The CIF State Cross Country Championships always shine a spotlight on California's biggest stars, but the future is just as exciting.
This year's freshman and sophomore classes are loaded with emerging talent ready to make noise on the state's biggest stage. Here are 10 boys and 10 girls you should keep an eye on as the next wave of standout performers at Woodward Park.
BOYS
Sterling White (Oaks Christian 2029) - D4
We will be discussing Sterling White over the next four years, and his recent performance at the CIF-SS Finals perfectly illustrates this. In the D4 race, he challenged for the lead with less than 300 meters remaining, finished fourth, and ran a time of 14:26, which was the fastest freshman time of the day.
Jesus Torres (Del Oro) - D3
At the Central Section XC Championships, Jesus Torres continued to be a key contributor to Del Oro's success. He finished 6th in the Division 3 race, helping Del Oro secure 2nd place as a team behind San Luis Obispo. Torres holds a 15:53 course record at Woodward Park, which will be beneficial in a competitive D3 race on Saturday.
Bryson Caganap (Ayala) - D1
Last year, Bryson Caganap was a prodigy on an Ayala team that looked like the best in the state at one point. This year, he has improved, especially on big stages, with his recent 14:34 three-mile run to qualify as an individual for the D1 CIF State XC Championships.