2025 Southern Section Girls XC Team Watchlist
JSerr Catholic (D4)- The defending CIF State Division 4 Cross Country Champions, JSerra is led by a strong returning group of runners, including but not limited to senior Chloe Elbaz, junior Reese Holley, and sophomore Kaia Streadbeck. This team is the clear favorite to defend their Division 4 CIF Southern Section and State Cross Country Championships and challenge for a coveted Nike NXN Nationals team spot.
El Toro (D3)- The defending CIF State Division 2 Champions move to Division 3 in 2025. Their top-5 returning runners are all underclassmen and led by junior Gweneth Williams, who ran 4:50.49 in the 1600m in the 2025 outdoor track season and finished 12th at the 2024 Division 2 CIF State Cross Country Championships.
Santa Margarita Catholic (D3)- The 2024 CIF Southern Section Division 3 runner-up and 2024 CIF State Championships Division 3 3rd place finishers, Santa Margarita returns 5 of their top-7 runners, led by senior Alahna Thomas. They will receive a substantial boost in October 2025 when standout transfer, junior Carol Dye, becomes eligible to compete following the required transfer sit out period. Dye, who ran at San Juan Hills High School during her first two years of high school, followed up her 7th place finish at the 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships in 17:30.00 with a 9th place finish at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships 1600m finals in 4:48.84.
Santiago (Corona) (D1)- Despite losing 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Champion, Rylee Blade, to graduation, Santiago returns perhaps the top cross country runner in the California- Braelyn Combe, the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Champion in the 1600m at 4:35.64. They also return 5 of their top-7 runners from the 2024 State Division 1 Cross Country 3rd place team.
Trabuco Hills (D1)- The defending 2024 Division 1 CIF State Cross Country Champions lost their top runners- Holly Barker (graduation) and Evangeline Williams (family move to Dallas, Texas). However, they still return seniors Millie Bayles (4th place at 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships in 17:22.20) and Anna Desormeau (8th place at 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships in 17:30.60), along with a solid group of athletes from their historically deep cross country program.
Tesoro (D2)- Led by senior standouts Amber Dazey (3rd place at 2024 CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championships in 17:32.50) and Mackenzie Forrest (8th place at 2024 CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championships in 17:55.70). Tesoro returns 6 of their top-7 runners from the team that finished 5th at the 2024 CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championships.
Mira Costa (D1)- They return their top-6 runners from the 2024 CIF Southern Section Division 1 3rd Place team. They are led by senior Alana Clarke (17:58 at the 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships) and junior Sadie Wilson.
Claremont (D2)- They are led by super-sophomore Grace Smith (who just completed a standout freshman track season, running 2:07.33 at the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships to finish in 2nd place) and senior Isla Bulmer (11th Place at 2024 CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championships in 17:58.50). They return six of their top-7 from the team that finished in 6th Place at the 2024 Division 2 CIF State Cross Country Championships.
Arcadia (D1)- Led by standout senior Charlotte Hopkins (10th place at the 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships in 17:34.40), Arcadia returns their top-4 runners from the team that finished in 7th Place at the 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Championships.
Ventura (D2)- Despite losing 2024 CIF State Division 1 Cross Country Champion Sadie Engelhardt to graduation, they return 4 of their top-7 from the 4th Place team at the 2024 CIF State Division 2 Cross Country Championships. They are led by senior Aelo Curtis, who ran 4:49.17 in the 1600m during the 2025 outdoor track season. A potential key to Ventura competing for a CIF Southern Section Championship is whether standout senior Melanie True is able to return from injury after missing most of the 2024 cross country season and all of the 2025 outdoor track and field season.