STATE MEET PREVIEW What to Watch for in Division IV

2021 Champions: Max Sannes (Big Bear/SS) 15:01. Team: Albany (NC) 130

Other challenges to this pair of expected front-runners could come from the Cathedral (SS) junior duo Emmanuel Perez (10th last year in 15:37) and Emmanuel Hernandez (15:13.70 to win the Varsity Small Schools race at Clovis), Hayden Owen of Southern Section champion St. Francis (15:29.70 in that same Small Schools race at Clovis), and Jacob Moffett of St. Mary's (SJ), who ran 15:31.90 also in the Small Schools race.

Can Morello lead Albany to a repeat title against a strong Southern Section contingent and Central champion Matilda Torres?

Albany is strong up front with Morello and junior Lucas Cohen but the backend may not be able to match what some of the others in this division are bringing. 

St. Francis (SS), led by sub-16 guys Owen and junior Luke Metcalf, gaps at 63.8 with No. 5 sub-16:34. Central Section champion Matilda Torres, led by section winner Benjamin Fernandez, gaps at 65 with No. 5 at 16:49.16. Cathedral had five under 16:58 in that Small Schools race at Clovis. That race, by the way, was won by St. Francis with 86 points. They gapped at 68 seconds. Cathedral, second there with 103 points, gapped at 104. Both teams had an average time of 16:11. 

But far removed from early October, St. Francis put it all together last week in winning the Southern Section title on the Mt. SAC course. Palos Verdes, St. John Bosco, and Foothill Technology all placed ahead of Cathedral, once considered the state's best in this division. That can still happen for the Phantoms, who were fourth here last year behind Albany, Archie Williams (NC) and Scotts Valley (CC). But, like Albany, Cathedral will need its backend teamwork to make the dream work.