Northern Section pre-season rankings by Scott Fairley

Here are my thought on the top 5 boys and girls team as well as individuals in the Northern Section. As you know, our section runs one race with all the divisions competing against each other.  Then, we divide out the State Meet qualifiers based on their enrollment divisions. 

 

These are the overall rankings:

BOYS:

Teams –

1. Trinity – only a D5 school, Trinity returns all their scorers from the overall 3^rd place team in 2024.  This includes their top 5 under 17:30 on the tough West Valley course and Jackson Poburko who ran 4:11 last year in track.  They were also the Northern Section 4x800 championship team last spring.
2. University Prep – another D5 school who place 2^nd last year at the section cross country finals.  They return 5 of their top 7 but lose #’s 2 and 3.
3. West Valley – This is a close call between UPrep and West Valley.  Both in the same league, West Valley returns 5 of their top 6 after placing 4^th overall last year.  The lose their number 4/5 runner.
4. Pleasant Valley – The overall section champion last year loses 4 of their top 5 runners including 3 of the top 5 overall placewinners.  However, the largest school in the Northern Section always has plenty of depth to rebuild.
5. Chico – They return to their 5^th place finish from last year after losing 2 of the top 5 runners.  A traditional powerhouse in the Northern Section, Chico has a great program with the potential to rebuild this year.

 

Individuals –  6 of the top 8 finishers at NSCIF XC graduated last spring.

1. Jackson Poburko (12) Trinity – Northern Section XC champ in 2023/runner-up in 2024 (15:40).  Two-time Northern Section 1600 champ who ran 4:11.88 at State last spring.
2. Noah Gaddy (12) University Prep – 4^th in 2024 is the next best finisher from 2024 (16:11).  Rn 4:28.89 for 1600 last spring before getting sick and not qualifying for sections.
3. Isaiah Larceval (12) West Valley – 9^th in 2024. Ran 16:36 at section.  Northern Section 400/800 runner-up in track.
4. Bill Koermeier (12) Trinity – 10^th in 2024.  4^th in Northern Section 800. On champ 4x800 team.
5. Elijah Anderson (11) West Valley – Ran 16:43 at section last year.  In track, 4:28 1600 PR and placed 6^th at Northern Section.

 

GIRLS:

Teams –

1. Chico – Defending Northern Section champion.  They lose their top two finishers from last year, but return the next 6 on their team including one of the section’s best track runners in Taylor Wellersdick.  Their team won the Northern Section 4x800 last year and ran 9:17 at State.  Lots of team depth.
2. Hope – The small on-line charter school has improved every year since opening their school five years ago.  After finishing 4^th overall last year, Hope returns their top 4 runners with at least one outstanding incoming freshmen joining the team this year.
3. Pleasant Valley – Tied for 2^nd last year.  The Vikings lose 3 of their top 4 from 2024, but return 4 of their top 7.  Lots of potential with incoming athletes.
4. University Prep –Tied for 2^nd last year with PV.  They lose their number 2 and 3 runners, but return the overall section champion as well as their number 4 and 5 runners.
5. Central Valley – After placing 6^th last year, Central Valley returns with their entire team intact.  Overall 8^th place finisher, Tea Kaizen leads the team.

 

Individuals –   Five of the top 10 runners from 2024 graduated.

1. Rogue Cutler (10) University Prep  - The defending Northern Section at 19:13, Rogue got a late start to the track season but eventually placed 3^rd in both the 1600 and 3200.
2. Taylor Wellersdick (12) Chico – Only 9^th in cross country at 20:11, Taylor had a breakout track season placing 2^nd in both the 1600 and 3200 to one of the Northern Section’s all-time best distance runners, Paulina Martins (Orland).
3. Kimberlee Mckernan (11) Lassen – Kimberlee returns as the second best finisher in 2024 after finishing 4^th in cross country.  She ran 19:29 on the West Valley course before finishing 5^th in both the 1600/3200 in track.
4. Brianna Hayes (12) Core Butte – The 7^th place finishers in cross country at 19:55, Brianna was the NSCIF 800 champion in track with a 2:14.77 PR at State.
5. Tea’ Kaizen (12) Central Valley – Tea’ returns for her senior season after finishing 8^th in cross last fall.  She has been a top 10 finisher in each of her past 3 years.