The CIF State Cross Country Championships return to Woodward Park this weekend, bringing together California's fastest teams and individuals for one final showdown.
Beyond state bragging rights, performances here could shape the national stage at Nike Cross Nationals and the Brooks XC Championships. Who will rise to the top?
Fastest Boys Returners to 2024 CIF State XC Championships
Fastest Girls Returners to the 2024 CIF State XC Championships
Is the Repeat Alive?
His biggest test came at the Clovis XC Invitational, where Maximo Zavaleta and Elias Thronson, both CIF Division 1 contenders, got the better of him. Zavelta was especially impressive with a 14:44, the second-fastest time of the weekend, and looked entirely at ease up front.
Lott's advantage is simple: he thrives in chaotic, pack-heavy races. Last year's D1 final had nearly ten boys within a second at two miles, and he's the guy you don't want beside you in the final straight. The only possible weakness? This year's race could be much faster, as several competitors are capable of setting the pace right from the start.
Can Anyone Stop Jesuit?
Jesuit entered 2024 as the clear D2 favorite after winning last year's CIF State XC title with just one senior. Then came the offseason twist - the transfer of Connor Bilodeau - which transformed them from state favorites into genuine national contenders.
They've lived up to that status. Ranked No. 2 in the COROS MileSplit 50, Jesuit's only loss of the year came at the Woodbridge XC Classic, where they finished runner-up to Herriman (UT). Everything else has been domination.
On Saturday, the Marauders will chase a D2 repeat and another trip to Nike Cross Nationals. But their road isn't uncontested. Woodbridge, Vacaville, Mountain View, and Dos Pueblos all have the firepower to push Jesuit deeper into the race than they may prefer.
Woodbridge, ranked 13th nationally, is the closest California has seen to Jesuit this year. They've also been without their No. 3 runner since early November. If Thomas Yohn returns at State, he gives massive support to Aidan Antonio, who is also a legitimate individual title threat.
Jesuit remains the favorite because they have everything: experience, depth, and the ability to perform on the big stage. It will take something special to knock them off the throne.
The Greatest D5 Race Ever Assembled?
- Blake Bay after winning the D5 CIF-CS XC Race | Photo by DeAnna Turner -
It's rare for a small-school division to draw statewide attention, but Division 5 has both the individual firepower and team depth to make it one of the most compelling races of the day.
On the individual side, we already saw the potential battle up front between Olly O'Connor of Viewpoint and Blake Bay of Fresno Christian. In separate races at the Clovis XC Invitational, O'Connor ran 14:47, followed by Bay's 14:51.
Don't think for one second that this is a 2-man race because the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick (Nueva), Henry Hauser (Menlo), Mehari Winheim (Desert Christian), and Ben Friedland (San Francisco University) all have the capabilities of running under 15 minutes.
The team race could be even more competitive. San Francisco University, Viewpoint, Ontario Christian, and Menlo have a real shot at the podium.
Viewpoint entered the season as the clear favorite after finishing as runner-up in 2024, but SF University has quickly risen, even traveling south to beat Viewpoint at the Mt. SAC XC Invitational. Ontario Christian pushed Viewpoint to the edge at CIF-SS, and Menlo is coming off another Central Coast Section title with just 41 points.
If everything aligns, this could go down as the deepest and most competitive D5 races California has ever seen.
Josiah Bowman's Hot Streak
Since the Mt. SAC Invitational, where he was one of the few boys to go under 15 minutes, Josiah Bowman has been steadily climbing toward the State meet. He has carried that momentum through the postseason, winning his second consecutive CIF San Diego Section title - now in Division 4.
But D4 at State won't give him an easy path. Several athletes are capable of ending his streak.
Vin Krueger of Oaks Christian is coming in hot after winning the CIF Southern Section title in a 14:18 personal record. Earlier this season, he ran 15:25 at Woodward Park behind teammate Arizechkwu Nwosu, who is also competing for the individual crown.
Jackson Levasseur (Christian Brothers) enters with the CIF Sac-Joaquin D4 title, and Harvard-Westlake's Charles Abemayor - with a 14:18 PR - will set a fast pace.
Bowman is in the form of his life, but this field is loaded, and he'll have to run his best race of the year to stay on top.
Campolindo vs West Torrance
- Clark Gregory (Campolindo - left) and Dylan Mehnert (West Torrance - right) lead both teams -
Campolindo from the North Coast Section and West Torrance from the Southern Section have been dominant all season in their areas.
West Torrance has won every race it participated in this year, except for a second-place finish to Woodbridge at the Dana Hills XC Invite, where the race was shortened to 2.1 miles due to a wrong turn.
Up north, Campolindo drew national attention, especially after their dominant 40-point victory at the Rough Rider Invitational at Woodward Park. They posted an average time of 15:30 with a 23-second gap, which could have placed them fourth at the Clovis XC Invitational Saturday Championship race.
West Torrance won the Friday championship race with an average time of 15:45 and a 35-second spread.
Campolindo and West Torrance's Performances at Woodward Park
All performances from the 2025 Rough Rider Invitational and 2025 Clovis XC were combined and ranked in the table below.| Campolindo | Time | Rank | West Torrance | Time | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:17.35 | 30 | 15:24.20 | 47 | ||
| 15:19.67 | 34 | 15:35.10 | 79 | ||
| 15:35.02 | 78 | 15:50.80 | 144 | ||
| 15:37.48 | 88 | 15:53.70 | 158 | ||
| 15:40.93 | 100 | 15:58.30 | 190 |
Campolindo: Avg. 15:30.09, 1-5 Split 23.58
West Torrance: Avg. 15:44.42, 1-5 Split 34.10
Campolindo's performance earned them the 24th spot in the COROS MileSplit 50, making them the team to beat in Division 3. Saturday's race promises a showdown between two of the division's biggest powerhouses.
Will the Final Countdown be Interrupted?
The Division 1 boys race is set to be an ultra-competitive final countdown between Arnold O. Beckman and San Clemente. While their epic head-to-head battle is highly anticipated, the depth of this year's field means the predicted duel could be spoiled.
First, the epic battle that we may be able to witness. Just look at their last four races against each other.
Race | Beckman Score | San Clemente Score |
Clovis XC Invitational | 223 (Won Tiebreaker) | 223 |
Mt. SAC XC Invitational | 139 | 104 |
South Coast League Finals | 36 | 37 |
CIF-SS Championships | 102 | 106 |
San Clemente, led by Mattheus Dos Santos and Yohan Anderson, won't be the only team trying to stop Beckman from repeating as the D1 CIF State XC Champions.
Also from the Southern Section, Mira Costa and Redondo Union will try to stop them from defending. Cresecenta Valley stepped up at the CIF-SS Championships to beat both of these teams to enter as another contender.
Oak Ridge (SJ), Menlo-Atherton (CC), Bellarmine Prep (CC), Davis (SJ), and Poway (SD) will also be in the chase to interrupt the final countdown