, lost to SLO by seven points. When SLO moved up to Division I, it meant the Matadors could not avenge the 2021 defeat. That was followed by news of Newbury Park returning to D-II. The tough competition will be present at State, no doubt, but who's to say that Granada can't win it all?
Anchored by junior Ruckmann-Barnes, he's flanked by Granada seniors Luther Hart (15:14.21 at NC section final in Hayward), Dheeraj Gurusamy (15:16.22), Liam Manley (15:28.18), and Farin Soriano (15:35.74) and two more juniors, Eshaan Singh and Erik Bromley, who round out the team. Granada finished third to Newbury Park in the Clovis Invitational championship race at Woodward Park, with Division I's San Clemente second. Granada is second in the latest MileSplitCA State Division II rankings, behind only Newbury Park. They are ahead of Ventura (SS), fellow North Coast Section member Redwood, and Mira Costa to name the top five.
On paper, the rankings say something. On Saturday, can Granada runners pull off the improbable and win their first State championship? Will another team rally to take the State title like SLO did last year? That's why they race!
