The California cross country season is less than a month away, and we're counting down the Top 21 Girls XC Teams to Watch in 2026.
Today we have teams 21 through 16 that you need to watch in California this fall. Be sure to check back throughout the week as we unveil the rest of the rankings and continue our preseason cross country coverage.
Note: This list analyzes last year's cross country and track and field improvements, program history, and each team's potential this season. It is not intended to predict the exact order of finish at the CIF State Championships, but highlights California teams to watch this fall.
Just Outside. Lick Wilmerding (NC)
2025 Season: Reigning D5 CIF State XC Championships
Who's Returning: Six athletes are returning, but they are losing Ella Mogannam, who was the D5 CIF State XC individual champion.
Why Watch?: For ten years, the Lick Wilmerding girls have finished in the top 5 at the D5 CIF State XC Championships with three title victories, so we can't ignore them. It's realistic to point out they'll be without NXN individual qualifier Ella Mogannam, who graduated. Replacing Mogannam won't be easy, but Lick-Wilmerding still returns one of Northern California's better duos in Ella Adams-Teoh (1600m PR- 5:12) and Caroline Cheng (1600m PR- 5:13).
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Ella Adams-Teoh | 17:46.63 | ||||
| 2) Caroline Chang | 17:56.71 | ||||
| 3) Ainsley King | 20:02.30 | ||||
| 4) Lexi Chu | 20:19.91 | ||||
| 5) Lara Slater | 21:14.57 | ||||
Average Time: 19:28.02 Total Time: 1:37:20.12 1-5 Split: 3:27.94 | |||||
| 6) Rana Lui-Kwan | 21:52.78 | ||||
| 7) Ayla Cashman | 22:07.35 | ||||
21. San Francisco University (NC)
2025 Season: 3rd in D5 CIF State XC Championships
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from their CIF State XC Championships, including three athletes from the class of 2028.
Why Watch?: Last year the Jesuit (SJ) boys tied the San Francisco University (NC) girls for the most CIF State XC Championships wins in history at 11, but the Red Devils are returning a great team that could take their title back this fall. Palmer Smit continued to improve this spring season with a 5:10 PR after finishing 13th at last year's CIF State XC meet. However, their success will depend on whether their tight pack can continue closing the gap on Smit. Anabel Laughlin could be that difference-maker after a stellar spring season where she ran 5:28 and 11:28 after not making the CIF State XC lineup last year.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Palmer Smit | 18:08.89 | ||||
| 2) Grace Tompkins-Pettigrew | 18:54.63 | ||||
| 3) Elie Calderon | 19:28.18 | ||||
| 4) Anna Agnoli | 19:30.49 | ||||
| 5) Lulu Nichols | 19:43.19 | ||||
Average Time: 19:09.08 Total Time: 1:35:45.38 1-5 Split: 1:34.30 | |||||
| 6) Lily Friedland | 20:03.15 | ||||
| 7) Anabel Laughlin | 20:11.52 | ||||
20. Yorba Linda (SS)
2025 Season: 8th in D3 CIF State XC Championships
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from their CIF State XC lineup, but they are adding three potential game-changing freshmen.
Why Watch?: Yorba Linda was already returning one of Division 3's top runners in Isabella Wroblewski before adding perhaps the state's best incoming freshman class. Sofia Wroblewski (6K PR- 21:25), Kiyomi Fuertes (6K PR- 22:00), and Madison White (6K PR- 25:14) are joining the team from Quick Track Club, who won the 13-14 USATF National Junior Olympic XC Championship. These freshmen are guaranteed to change the team's dynamic, and mixing it with Isabella Wroblewski could launch them into state title contention.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Isabella Wroblewski | 16:40.30 | ||||
| 2) Savannah Gonzalez | 17:41.80 | ||||
| 3) Brooke Habbestad | 17:58.80 | ||||
| 4) Camille Ta-Perez | 18:15.70 | ||||
| 5) Emily Maurer | 19:33.20 | ||||
Average Time: 18:01.96 Total Time: 1:30:09.80 1-5 Split: 2:52.90 | |||||
| 6) Sydney Van Stralen | 19:52.80 | ||||
| 7) Lizzy Clark | 20:03.80 | ||||
Who's Returning: Four athletes from last season's varsity team are returning, including now three seniors and one junior.
Why Watch?: Based on San Clemente's top four returners, they are without a doubt a team to watch in Division 1. Additionally, their spring season reaffirms this with their top five runners averaging 5:13 in the 1600m and 11:36 in the 3200m. The Tritons' missing piece may come from incoming freshman Mia Kim, who ran 5:07 in the 1600m and 14:05 on a 4000m XC course as an eighth grader. The Tritons have the talent to contend in Division 1, but they'll have to survive one of California's deepest divisions to touch the state title.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Sedona Sweginnis | 18:01.80 | ||||
| 2) Taylor Ball | 18:25.40 | ||||
| 3) Addison Carey | 18:45.30 | ||||
| 4) Emma Harvey | 18:51.80 | ||||
| 5) Avery Hart | 20:29.90 | ||||
Average Time: 18:54.84 Total Time: 1:34:34.20 1-5 Split: 2:28.10 | |||||
18. Northgate (NC)
2025 Season: 6th in D3 CIF State XC Championships, Reigning D3 CIF North Coast Section XC Championships
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from last year's CIF State XC team, and they're only losing one runner from their top 5.
Why Watch?: Northgate is a sneaky team to watch in a loaded Division 3. Last season, they built their success on great pack running, and that looks to continue in 2026. Olivia Joseph is the low stick that can place Northgate into the state title conversation after a stellar spring. She improved by 58 seconds in the 3200m to run 10:58 this season and ran a new personal record of 4:58 in the 1600m.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Olivia Joseph | 18:03.70 | ||||
| 2) Camila Terrazas | 18:46.10 | ||||
| 3) Emma Fox | 18:53.90 | ||||
| 4) Matilda Rees | 18:58.70 | ||||
| 5) Maren Ahonen-Lytal | 19:19.50 | ||||
Average Time: 18:48.38 Total Time: 1:34:01.90 1-5 Split: 1:15.80 | |||||
Who's Returning: Only two returners are coming back from their CIF State XC Championships team.
Why Watch?: After four consecutive years of finishing top 5 at the CIF State XC Championships, Santiago is rebuilding with only two varsity members from last season. However, Addyson Johns, who finished 10th at the CIF State XC Championships as a freshman last season, is probably the best person to rebuild with. Plus, their returning top 5 is averaging 5:18 in the 1600m and 11:33 in the 3200m, which is competitive with about every elite team across the state. Also, don't count out any incoming freshman who could make a splash like Johns last season. If Santiago finds another breakout underclassman, the Sharks could once again prove why they've become one of California's premier distance programs.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 3 Mile PRs)
| 1) Addyson Johns | 16:39.40 | ||||
| 2) Sofia Ramirez | 17:24.30 | ||||
| 3) Brooklyn Rodriguez | 17:26.50 | ||||
| 4) Bailey Phelps | 17:32.10 | ||||
| 5) Samantha Taras | 17:52.00 | ||||
Average Time: 17:22.86 Total Time: 1:26:54.30 1-5 Split: 1:12.60 | |||||
| 6) Malea Espinoza | 18:04.10 | ||||
| 7) Anna Hill | 18:16.30 | ||||
*Not enough data to make their potential varsity team based on 5K PRs.
16. Trabuco Hills (SS)
2025 Season: 3rd in D1 CIF State XC Championships, 11th at Nike Cross Nationals
Who's Returning: Only two returners are coming back from their CIF State XC Championships team.
Why Watch?: Similar to Santiago, Trabuco Hills is coming off four consecutive years of finishing top 5 in the D1 CIF State XC Championships. However, the Mustangs are still returning four runners with Nike Cross Nationals experience. Violet Pinter, Isabella Lubba, and Katherine Havens look like a great trio to keep the Mustangs competitive for the D1 state title this season.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 3 Mile PRs)
| 1) Isabella Lubba | 17:37.00 | ||||
| 2) Violet Pinter | 17:47.90 | ||||
| 3) Katherine Havens | 17:51.40 | ||||
| 4) Bonnie Liou | 18:39.20 | ||||
| 5) Chelsea Knight | 19:07.50 | ||||
Average Time: 18:12.60 Total Time: 1:31:03.00 1-5 Split: 1:30.50 | |||||
| 6) Gianna Castelli | 19:14.00 | ||||
| 7) Emma Murphy | 19:44.30 | ||||
*Not enough data to make their potential varsity team based on 5K PRs.
The California cross country season is less than a month away, and we're counting down the Top 21 Girls XC Teams to Watch in 2026.
Today we have teams 21 through 16 that you need to watch in California this fall. Be sure to check back throughout the week as we unveil the rest of the rankings and continue our preseason cross country coverage.