The California cross country season is less than a month away, and we're counting down the Top 21 Boys XC Teams to Watch in 2026.
Today we have teams 10 through 6 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.
10. Oak Park (SS)
2025 Season: 5th in D3 CIF State XC Championships
Who's Returning: Six athletes returning from their CIF State XC Championships team, including their class of 2029 duo who led last year's team.
Why Watch?: The Oak Park girls have tremendous upside for years to come with their two underclassmen, Kathleen Lambe and Sophia Perez, leading them to the CIF State meet as freshmen. The spring track season demonstrated how they could be ready to make a step on the Division 1 podium with their top 5 girls averaging 5:10 in the 1600m and 11:29 in the 3200m. Grace Daly's improvement to a 5:23 and 11:47 is especially promising, showing how much of a factor she can be this season. The Eagles' young core will place them in the Division 3 title conversation for years to come, but their stellar track season has the potential to catapult them over key teams this fall.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Kathleen Lambe | 17:59.60 | 48 | |||
| 2) Sophia Perez | 18:15.10 | 83 | |||
| 3) Aine Pitillo | 18:28.50 | 120 | |||
| 4) Tabitha Brown | 18:40.70 | 145 | |||
| 5) Heleena Barnett | 19:15.50 | 306 | |||
Average Time: 18:31.88 Total Time: 1:32:39.40 1-5 Split: 1:15.90 | |||||
| 6) Saoirse Boehm | 19:21.40 | 336 | |||
| 7) Grace Daly | 20:29.10 | 729 | |||
9. Claremont (SS)
2025 Season: Runner-Up in D2 CIF State XC Championships, Reigning D2 CIF Southern Section Champions
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from last year's CIF State XC Championships team besides two scorers.
Why Watch?: Last season, we saw glimpses of the Claremont Wolfpack resembling their teams from the 2010s, which won three consecutive Division 2 CIF State XC Championships. Entering this year, they appear stronger than ever after finishing runner-up in the CIF State 4x800m final with three returners. Katherine Willett had a breakout season, dropping from 2:25 to 2:11 in the 800m and running 5:10 in the 1600m. This kind of progression could be exactly what lifts Claremont back into the Division 2 title conversation and possibly contention for a return to Nike Cross Nationals.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Camila Treviño-Davila | 17:55.50 | 38 | |||
| 2) Grace Smith | 18:00.40 | 50 | |||
| 3) Grace Delaney | 18:47.40 | 182 | |||
| 4) Jillian Terrazas | 19:19.10 | 327 | |||
| 5) Katherine Willett | 19:33.60 | 394 | |||
Average Time: 18:43.20 Total Time: 1:33:36.00 1-5 Split: 1:38.10 | |||||
| 6) Angie Vargas-Aldaco | 19:42.60 | 438 | |||
| 7) Maham Ali | 19:55.30 | 520 | |||
8. Great Oak (SS)
2025 Season: 6th in D1 CIF State XC Championships
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from last year's CIF State XC Championships team, including their top 3 scorers who were freshmen last season.
Why Watch?: When three freshmen lead a team to 6th place in Division 1, it's impossible to ignore how much potential they possess. This isn't the Great Oak team of the 2010s that won eight CIF State titles, but they aren't far away at this moment. The Wolfpack took a step closer by averaging 1600m (5:11) and 3200m (11:22) times that are top ten in California. Madison Bussey and Scarlette Cook are also emerging as a phenomenal duo, both breaking the 11-minute barrier in the 3200m as freshmen. Great Oak will aim to take even more steps forward to return to the CIF State XC podium this year and surprise the rest of California.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Madison Bussey | 18:08.80 | 69 | |||
| 2) Makenna Mitchell | 18:14.90 | 82 | |||
| 3) Scarlette Cook | 18:19.80 | 96 | |||
| 4) Mianna Castillo | 18:35.60 | 137 | |||
| 5) Sajanna Ortega | 18:54.60 | 210 | |||
Average Time: 18:26.74 Total Time: 1:32:13.70 1-5 Split: 45.80 | |||||
| 6) Lauren Miller | 19:11.40 | 284 | |||
| 7) Isabella Fields | 20:07.30 | 585 | |||
7. Davis (SJ)
2025 Season: 5th in D1 CIF State XC Championships, Reigning CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Champions
Who's Returning: Five athletes are returning from last year's CIF State XC Championships team, but they are graduating two scorers.
Why Watch?: Davis finished top 5 in the D1 CIF State XC Championships for the first time in seven years, marking that they are back as top contenders in the state. The Blue Devils accomplished this with their top returner, Norha Feldt, having her worst race of the season. However, Feldt proved she can show up on California's brightest stages by finishing 6th in the CIF State 1600m final this spring. Davis' top returners averaged 11:19 in the 3200m this track season, demonstrating that they are continuing to progress. Everything appears to be lining up to bring the Blue Devils back into battle against California's distance powerhouses.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Norah Feldt | 17:59.30 | 45 | |||
| 2) Katelyn Secrest | 18:15.20 | 84 | |||
| 3) Lilian Hales-Yang | 18:21.40 | 103 | |||
| 4) Layla Wolk | 18:46.10 | 173 | |||
| 5) Natalia Yeager | 19:17.50 | 314 | |||
Average Time: 18:31.90 Total Time: 1:32:39.50 1-5 Split: 1:18.20 | |||||
| 6) Chloe Chak | 19:22.39 | 342 | |||
| 7) Adeleine Glenn | 20:03.09 | 570 | |||
6. Mira Costa (SS)
2025 Season: Runner-Up in D1 CIF State XC Championships, 13th at Nike Cross Nationals, Reigning CIF Southern Section Champions
Who's Returning: Four athletes are returning from their CIF State XC Championships and Nike Cross Nationals teams.
Why Watch?: Last season, Mira Costa exceeded expectations, fielding the best pack in the state, but the Mustangs know they're capable of even more. The trio of Mia Ritter, Evelyn Ursini, and Isabella Amy is the perfect group to help them improve on the state and national stages. All three finished in the top 30 in Division 1 last season. With Laney Phelps' experience from last year's CIF State XC meet, the Mustangs' biggest question mark will be their #5 runner. They may have found a solid answer in Megan Shamaly, who ran 5:12 in the 1600m, or in Alexa Almodovar, who ran 5:26. Mira Costa is in a great position to improve on their runner-up finish last season, but they will need breakthrough performances like last season's to secure the title.
Potential Varsity Team (Based on Returners 5K PRs)
| 1) Mia Ritter | 17:53.90 | 32 | |||
| 2) Evelyn Ursini | 17:59.40 | 46 | |||
| 3) Isabella Amy | 18:05.50 | 61 | |||
| 4) Laney Phelps | 18:47.00 | 180 | |||
| 5) Megan Shamaly | 19:25.30 | 350 | |||
Average Time: 18:26.22 Total Time: 1:32:11.10 1-5 Split: 1:31.40 | |||||
| 6) Alexa Almodovar | 19:30.10 | 368 | |||
| 7) Alexis Cusato | 21:51.20 | 1452 | |||
The California cross country season is less than a month away, and we're counting down the Top 21 Boys XC Teams to Watch in 2026.
Today we have teams 10 through 6 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.