The database says that Arcadia's girls might be underrated coming into this season, but Great Oak has a new addition that would make a big difference if she was included.
(Photo courtesy of Redding Record Searchlight) We break down the team and individual favorites in each division for the upcoming season!
We found a rankings system that actually DOESN'T list Great Oak's girls as the best in the state. Maybe it's broken...
Track season DOES matter - the top programs in cross country have serious buy-in during the spring, too.
Ally Palomino (Bishop Amat) had a monster run at Mount Sac in late November, making her the top Division 4 returner in the section.
Mixed in among the big, nationally-known names is Candela Fernandez (Burbank), who doesn't seem to get the same level of recognition despite being the #2 returner in the section.
Taking the top returning times from both the CIF races at Mount SAC last November, to see who the contenders are this time around.
Jake Ogden is within striking distance of an individual title, just like his Dana Hills team is within striking distance of the championship.
(Photo courtesy of Jim Gensheimer/Mercury News) Gillian Meeks was the only returning girl to break 18 minutes on the Toro Park 3 Mile course at last year's CCS finals.
How tough was the CCS championship course last year? Only two returners broke 16 on the Toro Park 3 Miler (there are 8 sub-16 returning 5K runners in the section!).
(Photo courtesy of Wayne Tilcock/Davis Enterprise) No surprises here - Fiona O'Keeffe is the runner to beat in the entire state, let alone this section.
(Photo courtesy of Jesuit High School) Sean Kurdy returns with the top 5K time in the section, and also had the best time in the 3 Mile section finals.
Gabby Satterlee (Central Valley Christian) is one of 3 returning sub-18 5K runners in the section, and she will be in pursuit of another Division 4 title.
A great part of the overall strength of this year's Madera South team will be based on their excellent #2 runner, Miguel Villar, and not just on top gun Eduardo Herrera.
Granada's Megan McCandless is one of only two girls that broke 18 at the 2014 section finals - and the other was on the cover just a few days ago.
Andy Ehrenberg (Redwood) ran the fastest time at the 2014 sectional finals, while taking the Division 2 crown in the process.
Kelly Bernd (Canyon Crest Academy) had a strong spring season to follow up on her Division 3 sectional title from the fall.
Joaquin Martinez De Pinillos had an outstanding freshman season for Cathedral Catholic, and now he sets his sights on the overal section title.
(Photo courtesy of Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight) Natalie Ulloa (Enterprise) ran away from the competition during her sophomore season, and she's poised to dominate as a junior.
Trinity's Ben Harper is the only sub-16 returner in the section, even considering the finals were on a 3 Mile course.
Claire Graves rocked Woodbridge and Mt. SAC last fall, and even got to run at Balboa Park in December. You can bet the only course that matters to her in 2015 is Woodward Park.
Austin Tamagno won the Division 3 title and made it to Foot Locker Nationals last fall. Does he still have anything left to prove? We're guessing the answer is yes.
You know Fiona, and you know Destiny, but do you know Chloe? You should - she's really fast.
If anyone can take down the defending Division 1 champion this fall, it could be Madera South's Eduardo Herrero, who had a big track season.
At nearly every race distance, for both genders, Great Oak reigns supreme.
Justin Robison and his Lynbrook team have a strong group of senior boys to anchor around this fall.
Although Clovis North looks like the top girls' team in the section, there could be a three-team battle for the 3rd spot at the state meet.
Can the Armijo boys make good on the promise they showed early in the season last fall?
El Camino Real's boys lost only one runner from last year's section champs, and they'd very much like to move up from 16th in the state meet this time around.
They just missed the cut for our overall top 30 countdown, which focused on 5K results, but the Piedmont girls look like the best in the NCS when you look at 3 Mile times.