California's premier invitational takes over historic Woodward Park this Friday and Saturday. The ASICS Clovis XC Invitational offers Californians a preview of the state course against an elite field, with a chance to see how they stack up before November.
Can A Californian Boy Reclaim Clovis?
Since 2019, the Clovis XC Invitational has drawn some of the nation's best runners, including Leo Daschbach, Josiah Tostenson, and Jackson Spencer. Out-of-state boys have won the last two editions, leaving California's best chasing a title that once stayed close to home. Can they reclaim Clovis this weekend, or will the out-of-state streak extend?
MILESPLIT PREVIEW
BOYS CLOVIS XC INVITE WINNERS
A CALIFORNIA BOY HASN'T WON CLOVIS SINCE 2023
THE PAST 4 CLOVIS CHAMPIONS
'23
Anthony Fast Horse
CA WINNER
'24
Josiah Tostenson
OUT-OF-STATE WINNER
'24
Jackson Spencer
OUT-OF-STATE WINNER
Two Roads to the Crown
Tap a contender - or the crown.
OUT-OF-STATE
Garrett Faught
CRATER'S #1 GUY
David Coisson
FASTEST BOY IN NEVADA
Connor Bilodeau
NEVADA'S NEWCOMER
CALIFORNIA
Cooper Stream
REIGNING CA STATE CHAMP
Mario Montoya
THE HOT HAND
California vs. Out-of-State
SATURDAY
Californians can reclaim the individual title at the boys' Clovis XC Invitational for the first time since 2023 on Saturday.
Out-of-state contenders get two chances to extend their streak of beating California. On Friday, Nevada runners Connor Bilodeau (Tahoe-Truckee) and David Coisson (Galena) could post the weekend's fastest time in the Steve Ward Boys Championship. Both ran under 14:20 on the three-mile course at the Woodbridge XC Classic, and they have plenty of experience competing on California soil.
California's biggest threat is Garrett Faught, from Crater in Oregon, who's racing in the Rob Brenner Boys Championship on Saturday. Last year he finished 24th at the Nike Cross Nationals, and last month he beat all Californians at Woodbridge except one. Faught also has a chance to follow in the footsteps of his old teammate Josiah Tostenson, who won Clovis in 2024.
Although the out-of-state contingent looks strong, California has a long list of boys ready to step up to the plate. Blake Bay of Fresno Christian and Elias Thronson of Davis are the top returners from last year. Bay comes off a 9th-place finish at Woodbridge last month, and Thronson enters Clovis undefeated over some of Northern California's best talent. Mario Montoya and Aidan Antonio also come off strong performances at the Great American XC Festival last weekend. Then there's Cooper Stream, who won the Division II California State Championship on the same course last season in an impressive 13:48. Friday could also outdo Saturday with an epic battle between Sterling White (Oaks Christian), Henry Hauser (Menlo School), Michael Scarince (South Pasadena), Jack Richter (Viewpoint), and more, as they face the boys from Nevada.
Crater (OR) vs. California
In Saturday's Boys and Girls Championships, Crater (OR) can sweep Clovis and upset California. In September, the girls won the Woodbridge XC Classic while the boys finished fourth overall ahead of all the Californian teams. Can they repeat that dominant performance on California soil?
At Woodbridge, Brynn Davenport and Adley Damon propelled the girls to victory by finishing 2nd and 4th overall. That September night, they looked like the nation's best duo, running side by side, but Gwen Vanwart's 19th-place finish may have sealed the deal. Crater will be extremely hard to beat if those three find themselves in the front pack again, but this course is more difficult than Woodbridge, so anything could happen.
-- Crater girls after winning the 2026 Woodbridge XC Classic -- Photo by Brayden Drewitz
The Crater boys look primed to also win Clovis after beating all Californian teams at Woodbridge, and they still have room to improve. Transfer Sawyer Hutton finished as their #6 runner that night. If he moves into their second or third scoring spot Saturday while their other scorers hold form, Crater could become unbeatable. Their depth makes them dangerous, but they'll also have to navigate an unfamiliar course at Woodward Park.
Who's the Best Girl in California?
Last season, Aelo Cutis shocked the state by winning the Clovis XC Invitational and entering the conversation for California's best girl in XC with Jaelyn Williams, Summer Wilson, Braelyn Combe, and Chiara Dailey. This year, the conversation isn't as clear, but this weekend could bring it into sharper focus.
For now, sophomores Alyssa Gutierrez (St. Francis) and Addyson Johns (Santiago) lead the way after strong season starts. Gutierrez has dominant wins at Kim Duyst Twilight and Nike Portland XC under her belt, while Addyson Johns holds the state-leading 3-mile time of 15:59.
Several girls could firmly re-enter the conversation this weekend, starting with last season's Brooks XC All-Americans, Carol Dye (Santa Margarita) and Farah Allen (Branson). Below is how the California contender field is shaping up at the Clovis XC Invitational.
CLOVIS XC INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
WHO'S THE BEST IN CALIFORNIA?
Each Athlete's Best Performance at Woodward Park
How Tight Is This Race?
Each athlete's season best shown on one scale. Tap or hover a dot.
Just 70 secs separates the field
17:17
18:27
16:50
17:00
17:10
17:20
17:30
17:40
17:50
18:00
18:10
18:20
18:30
18:40
18:50
19:00
the leader
17:17.00 · Farah Allen
+1 secs from leader
17:17.60 · Alyssa Gutierrez
+11 secs from leader
17:27.80 · Lindsey Billotte
+12 secs from leader
17:29.40 · Molly Sundgren
+19 secs from leader
17:35.50 · Brooklyn Buckley
+27 secs from leader
17:43.50 · Addyson Johns
+27 secs from leader
17:44.10 · Gelila Hailu
+27 secs from leader
17:44.27 · Carol Dye
+40 secs from leader
17:56.97 · Isabella Vazquez
+70 secs from leader
18:27.00 · Isabella Ruiz
Which Girls Team Will Capitalize on JSerra's Absence?
Last week, the JSerra Catholic girls sent a message to all of California by winning the Great American XC Festival in Cary, North Carolina. They would have been the favorites at Clovis if they had lined up, but their absence gives another team a chance to make a statement.
All eyes are on Buchanan, the reigning Division 1 California State Team Champions, who ran the fastest team time on the course last year. They return 6 from last year's state title-winning team; however, they haven't yet put together what appears to be a complete and healthy team this season. Regardless, their experience on the course will still be hard to beat with Molly Sundgren and Brooklyn Buckley at the helm.
St. Francis of Sacramento jumped on the national radar last month after dominating the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational, finishing 5th at Woodbridge ahead of Buchanan, and were runner-up at Nike Portland XC. They will rely on Alyssa Gutierrez as the top individual returner and on transfer Ellison Williams, who has helped complete one of the state's best 1-2 punches.
This weekend also gives San Clemente, Claremont, Santiago, Davis, and El Toro a chance to stake a claim as one of California's best teams. All of these teams, except Davis, finished in the top 15 at Woodbridge and have a history of running well at Woodward Park. In the first half of the season, Davis has dominated Northern California, and this weekend will be their first against the state's top competition.
A Definitive Test For California's Best Boys Team
Saturday's Rob Breener Boys Championship features California's teams with the biggest question marks. Mountain View, Granada, and Newbury Park may have the most momentum after finishing as the only California teams in the top 10 at Woodbridge, but Woodward Park is a different ballgame.
Below are the California teams to watch that could make the most noise on Saturday.
CLOVIS XC INVITATIONAL PREVIEW
CA BOYS TEAMS TO WATCH
Saturday's Rob Brenner Boys Championship
NO. 1
MOUNTAIN VIEW - D1
HAS STARTED THE SEASON WITH TWO IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES. WON THE LOWELL INVITATIONAL IN SAN FRANCISCO AND FINISHED 5TH AS THE TOP CALIFORNIAN TEAM AT THE WOODBRIDGE XC CLASSIC.
California's premier invitational takes over historic Woodward Park this Friday and Saturday. The ASICS Clovis XC Invitational offers Californians a preview of the state course against an elite field, with a chance to see how they stack up before November.
Can A Californian Boy Reclaim Clovis?
Since 2019, the Clovis XC Invitational has drawn some of the nation's best runners, including Leo Daschbach, Josiah Tostenson, and Jackson Spencer. Out-of-state boys have won the last two editions, leaving California's best chasing a title that once stayed close to home. Can they reclaim Clovis this weekend, or will the out-of-state streak extend?
MILESPLIT PREVIEW
BOYS CLOVIS XC INVITE WINNERS
A CALIFORNIA BOY HASN'T WON CLOVIS SINCE 2023
THE PAST 4 CLOVIS CHAMPIONS
'23
Anthony Fast Horse
CA WINNER
'24
Josiah Tostenson
OUT-OF-STATE WINNER
'24
Jackson Spencer
OUT-OF-STATE WINNER
Two Roads to the Crown
Tap a contender - or the crown.
OUT-OF-STATE
Garrett Faught
CRATER'S #1 GUY
David Coisson
FASTEST BOY IN NEVADA
Connor Bilodeau
NEVADA'S NEWCOMER
CALIFORNIA
Cooper Stream
REIGNING CA STATE CHAMP
Mario Montoya
THE HOT HAND
California vs. Out-of-State
SATURDAY
Californians can reclaim the individual title at the boys' Clovis XC Invitational for the first time since 2023 on Saturday.
Out-of-state contenders get two chances to extend their streak of beating California. On Friday, Nevada runners Connor Bilodeau (Tahoe-Truckee) and David Coisson (Galena) could post the weekend's fastest time in the Steve Ward Boys Championship. Both ran under 14:20 on the three-mile course at the Woodbridge XC Classic, and they have plenty of experience competing on California soil.