Tuesday, July 15, 2008

NCS Division III Pre-Season Rankings '08

While the announcement of the new CBEDs are usually met with the usual "oh, so and so school moved into so and so division...yawn!", this year's CBEDs dropped the best team in any division during the past two seasons (Petaluma) into the most competitive race, Division III. This will result in a GREAT match-up with arguably the best team going into the season, Campolindo HS. (ranked #22 in the latest dyestatcal top teams in CA poll).

At this point, the Division III team title will go to one of those schools as Campolindo returns everybody (1 through 7) from their winning NCS team while Petaluma has the Lockert twins (Sterling and Devin) once again leading the way with a crew of formidable runners still in tow. The next best team appears to be Las Lomas who despite losing their #1 runner ('06 NCS champion Greg Drosky) from the past two seasons return an array of talented juniors.

Maria Carrillo, which finished an agonizingly close 2nd last year (80 to 81 to Campolindo), lose their top 2 runners and will need some major improvement from their returning runners to contend. That means Redwood should be the next team behind the BIG TWO in line for a state meet berth as Peter Kissin (9:42.46) leads the way following a terrific junior season. With four teams going to Fresno, the competition is fierce in this division and the next tier of teams should include Acalanes, Alhambra, Eureka and Miramonte.

The individual battle should be equally competitive as many of the rising stars in NCS will be here chasing the individual crown. The favorite at this point has to be Petaluma's Sterling Lockert (4:16.07/9:29.04) who is the defending champion from Division II and returns with the fastest time on the Hayward course, 15:24. His brother Devin (1:56.24/4:24.05) finished 2nd in 15:33 and also had an excellent track season. The fastest returner from this division is Novato's Erik Olson with a 15:37 clocking as well as fine 9:25.62 at the NCS MOC. The rest of the lead pack should include Brandon Felipe-4:32.34/9:46.31 (Petaluma), Mark Blattler (Alhambra), Robert Pulford-9:32.78 and Ross Geiger-4:24.34/9:58.46 (Campolindo), Michael Jamieson (Las Lomas) and Peter Kissin (Redwood).

The girls team title should once again go through defending champion Campolindo, winners of 5 out of the past 8 championships. Their front runners will include Grace Orders, the always steady Lisa Rosenthal and Sara Mostatabi. They will need to find a way to fill the holes of departing seniors such as team leader Laurie Finnegan that could leave the door open for Maria Carrillo. The Curtin twins will lead the way for MC as the defending individual champion, Lauren, and sister Cara return the best one two punch to this division and will be hungry to unseat Campo.

As with most girls' races, most of the leading runners are back (from last year's NCS meet, 9 of top 10 and 18 of top 20). That means we could have a repeat of last year as Lauren Curtin (2:20.77/4:55.11) narrowly defeated Grace Orders (11:03.56) by a second (18:11 to 18:12). The rest of the contenders will include Cara Curtin-2:29.64/5:14.53 (Maria Carrillo), Lisa Rosenthal-5:18.2/11:54.0 (Campolindo), Damajeria DuBose (Bishop O'Dowd), Sara Mostatabi-5:30.4/11:48.5 (Campolindo), Jewelz Andrews (Alhambra) and the usual array of 9th graders that will make an impact (I just don't know who they are yet). Isabel Andrade of Petaluma who had a fine track season should also be considering she ran 5:07.75 to qualify for the NCS MOC final in the 1600.

Division III Boys (Top 4 Advance to state)
1) Campolindo-Defending champions return everybody.
2) Petaluma-Best overall team past two seasons
3) Las Lomas-Lose leader but return everybody else.
4) Redwood-Peter Kissin leads way for state meet hopefuls.
5) Maria Carrillo-Great tradition of great teams.
On the bubble: Acalanes, Alhambra, Eureka, Miramonte

Top 5 returning individuals, (place) & 2007 NCS meet time:
Erik Olson (5) Novato 15:37Mark Blattler (6) Alhambra 15:37
Robert Pulford (8) Campolindo 15:45Ross Geiger (9) Campolindo 15:54
Michael Jamieson (10) Las Lomas 15:56

From Division II
Sterling Lockert (1) Petaluma 15:24
Devin Lockert (2) Petaluma 15:33
Brandon Felipe (6) Petaluma 15:48

Division III Girls (Top 4 Advance to state)
1) Campolindo-Scored 33 to win title last year.
2) Maria Carrillo-Curtin twins gives them tough combo.
3) Las Lomas-Veteran group looking to improve from last year's finish.
4) Redwood-Looking to qualify to 3rd straight state meet.
5) Acalanes-Coming off good track season.
One the bubble: Alhambra, Bishop O’Dowd, Miramonte

Top 5 returning individuals, (place) & 2007 NCS meet time:
Lauren Curtin (1) Maria Carrillo 18:11
Grace Orders (2) Campolindo 18:12
Cara Curtin (3) Maria Carrillo 18:35
Lisa Rosenthal (4) Campolindo 18:42
Damajeria DuBose (5) Bishop O'Dowd 18:44

CCS Division III rankings will be posted next. Feel free to comment on above rankings.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Style

Anonymous said...

Isabel Andrade from Petaluma had bad ankle and missed the last month of the season last year. She ran 5:07 in track. Someone to watch.....

Albert Caruana said...

Agreed on Andrade. I know what she accomplished on the track with as you said a bad ankle. I went back at looked at the ncs xc meet results and she wasn't in the race so I wasn't sure if she ran xc.

Thanks for the info.

Anonymous said...

Great job on the rankings. This year the D III race at the state meet may actually be the best race instead of the D I race. The race for the top 10 individual poduim spots is going to be extreamly competive, as well as the team race as well. Get pumped everyone it is going to be one hell of a race!

Anonymous said...

I have to say that Petaluma should be ahead of Campolindo. They return all but one and the Lockerts are really strong with the other top runners not far behind at all. Otherwise, the rankings look pretty good.

Should be fun to see who comes out on top in this incredibly competitive race. Also, can't wait for the D-V boys rankings!! I already have my own predictions for the individual champion in that division. lol

Anonymous said...

wow terrence, you are pretty easy to identify

Anonymous said...

that literally made me lol.

Anonymous said...

haha you caught me.

Albert Caruana said...

I am pretty sure that Petaluma will be ranked ahead of Campolindo on the dyestatcal rankings although Campo started at 26 and are now 20 without any racing being done!

At this point, I just went with the team that returns everybody. Petaluma has a very nice top three but will need to fill one of their top 5 (2 if you look at last year's NCS results).

We'll just have to see how it all plays out during the season.

Anonymous said...

Petaluma is just the all-around better team. period.

Albert Caruana said...

I would be very surprised if another team other than Petaluma or Campolindo won Division III. It's going to be a great matchup.

We'll find out who is the better team soon enough.

Anonymous said...

Guys, they're just pre-season rankings. Like mr. caruana said, we'll find out who the better team is. Just looking at the facts, campo would look a little better than us. Last year our number 5 bonked. so if you look at it like that, we're losing 2 of our post season 5. which makes campo (returning everyone) look like a more capable team. But for all you supporters of petaluma, we'll give 'em a fight. we've got some new surprises. :-D kids putting in solid summers.

Anonymous said...

Petulma has a great 1 and 2 and a very solid 3. But I think campolindo has far supirior depth. Thats what makes them a better team.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Bold words. 'Far superior'? I'm gonna have to say that's a bit much. Petaluma (we) have had a solid program growing by the years. Without any racing, and keeping ego's in check, I think there are very few teams in the state 'far superior'. Buuuut everyone is entitled to their opinion. Only racing will show the better team.

Anonymous said...

By the way that last post was me (sterling) I'm on my phone and couldn't post a name and forgot to add it.

Popular Posts