Central Coast Section update during league finals

The league championship races are rolling along. I have updated the rankings following the BVAL meet yesterday. For now, feel free to comment below on any of the divisions, and if I am missing any teams that might place in the top 5 at the CCS Championship.

BOYS
Division I (Top 3 advance to state)
1) Bellarmine
2) Menlo Atherton
3) Los Altos
4) Milpitas
5) Evergreen Valley

Division II (Top 2 advance to state)

1) Mountain View
2) Piedmont Hills

3) Branham

4) St. Francis, MV

5) Serra

Division III (Top 3 advance to state)

1) Willow Glen

2) St. Ignatius

3) Sacred Heart Cathedral

4) Hillsdale
5) North Monterey County

Division IV (Top 3 advance to state)

1) Mills

2) Santa Cruz

3) Aptos
4) The King's Academy
5) Harker/Archbishop Riordan

Division V (Top 4 advance to state)

1) Menlo

2) Monte Vista Christian

3) Nueva

4) Pacific Grove

5) Crystal Springs Uplands School

GIRLS

Division I (Top 3 advance to state)
1) Los Altos
2) Carlmont

3) Menlo Atherton

4) Evergreen Valley

5) Alisal

Division II (Top 4 advance to state)

1) St. Francis, MV

2) Leigh

3) Mountain View

4) Piedmont Hills

5) Branham

Division III (Top 2 advance to state)

1) St. Ignatius
2) Burlingame

3) Sacred Heart Cathedral

4) Willow Glen

5) Pioneer

Division IV (Top 3 advance to state)

1) Scotts Valley
2) Aptos

3) Archbishop Riordan/Harker

4) Mills

5) Saratoga

Division V (Top 4 advance to state)

1) Crystal Springs Uplands School

2) Menlo

3) Nueva

4) Woodside Priory

5) Castilleja

For those of you that have run at the Lowell Invitational

The following was passed along by Hillsdale coach Chris Lucey.

Posted by the San Francisco Park and Recreation Department on Thursday, October 29th.
Farewell to a Giant! Tomorrow we say goodbye to an old friend, a 90-ft cypress on the eastern edge of Hellman Hollow, whose towering trunk finally split after standing strong for more than a century.

NorCal League Championship Results

CCS
WCAL at Hallmark Park on November 5 LIVE RESULTS
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/11525/events
SCVAL at Hallmark Park on November 4 LIVE RESULTS
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2025/scval-4.htm
The varsity races began with the El Camino boys. Mountain View was the easy team winner, scoring 34 points, led by individual winner Ryan Chen (15:01.1). Behind MV, the Los Altos boys finished ahead of Milpitas. Those two teams will more than likely battle for the last state meet spot in Division I. The Los Gatos boys won the De Anza varsity race despite the 1/2 finish of Homestead runners Joshua Lim and Leo Silberstein. In the El Camino girls' race, Palo Alto senior Amaya Bharadwaj won with a time of 17:05.2.  That is the 14th fastest performer all-time on the Crystal Springs course. The Los Altos girls were the team winners before they attempt to take the CCS Division I title. After Los Altos, Gunn edged out the Mountain View girls which could be a preview of the Division II race at CCS. The Los Gatos girls won the El Camino varsity race with Saratoga sophomore Claire Hou as the individual winner (18:52.4).
BVAL at Hallmark Park on November 3 LIVE RESULTS
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/11325/events
Leigh varsity girls with an easy victory, led by individual winner, Gelila Hailu (18:13.6). For the boys, Brnnham senior Elijah Murillo was the individual winner with a time of 15:07.1. CCS Division III favorite Willow Glen was the team winner.
Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) at Hallmark Park on Nov 1
https://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2025Meets/palxc/mp/
The Menlo Atherton boys scored a perfect 15 to win the league championship, two weeks before the CCS Championship race. Senior Cason Mitchell was the individual winner at 15:26.2 after cruising through the mile at 5:10 with his teammates. For the girls, in a mini preview of the CCS Division I race, Carlmont just edged out Menlo Atherton 45 to 49 to claim the varsity team title. Menlo Atherton sophomore Caroline Pflaum was the lone runner under 18 minutes with a winning time of 17:59.4 after going through the mile in 5th place.
WBAL at Hallmark Park on November 7 LIVE RESULTS
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2025/wbal-3.htm

NCS
MVAL Cross Country Championships at Quarry Lakes Regional Park on November 5
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/2025-11-05/
Coastal Mountain Conference at Spring Lake Park on November 6
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/2025-11-06/
Previews
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2025-boys-cmc-preview/
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2025-girls-cmc-preview/
BCL West at Golden Gate Park on November 7
https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/58916
WACC at Hayward HS on November 8
https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/58917
NBL at Spring Lake Park on November 8
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2025-nbl-preview/

SJS
CVC League Finals Results (SJ SECTION) http://www.bvtrack.com/CCResults/2025CVCXCFinalsResults.htm
- Ponderosa senior Grady Morris won the boys varsity 5K in a time of 15:13.5, and Vista del Lago senior Brenna Mannion won the girls varsity 5K in a time of 17:07.1 I believe both were meet records.
Boys Team Top Three
1) Ponderosa
2) Bella Vista
3) Vista del Lago
Girls Team Top Three
1) Bella Vista
2) Vista del Lago
3) Christian Brothers

CCAA-MVL Championship at Legacy Fields Sports Complex on October 29
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/ccaamvlxc/
SFL Championship at Jessup University on November 1
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/sflxc/
One of the best leagues in NorCal featured several nationally ranked teams. In the boys' race, the Jesuit boys claimed another league title with a low score of 21. Junior Conor Bilodeau led the Marauders with the individual victory (14:43.4) over Davis sophomore Elias Thronson (14:48.5). The girls' race featured four of the top teams in the state, with the Whitney girls coming out on top with an impressive score of 31. St. Francis SJ freshman Alyssa Gutierrez continued her impressive season with her first league title in a time of 17:06.3.
Delta League Championship at Jessup University on November 1
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/deltaxc/

NS

OAK

SF

North Coast Section Team Rankings (Second Update)

As we head into league championship season, here are the most current rankings for NCS in each division. If you feel like certain teams need to be moved up or down, please comment below.

BOYS

Division I (Top 2 advance to state)
1) Dublin
2) California

3) Dougherty Valley

4) Berkeley

5) Castro Valley

Division II (Top 4 advance to state)

1) Granada

2) Redwood

3) De La Salle
4) Amador Valley

5) College Park

Division III (Top 4 advance to state)

1) Campolindo

2) Tamalpais

3) Maria Carrillo

4) Analy

5) Newark Memorial/Windsor

Division IV (Top 4 advance to state)

1) St. Mary's College
2) Bishop O'Dowd
3) Archie Williams

4) Miramonte

5) Albany

Division V (Top 4 advance to state)

1) University
2) Healdsburg

3) Convent and Stuart Hall

4) The Bay School

5) College Prep

6) Head Royce

GIRLS

Division I (Top 3 advance to state)
1) Dougherty Valley
2) California

3) Berkeley

4) Castro Valley

5) Dublin

Division II (Top 3 advance to state)

1) Redwood

2) Monte Vista
3) San Ramon Valley

4) Granada

5) Foothill

Division III (Top 4 advance to state)

1) Northgate

2) Campolindo

3) Maria Carrillo

4) Carondelet

5) Las Lomas

Division IV (Top 3 advance to state)

1) Archie Williams

2) Miramonte
3) Bishop O'Dowd
4) Piedmont

5) Albany/St. Mary's College

Division V (Top 5 advance to state)

1) University

2) Lick-Wilmerding
3) College Prep/Branson

4) Sonoma Academy

5) Head Royce

Catching up with Lynbrook coach Hank Lawson...

If you don't know who runs www.lynbrooksports.com, this is my interview with the man, the myth, the legend, Hank Lawson, from 2008. Hank stopped coaching in 2009 but continues to time races and keeps all CCS records up to date. We are very fortunate to have such a historical resource, and next time you see Hank, please thank him for his continued support of our two sports.

===================================
For those of you who visit the www.lynbrooksports.com website, you are in for a treat as our next interview is with that website's webmaster, Lynbrook coach Hank Lawson. Besides keeping all the CCS folks in the loop in terms of results, history, and much more, Hank has an outstanding group of runners this year with his girls ranked 4th in Division II, and his boys are working their way up the rankings and could be a factor come CCS time. Hank is pictured to the left in 2004 sporting his high school uniform top.

1) How did you get your start in distance running?
Back in 8th grade, I was challenged to a 600 for a Milkshake. I won the shake and been running ever since (it cost the PE coach $.25 - a well spent quarter)

2) High school and college experiences? Highlights?
Still on the School Record boards at Gunn HS (far right in photo) and De Anza JC in the 4x1 mile. At San Diego State we were 8th in the NCAA XC Champs my Junior year (I was 7th man but was sick that weekend so I didn't get to race - although my name shows in the results for our 5th man forgot his race # so he had to use mine). Guinness Book of World Records for the Baby Buggy push. A team of 50 runners ran for 24 hrs pushing a Baby Buggy and we averaged 4:11 per mile (see below). Running Boston and being 2nd Californian.Yes, 4:11 is correct but this is how we did it. We only ran a 220 (yd) at a time so it was very easy (for some that is) to run 31.35 avg for all of our 220's (since some guys were running faster than that). The way it worked was there were 5 teams of 10 runners. When it was your team's turn, each runner had to run 8 x 220 (resting while the other 9 ran their 220). So you got 4 1/2 minutes to rest between 220s. Then you got 2-3 hours of rest (sleep) while the other 4 teams ran their 220s. It's just that 4:11 per mile sounds more impressive (and the non-runner was able to relate to that mile time) then saying we ran 8x220 at 31.35 (which means nothing to the non-runner). Remember, we had to market this to the paper so they would cover the story. Funny thing is, we told the paper when we thought we would break the existing record so they showed up 5 minutes before that 'predicted' time - well, we were running so fast that we actually broke the record 45 minutes earlier so the paper missed the 'breaking' of the record and had to settle for just seeing the final record mark. The last 30 minutes, all teams were there and we just threw the order out the window and runners were hoping in to run a 220 when they felt recovered and ready to go (we were all getting our picture taken so lots of egos were getting satisfied).

3) You are still competing to this day. How much of your running is done with the team? on your own? What races do you compete in?
When I'm able to run with the team, I'd say 1/4th of my running is done with them. I can hang with the JV runners unless it's downhill, then I can hang with the Varsity.

4) What inspired you to get involved in coaching?
HS XC was a great experience for me and I wanted to give something back to my HS, so I went and coached at Gunn for 4 years. Then I wanted to be a head coach and when the job at Lynbrook came along, I took it.

5) How long have you been coaching at Lynbrook HS? Previous experiences in coaching? Coaching highlights?
Lynbrook from '94 to present. At Gunn from '88-'92. At Hewlett-Packard (I started the South Bay team) from '78-'87. I loved coaching the inexperienced runner when working at HP as a Programmer. Most had never run track, especially the women, and they were all eager to commit to running and to get better. HS'ers are the same, just younger. Sometimes it takes them a little longer to commit to the sport then adults but when they do they are just as excited about getting better and seeing how far they can go. Coaching Highlights... when I learn that someone I coached is now coaching as well, that's a kick!

6) Who do consider your coaching mentors?
Hal Daner (Gunn HS - he's the one that paid the quarter for that milkshake), Forrest Jamieson (Jr High coach, father of XC in the Bay Area - he was the creator of the National Postal races back in the '60s-'80s), Jim Linthecum (De Anza JC) - all great role models.

7) One of your other interests is acting on stage. How did you get involved in that? Any cross over between acting and coaching?
I was tall for my age so in 2nd grade I was given the part of a dancing pickle - been doing it ever since. With XC I have a captive audience so I am always on-stage - life is but a stage. I am very animated and I think that helps to loosen up the kids up as well and then when I compete and put on my 'game face' they see that as well and know there is a time to play and a time to race - and to take them both very seriously.

8) I, like many other people, visit your website (www.lynbrooksports.com) religiously each day. How did the website get its start?
In '96, I saw that Lynbrook had a web team and a server on campus that was run by kids. I became the mentor of the web team (I'm a programmer by trade) to try and make the site the place to go to for information on Lynbrook HS (not just sports). The XC and Track section grew the fastest, and we were getting lots of visits, which helped give the whole site more exposure, which in turn required more support and hardware (success breeds success), and then it just kept growing. It then became too big for itself and was requiring too much bandwidth and disc space (over 10gigs, I think), so I needed to move it to another server (thank you DyeStat), which allowed me to keep and grow the history side of the site as well as the current year.

9) Where did you get most of the past results? Who have been your best sources?
Plato Yanicks, coach at Menlo-Atherton from '58 to '88, has a garage full of results. One scrapbook for XC and one for Track for every year thru 1990, starting with 1947 (when he started coaching in the East Bay). These books are filled with results and newspaper clippings - an amazing resource. I'm slowly scanning and posting the pertinent data from these books (I'm up to 1963 right now). I also inherited what the old XC/Track coach at Lynbrook had (Verne Thornburg), although most of the track stuff had gotten tossed so I went to Gunn HS and went thru Daner's files. Lots of coaches have given me access to their files which I then scan and then give back the hardcopy as well as a disc with the information - any other takers out there...?

10) Based on your experience and scanning of so many results in CCS, who would you pick as the five best runners (boys and girls)?
I'm assuming you mean 5 best all-time... BOYS- Mitch Kingery (San Carlos), Matt Guisto (San Mateo), Gordon MacMitchell (Gunn, he could've beat Kingery's time if he didn't have to sit out a year), Jesse Torres (Independence) and Chris Carey (Carlmont, he only ran the old Crystal Course). GIRLS - Katy McCandless (Castilleja), Lori Chapman (Gunderson), Roxanne Bier (Independence), Rebecca Chamberlain (Leigh), Alejandra Barrientos (SLV) - Tori Tyler (Gunn) had one fantastic time at Crystal which she won all by herself which would be considered a phenomenal performance given no one was even close to her that day.

11) This is your chance to make your plea for any past results (or anything else) that you would like to add to your site.
Coaches - please let me scan your files if you have any, let's not lose the history.

12) Anything else you would like to add.
Please forgive my spelling (Albert, will you clean up for me?) and come see me in "Antigone In the Oval Office" playing at Theatre At San Pedro Square in downtown SJ - I play a Secret Service man protecting the President. I'm a nothing part but my daughter has the lead...

Thank you very much for your time with the interview and the website Hank! AJC

NorCal Results for this week

FVL

https://www.milesplit.live/meets/715693

DAL at Newhall Park Results by fordtiming.com
https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/257687/results/all

WBAL 2 at Baylands Park LIVE RESULTS (10/29/25)

https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/102925/events
Menlo boys score a low of 20 to take another varsity race at the 2nd WBAL meet led by the individual victory of Henry Hauser. In the girls' race, Crystal senior Anna Salter won handily and led her team to another team victory. Next up for this league will be the league finals at the Crystal Springs course on Friday, November 7th.

CCAA-MVL XC Championships LIVE RESULTS (10/29/25)

https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/ccaamvlxc/

BCL East 3 at Athenian School LIVE RESULTS (10/28/25)

https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/102825/events
College Prep (CPS) swept both varsity races, winning each race handily. CPS sophomore Sophie Martin rolled to a 15:48.3 victory on the Athenian HS course. For the boys, Head Royce freshman Tate Beaudin won with a speedy time of 13.37.3.

SFL XC Championships LIVE RESULTS (11/1/25)

https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/sflxc/

Delta League XC Championships LIVE RESULTS (11/1/25)

https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/deltaxc/

BCL West 3 at Golden Gate Park LIVE RESULTS
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/102725/events
University boys sweep the first Varsity race, led by junior Ben Friedland, who stopped the clock at 14:52.6. University girls also win their race handily, led by Palmer Smith, who was timed at 17:54.6.

Convent & Stuart Hall dominate the second boys' BCL race, led by 2nd place finisher, Elias Torres. Lick-Wilmerding was the girls' team winner, led by the 1, 2, 3 finish of Ella Mogannam, Ella Adams-Teoh, and Caroline Chang.

NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

Kyle Jakary, Jesuit (SJS) Cal Poly SLO
Ani Stieg, Archie Williams (NCS) Cal Poly SLO

Jane Landon, Whitney (SJS) CBU
Ava Decleve, Scotts Valley (CCS) UCLA

Anna Salter, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Columbia University

Brenna Mannion, Vista del Lago (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Addison Ewers, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Nina Souto, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Sydney Middleton, Redwood (NCS) Cal Poly SLO
Stephen Sziebert, Bellarmine (CCS) Columbia University
Ben Penzel, Bellarmine (CCS) Santa Clara University

Chloe Leduc, Oakland Tech (OAK) Cal Berkeley
Drake Hoferer, Jesuit (SJS) UCLA
Gretchen Yakaitis, Carondelet (NCS) UC Berkeley
Logan Letulle, Miramonte (NCS) Williams 
Brooke Lee, Archie Williams (NCS) UC Berkeley
Zoe Corder, Bella Vista (SJS) Washington State (NEW)
Sophie Hutchinson, Whitney (SJS) Washington State (NEW)
Lena Llamas, Buhach Colony (SJS) Wingate University (NEW)
Andres Lomeli, Kimball (SJS) Cal Poly SLO (NEW)

If you know of other runners who have already committed and shared their information publicly, please add them to the list in the comment section below.

Invitational results

Haystack at Hayward HS LIVE RESULTS
https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/58594
In the girls' large school race, Sade Bumpus of Granada was the impressive victor with a time of 17:15.17. Redwood girls won the team title scoring 52 led by Sydney Smith in 4th place. For the boys, De La Salle senior Heath Salter was the individual winner at 14:53.19. Tamalpais was the team winner, edging Granada 82 to 95. In the small school girls' varsity, Emma Singh of Head Royce won the individual race with a time of 17:49.51. College Prep was the team winner, finishing just a few points ahead of Piedmont and Head Royce. In the small school boys' varsity race, Nueva senior Ryan Fitzpatrick has the fastest time of the day with his 14:43.04 winning effort. St. Mary's College was the team winner with two runners (Ian Kopchick and Djali de Chalus) finishing behind Fitzpatrick.

Flat SAC Invitational RESULTS
https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/254032/results/all
The 2nd-ranked team in the nation, the Jesuit boys, won the Large School Varsity race with a low score of 35. Jesuit junior, Conor Bilodeau, was the individual winner with a time of 15:09.41. For the girls' Large School Varsity race, Davis was the easy winner, scoring 47 points. Galena sophomore, Gioia Coudriet, was the individual winner with a time of 17:43.05. In the Small School Varsity boys' race, Trinity was the team winner, being the lone school under 100 points with 57. Twelve Bridges senior Peter Kendall was the individual winner with a time of 15:27.25. For the Small Varsity girls' race, El Dorado was the team winner with Vacaville Christian sophomore as the individual winner at 18:06.03.

Mt. SAC Invitational LIVE RESULTS
https://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/meets/13397/events
At the Mt. SAC Invitational, the University boys finished in 2nd place in the Boys D3&4&5 Sweepstakes race, trailing only the #2 ranked Division III in the state, West Torrance. The Red Devils were led by junior Ben Friedland, who finished in 6th place with a time of 15:27.3. The University girls finished in 4th place, trailing only larger division teams Sage Creek, Santa Margarita and Central Catholic. They were led by senior Sophia Nichol, who finished in 7th place with a time of 18:47.9.

Clovis North Invitational RESULTS
https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/253731/info
Impressive results for Bellarmine boys with Stephen Sziebert taking the win in the Varsity 1/2 race with a time of 9:07.98, defeating defending Division I state champion Connor Lott, who finished in 3rd place. Bellarmine senior Ben Penzel finished in 6th place with a time of 9:20.71. The Bells had 9 different runners below 10 minutes on the two-mile course.

Visiting cross country team practices

Since I am not coaching this season, I have always wanted to be able to visit other team practices. Over the past two weeks, I visited practices for Campolindo, Bellarmine, University, and Crocker MS. I would like to continue to visit teams for the rest of the season. The photo to the right is riding alongside the University girls heading to the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you are interested in me visiting your practice, please email me at albertjcaruana@gmail.com and let me know where you practice and the times for your practices. I am on the peninsula, but am perfectly fine with driving a bit. I can't promise to attend every school that offers, but I will try to get to as many practices as possible. The photo to the left is Coach Patrick McCrystle talking to his 170 boys at Bellarmine.

Thank you in advance if you offer to host me at your practice. The photo to the right is the Campolindo runners warming up indoors on a very rainy day.

NorCal League and Invitational Results

PAL #3 at Bedwell Bayfront Park
https://live.athletic.net/meets/58278/events
The MA boys record a perfect score to remain perfect in the PAL. Carlmont girls upend previously undefeated MA in the last race before league finals.

Campolindo Mid-Season Mania 3200 RESULTS
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/2025-10-22/meet_program.pdf
Campolindo boys impressive with 9:10.80, 9:11.46, 9:17.29, 9:17.75 and 9:28.35 top five. Crystal Springs Uplands School senior Anna Salter had the top time for the girls with 10:22.19, a personal best and school record. Chuck Woolridge photo on the right from the Rough Rider Invitational.

SCVAL #3 at Baylands Park RESULTS
http://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2025/scval-3.htm
Milpitas boys take the win here, led by individual winner junior Arnav Agrawal. For the girls, Los Altos was the easy winner with Palo Alto senior Amaya Bharadwaj continuing her undefeated season.

GSL Cross Country Championship RESULTS
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/gslxc/
Armijo senior Jessica Lundberg was the individual winner, while West Campus was the easy winner of the girls' team race with a score of 20. For the boys, junior Daniel Armendariz Caz of Florin was the individual winner, finishing ahead of the West Campus pack.