Joshua Potts

Jul 17, 2026

With the 2025-26 school year officially complete, it's time to turn the page toward cross country. Before the first races of the 2026-27 season begin, we looked back at the previous school year to identify California's top returning distance runners based on their performances across both XC and track.

The rankings below combine each athlete's fastest 5K XC performance, 3200m, 1600m, and 800m from the 2025-26 school year to determine the state's top returning all-around distance runners. While the four events measure different strengths, combining them provides a snapshot of each athlete's versatility and overall body of work throughout the school year.

Top 15 Returning CA Distance Runners by Combined XC + Track Times

FULL LIST

Rank	Athlete	XC	3200m	1600m	800m	Combined
1	Alyssa Gutierrez - St. Francis (SJ) - c/o 2029	17:08.90	10:15.15	4:53.30	2:18.22	34:35.57
2	Kamilah Salim - West Torrance (SS) - c/o 2027	17:25.60	10:34.31	4:47.55	2:11.53	34:58.99
3	Farah Allen - Branson (NC) - c/o 2027	17:17.00	10:38.68	4:48.09	2:19.92	35:03.69
4	Maya Pawlowicz - JSerra Catholic (SS) - c/o 2029	17:35.60	10:43.60	4:50.45	2:11.31	35:20.96
5	Lindsey Billotte - Classical Academy (SD) - c/o 2028	17:27.80	10:38.94	4:57.38	2:21.30	35:25.42
6	Molly Sundgren - Buchanan (CS) - c/o 2027	17:33.10	10:34.68	5:00.06	2:22.16	35:30.00
7	Sabina Cruz - Westlake (SS) - c/o 2029	17:39.80	10:34.98	4:58.60	2:18.03	35:31.41
8	Taryn Coulston - Santa Margarita (SS) - c/o 2027	17:44.30	10:37.16	4:55.21	2:15.78	35:32.45
9	Addyson Johns - Santiago Corona (SS) - c/o 2029	17:43.50	10:32.62	5:06.17	2:15.97	35:38.26
10	Norah Feldt - Davis (SJ) - c/o 2027	17:59.30	10:32.46	4:48.56	2:20.63	35:40.95
11	Isabel Gladden - Sage Creek (SD) - c/o 2029	17:40.70	10:40.66	5:00.46	2:21.41	35:43.23
12	Brooklyn Tennant - JSerra Catholic (SS) - c/o 2029	17:44.00	10:46.10	4:58.21	2:19.45	35:47.76
13	Josie Hill - Sonoma Academy (NC) - c/o 2027	18:03.00	10:52.22	4:50.56	2:05.86	35:51.64
14	Emma Alba - Arnold O. Beckman (SS) - c/o 2028	17:48.10	10:52.17	4:51.81	2:19.96	35:52.04
15	Sade Bumpus - Granada (NC) c/o 2027	17:52.60	10:50.01	4:58.61	2:14.99	35:56.21

*Note: Athletes must have recorded marks in a 5K cross country race, 3200m, 1600m, and 800m during the 2025-26 school year to qualify.

Highlight Returners

Top returners, you need to watch this cross country season from our top 15 list.

-- Alyssa Gutierrez leading the CIF State 3200m Final - Photo by Raymond Tran --

1. Alyssa Gutierrez

Few freshmen enjoyed a better school year than Alyssa Gutierrez, who leads as the top returning runner after a fantastic freshman season. During the last cross-country season, she ran a 17:08 5K to win the Kim Duyst Invitational, which led to a runner-up finish at the DIII CIF State XC Championship. Gutierrez continued her fearless running in the track season, placing 4th in the CIF State 3200m final with a personal record of 10:15.

-- Maya Palowicz running at the CIF-SS XC Championships - Photo by Raymond Tran --

4. Maya Pawlowicz

In Maya Pawlowicz's freshman season, she experienced just about everything a distance runner can in high school. She went on to lead JSerra Catholic to U.S. No. 1 team rankings, win a CIF State XC Championship, race at Nike Cross Nationals, win an Arcadia Invitational relay, qualify for the CIF State Track and Field Championships individually, and race at Brooks PR. The only thing she didn't accomplish was individual wins in XC, and her strong track portfolio may change that this XC season.

-- Molly Sudgren in the last mile of the D1 CIF State XC Championships - Photo by DeAnna Turner --

6. Molly Sundgren

Molly Sundgren will enter her fourth consecutive year as Buchanan's number-one or number-two runner, with the hope of winning back-to-back DI CIF State XC Team Championships. Her track season demonstrated remarkable consistency, as she broke 10:45 in the 3200m three different times and qualified for her first CIF State final.

-- Josie Hill leading the CIF State 800m Final - Photo by John Lee --

13. Josie Hill

In 2026, Josie Hill proved she is a top 800m runner in the nation by winning the Festival of Miles 800m in a personal record of 2:05.86. If her track success carries into the fall, Hill could emerge as one of California's biggest cross country breakout stars. During the last XC season, she improved by 4 minutes at the CIF North Coast XC Section Championship to qualify for the D5 CIF State XC Championship race, where she finished 9th overall.