Each week, Future Stars will spotlight underclassmen making big statements early in the season - athletes whose performances already hint at bright XC careers ahead.
Sophie Sagi (Westview 2028)
The Asics / Sundevil Cross Country Invitational proved that Sophie Sagi is a different kind of 9th grader after dominating the D1 Frosh Girls race. Sagi won the race by 52 seconds with a time of 18:18, which made her the eighth fastest girl of all grade levels on the day. She also boasts a personal record of 17:28 from the Palomar League Cluster, making her a formidable competitor in any race she enters this season.
Jacob Franco (Arnold O. Beckman 2028)
At the Central Park Invitational, the Arnold O. Beckman returned to dominance in the sweepstakes race, where they scored seven boys in the top twenty-one places of the races. Anchoring it all is sophomore Jacob Franco, who is the only underclassman on varsity. Last Saturday, he ran 15:25 at Central Park to finish 21st overall in the sweepstakes race. This invaluable experience will surely bring the sophomore in the spotlight more as Beckman searches to repeat as the CIF State Division 1 XC Champions.
Eleanor Hampton (Merced 2028)
After coming down to the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic and hitting an impressive personal record of 17:23, Eleanor Hampton continued her incredible season back in Northern California. Last weekend, the Merced sophomore won the Amanda Garcia Memorial Invite by over 2 minutes in a time of 17:25, which is seconds off of her PR. This season, Hampton has demonstrated she can do it solo or in highly competitive fields like Woodbridge.
Joshua Bell (Mt. Carmel 2028)
The Sundevils of Mt. Carmel are having an incredible season with the help of a sophomore stepping up in their second cross country season. Joshua Bell has been an essential 3rd piece to the puzzle all season, and that paid dividends last weekend, where he finished seventh overall at the Asics / Sundevil Cross Country Invitational. His impressive 15:49 performance helped Mt. Carmel secure the D1 Invitational Boys race victory and further solidify their position as the CIF San Diego Section Finals favorites this November.