The Bulldogs hit the wall at Southern Section finals last fall, but they return enough talent to rank highly in both the 5K and 3 Mile returning rankings.
A strong group of sophomores will try to fill in for the loss of three seniors to graduation, and help the Mustangs take the next step forward as a program.
The Matadors had an astounding five freshmen on their 2015 CIF state meet squad, which means they have huge potential for the next three years.
The Cougars fell victim to a bad race at a worse time, but they have enough returning talent
Brooke Starn may have graduated, but Meredith Corda is back to lead the Mustangs, and she has a solid top 5 behind her.
The Condors lost a good bit to graduation, but their strong depth should propel them back into the top 10 in Division 1.
The Wolves finished 10th in Division 1, and they have their front 5 back...for the next TWO seasons.
The Apaches will no longer have the lowest stick in every race, but their depth and tight pack still makes them a tough team to beat.
Can the Dons close the gap on their nemesis in the SDS? They have a better returning top 5, but it should be a close (and interesting) team battle.
With all seven runners back and some unfinished business still to accomplish, the Tigers are looking for a breakthrough in a tough Division 1 field.
The Diamondbacks need to add depth, but the returning core is strong enough to make the top 5 of Division 2 again this year.
The Mustangs need to develop their young talent with a strong summer, but if that happens they could be an off-the-radar pick for the state meet.
The Dons return five from their state meet team from 2015, but it was their spring season that really caught our eye.
The Thunderbirds return 5 from their 2015 squad, including a core of rising juniors, and they had some encouraging results on the track as well.
The Broncos return six runners from the squad that finished second in the Southern Section, but they left something on the table at the state meet.
The loss of 4 seniors from last year's top 7 will test the Marauders' depth, but make no mistake: this team will still be very strong in 2016.
A young team with strong returning 3 Mile times, the Diablos could be poised to make the leap to the state meet.
With 5 returners back from their 8th-place finish in Division 2, the Wildcats look like a team on the rise.
A strong track season and a history of year-to-year improvement both say that the Mavericks will be better than their returning numbers indicate.
With the loss of 4 from last year's top 7, the Comanches will have their ability to improve from year to year tested this summer.
It feels like the Rebel boys were more celebrated last year, even though both squads won Division 5 titles. This should be the year the girls' team takes center stage.
If any school can overcome the loss of their top 2 runners to still make the top 10 in Division 1, Ventura's deep, consistent program can.
Unrealized potential in 2015 could turn into a team to watch in 2016, especially when you had 4 sophomores and a freshman in the top 7 last year.
We know Steven Khan is already a beast and likely to get even better, but can the Bulldogs build a state meet team around him?
The Cougars can be counted on to be strong, and they return 6 of 7 from the team that finished 9th in Division 1.
You can't keep the Cougars out of the CIF State Meet, and 2016 should be no exception.
With 6 of 7 returning from a trip to Clovis last November, the Grizzly Bears could be a squad on the rise.
The 2015 CCS champs have almost everyone back for 2016, and they want to improve on their 10th-place finish in Division 1.
The Stallions' potential is so bright, they had to wear shades - but potential alone doesn't get you out of the Southern Section and into the CIF State Meet.