Baylands Invitational at Bayland Park, Sunnyvale
https://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2024Meets/baylands/mp/
Ed Sias Invitational at Hidden Valley Park
https://diablotiming.com/results/2024-09-14/
3rd Annual Fighting Knights' Joust at the Crystal Springs course
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2024/joust.htm
Duyst Twighlight XC Invitational (Tonight)
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2024/duysths/
You can find the exciting list that we've all been waiting for at this fantastic link: BOYS. Get ready to celebrate because these outstanding NorCal boys have truly made their mark, ranking among the top 100:
17) Broen Holman, Sonora (SJS)
18) Eli Fitchen-Young, Santa Cruz (CCS)
21) Trey Caldwell, De La Salle (NCS)
36) Landon Pretre, Menlo School (CCS)
50) Aydon Stefanopoulos, Los Gatos (CCS)
62) Benjamin Bouie, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS)
NorCal girls are also making waves, with the incredible Hanne Thomsen from Montgomery (NCS) ranking 14th! The complete list can be found at this LINK.
As if that wasn't enough to make us all jump for joy, the top girls' teams in California have been revealed, with Buchanan, Corona (Santiago), JSerra, Trabuco Hills, and Ventura leading the charge. It's inspiring to see these talented teams in action!
Let's not forget about our incredible NorCal girl's teams that have made the watchlist:
St. Francis, Mountain View (CCS)
Monte Vista (NCS)
Los Altos (CCS)
And for the boys, here are the NorCal teams that were ranked or mentioned along with 1) Great Oak, 2) Martin Luther King, 3) Buchanan and 5) Beckman:
4) Jesuit (SJS)
On the Watchlist
Bellarmine (CCS)
How amazing is that? It's truly a fantastic time to be part of this incredible sports community, NORCAL CROSS COUNTRY!
For those of you who do not know Jim Tracy, he was the former University SF coach who passed away in 2014 after being diagnosed with ALS. You can read about Jim following his passing at this LINK. His girls' teams won 10 state championships in cross country, still the all-time record.
You can also check out my interview with Jim from 2009 at this LINK.
https://oneathletics.org?affiliate=COACHCARUANA
From 2016 to 2022, Brosnan built Newbury Park into a powerhouse and won several national championships as a team.
Hayward Scrimmage at Hayward HS
https://diablotiming.com/results/2024-08-31/
Lagoon Valley Classic at Lagoon Valley Regional Park
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2024/lagoonxc/
https://www.rtspt.com/events/usf/xc24/ (some familiar names competed at this meet at Golden Gate Park)
Rankings were based on the number of cross-country Top-5 returners, how well teams did in the 4x800 at the SJS Track & Field Masters meet, number of sub 4:30 1600/sub 9:55 3200 returners, and, like the case with Jesuit last year, the strength of the incoming freshman class.
The divisions have just been posted and can be found at this LINK.
1. Jesuit (D2)
Returning 3 from top 5.
Hoferer Jr (4:12/9:19), Ogilvie So (4:17,9:15), Alberts So (4:20), Kadel Sr (4:20), Abbott Jr (4:22,9:11), Jakary Jr (4:29), Jopson So (9:46)
Jesuit returns a young team of mostly juniors/sophomores that won the D2 title last year and podiumed at state. They are still the favorites regardless of what division the section decides. It looks D2 unless competitive equity rules apply, based on their success in the last four years.
2. Vacaville (D2)
Returning 4 from top 5.
J Stream Sr (4:18,9:23), Hundley So (4:29,9:31), Gonzalez Sr (4:29, 9:41), C Stream So (4:18,9:42), D'anjou Jr (4:24)
Vacaville always fields a scary-looking team as they were competitive against Jesuit on their home course at Lagoon Valley. Finishing 3rd behind Whitney and Jesuit at Division 2 Section finals, they claimed a top 10 finish at State. Jackson Stream is a returning D2 champion and will lead four other returning scorers as they look to improve upon their State placing last year. They could put four runners under 16 minutes at Woodward park this year.
3. McClatchy (D1)
Returning all from top 5.
Johnson Sr (4:25), Anderson Sr (4:27,9:38)
McClatchy emerges as the strongest returning D1 team. Last fall, the D1 section was arguably the easiest in the last few years to qualify for state, with Jesuit's departure to D2 and D1 being awarded a 3rd state meet berth. McClatchy did not make it but the Track season displayed their true potential with Heyer and Anderson individually qualifying for SJS Masters. They will join Jonas Johnson who was injured. This threesome could help McClatchy secure a section title.
4. Oakdale (D3)
Returning 2 from top 5.
Dominguez Sr (4:20,9:40), Whitemeyer Jr (9:36), Cavanaugh Sr (9:52)
Oakdale is led by top returner Ismael Dominguez who ran 15:37 at State XC championships where they finished 2nd place, behind Dana Hills and Evan Noonan. They have won the last 3 SJS Division 3 titles, so it is possible they could move up a division when the Section releases which schools are in which division.
5. Oak Ridge (D1)
Returning 3 from top 5.
Ewing So (4:27,9:50), Clinchard Sr (4:27)
Oak Ridge lost 3 of 5 seniors from a team that went to state championships for the first time in 10 years. With three State berths awarded to D1 this year, the SFL teams will probably nab two D1 spots. Which two is yet to be determined as those teams will compete against each other all year. Oak Ridge does expect a deep incoming freshman class to complement the returning runners who made it to the Track section finals last year.
6. Davis (D1)
Returning 1 from top 5.
Fox Jr (4:27,9:45), Duquette So (4:27,9:33), Mysliwiec Sr (9:39), Green Sr (9:51)
Davis's streak of making it to state champs has to be attributable to good coaching and while they lose four scoring seniors who finished 1,3,5 at Willow Hills last year, they always show up at Section finals. The only advantage other teams might have this year is they will see Davis earlier in the season, as many of the contenders for the D1 state berths are in the new SFL uber-league.
7. Turlock (D1)
Returning 3 from top 5.
Santos Sr (4:27), Wejmar Jr (9:54)
Turlock was the surprise 3rd team from D1 to make it to state champs last year, as Coach Ebersole's team looked strongest when it mattered. They return their top 2 runners from last year, Logan Petty and Theodore Santos, but to repeat as state qualifiers they need to reduce that 1-5 time gap.
8. Pleasant Grove (D1)
Returning 4 from top 5.
Tumlinson Jr (4:21), Almog Sr (9:49)
Pleasant Grove was poised to challenge for a D1 state championships berth last year but their top runner had an off-day and the team finished 7th. They did have an individual state qualifier, Ryan Almog, and also returned three others from last year's team. The boys' team has quietly been improving every year, and this year they might have the depth to overcome a bad day from any of their runners.
9. Bella Vista (D2)
Returning 2 from top 5.
Fear So (4:23,9:46)
Last year, Bella Vista just missed out on a D2 state berth by one spot, but this year, SJS Division 2 has four state berths. Bella Vista is led by Calvin Fear, who had a brilliant track season last year. They are well-coached and might be the wildcard pick to make it interesting at the Section Finals.
10. Ponderosa (D3)
Returning 3 from top 5.
Nelson Sr (4:25,9:22)
Even with Josh Chu and Hayden Brooks graduating, Ponderosa is still one of the top D3 teams, and they are led by Kaden Nelson, who went sub 16:00 at the State XC championships last year. They moved to the Capital Valley Conference, arguably the 2nd deepest league in the section behind the SFL.
On the Bubble
Folsom (D1)
Returning 4 from Top 5.
Folsom has a deep roster and lots of potential but who underperformed last season. They need two or three individuals to step up in the new SFL, where the competition could create the necessary experience for Folsom to grab a D1 state XC berth..
Granite Bay (D2)
Returning all top 5.
Beater Sr (4:27,9:48)
Granite Bay returns a full squad from last season, including their state XC individual qualifier from last year, Robert Ward, who missed Track season. With Jesuit and Vacaville looking to take the top 2 D2 spots, Granite Bay is among 3 or 4 other teams with a decent chance to secure one of the other 2 D2 spots.
Woodcreek (D2)
Returning all from top 5
Winston Sr (4:21/9:41)
Woodcreek returns a full squad of seniors, led by David Winston. They will be competing against Bella Vista and Ponderosa in the CVC, and they might even contend for a D2 state championship in undeniably the deepest division in the section.
August 29 Monte Vista Christian Invitational at Monte Vista Christian School
August 31 Oakmont Invitational at Johnson Springview Park
August 31 Lagoon Valley Classic at Lagoon Valley Park
September 4 Stinson Beach Relays (MCAL Opener) at Stinson Beach
September 6 Little Ed Practice Meet at Hidden Valley Park
September 6 Bill Springhorn Classic at Shasta College
September 6 Bob Shor Invitational
September 7 Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park
September 7 5th Annal Jackie Henderson Invitational at North Monterey County HS
September 10 Jim Tracy Challenge at Golden Gate Park
September 13 Baylands Invitational at Baylands Park
September 14 Fighting Knights Joust Invitational at Hallmark Park
September 14 Ed Sias Invitational at Hidden Valley Park
September 14 Viking Opener at Spring Lake Park
September 20/21 Woodbridge Invitational at Orange County Great Park
September 21 Tom Leikam XC Invitational at Pinto Lake Park
September 21 Farmer Invitational at Hayward HS
September 21 De La Salle Invitational at Newhall Park
September 28 Ram Invitational at Westmoor HS
September 28 Eye Opener Invitational at Shollenberger Park
September 28 Be The G.O.A.T. Invitational at Pinole Multi-Use Trails
September 28 Scott Bauhs Invitational at Shadow Cliffs
September 30 Truckee Invitational at Ponderosa Golf Course
Stanford Invitational RIP (1974-2018)
October 2 Mid-Season Mania 1600 Invitational at Campolindo HS
October 5 Tom Laythe Invitational at Willow Hills
October 5 Artichoke Invitational at Half Moon Bay HS
October 5 Pacific Grove Palo Corona Invitational at Palo Corona
October 5 Amanda Garcia Memorial Invitational at Atwater HS
October 11/12 Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park
October 12 Crystal Springs Invitational at Hallmark Park
October 18 Rough Rider Invitational at Woodward Park
October 19 Hughson Supercross Invitational at Hughson HSOctober 19 Terry Ward Invitational at Baylands Park
October 19 Mariner Invitational at Hayward HS
October 23 Mid-Season Mania 3200 Invitational at Campolindo HS
October 25/26 Mt. SAC at Mt. SAC College
October 26 Flat SAC Invitational at Gibson Ranch Regional Park
October 29 Palo Alto City Meet
October 31 Lynbrook Invite/FUHSD Champs
November 9 SJS Sub-Section Meet at Frogtown (Angels Camp)
November Northern Section Final at West Valley HS
November 16 CCS Meet at Hallmark Park
November 16 SJS Championship at Willow Hills Reservoir
November SFS All-City Finals at Golden Gate Park
November OAK Finals at Lake Chabot Golf Course
November 23 NCS MOC at Hayward HS
November 30 California State Meet at Woodward Park
December 7 Foot Locker West Regional at Mt. SAC
December 7 Nike Cross Nationals at Glendoveer Golf Course, Oregon
December 14 Foot Locker Championships at Balboa Park
More will be added but please feel free to add dates of meets that you have confirmed in the comment section below.
Mountain View High School (CCS) is looking for an assistant cross country coach for the 2024 season. Stipend available ($5880). Please email Jonathan Hubbs (coachhubbs@gmail.com) if you are interested or have any questions.
Attached is the Google Form and Flyer for our Crystal Springs Clean Up day on Saturday, August 10 from 8:00-1:00.
CCS Pre-Season Division III Rankings
Boys Teams (3 teams qualify for state)
1. St. Ignatius - Defending champions return 5 out of top 7 after impressive track season.
2. Sacred Heart Cathedral - Impressive senior Miles Cook leads the way for potential title contenders.
3. Willow Glen - Veteran coach Victor Santamaria leads another state contender.
4. Aptos - Another successful program led by coach Dan Gruber.
Boys Individuals:
1. Miles Cook - Sacred Heart Cathedral
2. Carson Hedlund - Pioneer
3. Trey Wright - St. Ignatius
4. Tanay Parikh - Monta Vista
5. Hayden Kieslich - Willow Glen
Girls Teams (2 teams qualify for state)
1. Sacred Heart Cathedral - Second place team returns most runners of any contending teams.
2. St. Ignatius - Will get to race SHC multiple times in WCAL races
3. Burlingame - Defending champions return top 3 but will need to shore up top 5.
4. Willow Glen - Senior dominated team could challenge for a state meet spot.
5. Hillsdale - Back in Division III after a one year stint in Division II.
Girls Individuals:
1. Kylie Hoornaert - Prospect
2. Stella Newman - Burlingame
3. JoJo Gregg - Sacred Heart Cathedral
4. Alex Martinez - Sacred Heart Cathedral
5. Victoria Kolmsee - Burlingame
Feel free to comment below on the above rankings. Please let me know if I missed a team or individual. Any hot shot freshmen joining any of the above teams or other teams in the division?
CCS Pre-Season Division I Rankings
Boys Teams (2 teams qualify for state)
1. Bellarmine - with great depth, but just by the slightest margin over…
2. Mountain View - young, with lots of upside
3. Homestead - good coaching and lots of returning speed
4. Carlmont - good depth and history
5. Menlo-Atherton - always a reliable program at the end of the season!
Boys Individuals:
1. Shrey Chettiar - Bellarmine
2. Will Burch - Bellarmine
3. Ryan Chen - Mountain View
4. Zander Verhoeven - Bellarmine
5. Arnav Agrawal - Milpitas
6. Cason Mitchell - Menlo Atherton
Girls Teams (3 teams qualify for state)
1. Evergreen Valley - defending championship team returning the majority of the team.
2. Carlmont - Returning 6 out of 7 from last year's 3rd place team.
3. Mountain View - Smallest Division I team will be vying for top 3 finish.
4. Menlo Atherton - It will be a reloading year but a consistently strong program.
5. Homestead - Another strong program that is usually in the hunt for a top finish.
Girls Individuals:
1. Nora Carino - Evergreen Valley
2. Maya Eisenberg - Mountain View
3. Katelynn Ruiz - Watsonville
4. Sivani Kaliki - Evergreen Valley
5. Daniela Cuadros - Carlmont
Feel free to comment below on the above rankings. Please let me know if I missed a team or individual. Any hot shot freshmen joining any of the above teams or other teams in the division?
CCS Pre-Season Division II Rankings
Boys Teams:
1) Los Altos
2) Saint Francis
3) Branham
4) Los Gatos
Boys Individuals:
1) Aydon Stefanopoulos - Los Gatos
2) Joshua Guzman - Gilroy
3) Alijah Murillo - Branham
4) Sam Hurst - Los Altos
5) Dominic McMahon - Santa Clara
6) Tristan Kippes - Palo Alto
Girls Teams:
1) Saint Francis
2) Los Altos
3) Los Gatos
4) Palo Alto
Girls Individuals:
1) Evie Marheineke - Archbishop Mitty
2) Kinga Czajkowska - Palo Alto
3) Amaya Bharadwaj - Palo Alto
4) Caitlin Cilley - St. Francis
5) Sabrina Zanetto - St. Francis
Feel free to comment below on the above rankings. Please let me know if I missed a team or individual. Any hot shot freshmen joining any of the above teams or other teams in the division?
The following are teams that will be competing in different divisions this coming cross country season.
Division I
North Salinas (moving to Division I from Division II)
Division II
Fremont (moving to Division II from Division I)
Rancho San Juan (moving to Division II from Division III)
San Mateo (moving to Division II from Division III)
Valley Christian SJ (moving to Division II from Division III)
Woodside (moving to Division II from Division III)
Division III
Monta Vista (moving to Division III from Division II)
Yerba Buena (moving to Division III from Division II)
Hillsdale (moving to Division III from Division II)
Lincoln (moving to Division III from Division II)
Division IV
None
Divison V
The King's Academy (moving to Division V from Division IV)
NCS DIII Boys:
4 teams make it to state in this division, and this upcoming season there will be plenty of teams fighting for those spots.
1 Tamalpais
The Red-Tailed Hawks were the biggest surprise in the NCS last cross country season and this track season. Last fall, Tamalpais pulled off the upset win to dethrone Campolindo at the section meet and followed that up with a top 10 placing at state.
This spring “Tam” turned it up to another level as one of the best middle distance squads in the entire section. With a whopping 12 returning athletes all under 4:50 for 1600, Tam is loaded with talent. Gilby Filat Sam Ismailer, and Lucas Ruark look to be the frontrunners at this point, with all three breaking 10:00 in the 3200 this past spring. The big challenge for Tamalpais will be developing that middle-distance speed into cross country endurance. Caden Gardner, Jack Turner, and Cooper Hatch all broke 2:00 in the 800 during the track season, and they could easily turn into major contributors for a loaded Tam squad.
As it stands, this team is far ahead of the challengers as they seek to be the first non-Campolindo team to repeat in this division since Petaluma from 2009-2010. Given the graduation losses of other teams in the state, Tam has plenty of potential to have its best finish ever, with a Top-3 podium spot well within reach. While track times do not always translate to cross country success, there is simply too much talent and depth on this squad, some combination of 7 will be ready to go by the end of the season.
2. Maria Carrillo
The Pumas have plenty of young talent, including Cameron Jones, who ripped a 1:55 in the 800 and qualified to state in that event as a freshman last track season. Jack Wilson has sub-16:00 credentials at Woodward Park and gives the Pumas a low stick up front.
Austin Petrik had a solid spring season as well, running 9:53 in the 3200. Through three runners, Maria Carrillo is as good as Tamalpais, but the depth will need to be addressed if the squad wants to compete for the title. Jonathan Rath and Milo Wiese both ran 4:45 or better in the 1600 but they will need to adjust to the rigors of cross country racing if they want to compete for the section title.
3. Campolindo
The Cougars were the dominant team coming out of the pandemic, rolling to big NCS wins and two runner-up finishes at state in 2021 and 2022. Last year, the rest of the section caught up to Campolindo as the team was defeated by Tamalpais at the section meet, and then finished in 15th place at state, their worst performance in 20 years. While Campo has the most section titles of any team in this division, there is a big gap to make up as the summer begins. The Cougars have some incredible young talent and had the best Freshman 5k squad of any team in the state at Woodward Park last cross country season, but that youth will need to mature quickly.
Cody de la Cruz and Maxson Cook are the two veteran returnees from last year’s team, and both of them broke the 10:00 in the 3200 during the track season, a good starting point. From there, sophomores Clark Gregory, Drew Shogan, and Gavin Gunn all flashed brilliance at times but struggled with consistency. While the three of them all broke 10:20 for 3200 in track, they will need big improvements to challenge the likes of Maria Carrillo and Tamalpais. Junior to be Taejin Chung showed big improvement over the spring, clocking a 4:38 in the 1600 and a 10:16 in the 3200. Campo has a lot of depth with 9 athletes returning who have broken 10:30 for 3200, but that’s still a ways back of Tamalpais’ depth.
At this point, Campolindo remains a dark horse to move up the rankings, though having to rely on young and unproven talent will make it a challenge. The remaining teams chasing Campolindo in the standings all have significantly better front-end talent, so the Cougars will have to shore up their back end if they want to place in the top 4 and make it to state.
4. Casa Grande
Teams 4-7 are all loaded with talent and potential but short on depth, something that describes Casa Grande pretty well. Jack Dufour and Dylan Mainaris both flashed huge potential during track, with the pair running 1:57 in the 800. With a summer of training, the duo could make more big gains in the fall. The Gauchos have two other returners under 4:45 in the 1600 but after that there is a massive drop off to their projected #5 scorer, Jorge Navarro, who’s 1600 best is 4:52. There will need to be some big improvements at the back end for Casa Grande to move up these rankings and fend off all the other teams seeking that coveted fourth and final spot to state.
5. Las Lomas
The Knights are led by senior Nate Griffin-Yeh, who is the clear favorite to win the individual section title. With a best of 4:14 in the 1600, he made huge strides during the spring track season and that will continue this fall. Akash Ghandi is the next best returner at 4:39 for 1600 and after that, the Knights have a solid group who all ran between 4:46 and 4:50 in Zack Springer, Joshua Sonoda, and Andre Rivard. Having such a solid #1 runner will make the task easier for Las Lomas, but there is still plenty of ground to be made up if the Knights are to challenge for a berth to state.
6. Analy
This is the most intriguing team on the list, the talent is there for this squad to be a top-4 team, but they will need a big summer and some big breakthroughs on the cross country course to do so. The Tigers feature a potent duo of Cormac Gaylord and Owen Dawson, who both dipped under 4:30 in the 1600 during the track season. After that, Quince Holman is the projected number three, with a 4:36 1600 best.
That puts Analy in line with any other team but there is a massive drop-off after those three. Bear Vanden Heuvel is the next best returner and while he ran a solid 2:02 for 800, he only managed a 4:56 for 1600, which points to a lack of aerobic fitness and cross country potential. The Tigers do not have the team size of many of their opponents so they will need big improvements across the board from some of their younger athletes. Given that they did not have another returner break 5:00 for the 1600, they might not have the depth to move up these rankings. However, if any of their projected backend scorers have a big improvement, that will suddenly vault them up the standings and in contention for a state meet berth or better.
7. Newark Memorial
The Cougars (what’s with all the cat names!!) were a huge success story coming out of the pandemic, making the state meet for the first time in school history in 2021 and returning again in 2022. The squad struggled in the rain during the 2023 NCS Championship and Newark-Memorial has their work cut out for them when it comes to making it back to state. Kenji Kawabata had a nice breakthrough during the spring, running 9:38 in the 3200, which will help a lot.
Still, there is a big gap between him and the rest of the projected scorers, with the Cougars only returning 4 athletes with sub-5:00 credentials in the 1600. Again, any improvement from these backend scorers would make a substantial difference to their chances at finishing in the top 4, so don’t count Newark-Memorial out just yet.
Individual rankings
Campolindo sophomore Clark Gregory is the top returner from last year’s NCS meet after his head-turning third-place finish. While he struggled with injury during the spring track season, if he can stay healthy he will be in contention for another top 3 finish. Nate Griffin-Yeh of Las Lomas is the heavy favorite coming into the season based on his 4:14 and 9:32 1600/3200 performances in the spring. He looks to be the first runner from Las Lomas to win the individual NCS title since Greg Drosky in 2006.
NCS DIII Girls Rankings
Campolindo has dominated this division like no other team in the history of the NCS, winning the past 10 team championships in a row. The 10-peat is tied with SF University (1995-2004) for the longest winning streak in the history of the NCS Championships.
While “Campo” has been on a tear at the state level recently (4 state titles in 7 years), Montgomery returns the most talented front end in the entire state of California and looks to finally dethrone Campolindo and win its first section title since 2001.
1. Montgomery
The unstoppable triumvirate of Hanne Thomsen, Amrie Lacefield, and Seelah Kittlestrom continues for another season, with the three seniors easily the best trio in DIII in the entire state. When you have the potential to go 1-2-3 at the NCS meet, and have three finishers in the top 10 at state, you have the makings of an all-time great team.
Depth has been an issue for the Vikings in recent years however, and while Jasmine Mansfield made huge strides this track season in running 5:17 in the 1600, she has never done cross country before. There is still no guarantee that she will end up competing for Montgomery during the fall due to commitments to other sports.
After that, there is an even greater drop-off, with Montgomery’s next fastest runner being Cora Morthole at 5:55 in the 1600. Such a huge gap could end up sinking the team’s NCS title and state podium chances against teams with a tighter pack margin. Any improvement from Montgomery’s back-end runners or a new freshman coming out for the team could make all the difference.
As it stands now Montgomery is the heavy favorite but will have some work to do at the backend. At last year’s NCS Championship meet, Morthole finished in 59th place, which accounted for almost half of Montgomery’s team score at that race. Given the depth the contending teams have at their disposal, the Vikings will need to close down the pack margin.
2. Maria Carrillo
The Pumas have been one of the most consistent teams in this division for quite some time, but a section title has eluded them, having last won a section title in DII in 2013. You have to go all the way back to 2009 to find the last time Maria Carrillo captured a DIII title.
With budding superstar Ashlin Mallon at the front, the Pumas have all the pieces ready to make a run at the title. Carley Schubert and Katherine Choe have continued their improvement curves during the spring track season and Maria Carrillo has plenty of other runners waiting in the wings as well, returning a whopping 14 girls who have broken 6:00 in the 1600.
As usual, the Pumas will have work to do at their back end and they have a fairly experienced team at this point, with 5 returners from last year’s postseason squad, so the team should be set up for another stellar season this fall. Given league rival Montgomery’s lack of depth, Maria Carrillo could place seven runners in front of their fifth, which would be hard to overcome at the section meet.
3. Campolindo
“Campo” has been the class of this division for decades now, with the Cougars owning a whopping 17 DIII championships in the past 25 years. This will be the first time in quite a while that Campolindo is rebuilding, having lost the bulk of its squad from last year.
The cupboard is by no means bare for the Cougars though, as sophomores Kiona McCasland (5:20 1600) and Amalia Contreras (5:20 1600) had productive track seasons. Contreras had an impressive finish last fall in breaking 19:00 for 5K at the state meet, so Campolindo starts the season in a good spot at the front end.
The real wildcard for the team will be junior Claire Andrzejek, who transferred mid-year from the Bay School. While she is somewhat unproven in cross country, she had a breakout track season in running 2:16 in the 800. While track times do not always translate over to cross country, given veteran coach Chuck Woolridge’s track record of developing athletes over the summer, it’s a definite possibility.
While a few varsity-level athletes will not be returning for the fall season, Campo has plenty of depth at the lower division, with a strong sophomore class looking to rise up the ranks.
Youngers Angele Tseng, Kaitlyn Kinsey, and Nora Lawrence all flashed plenty of potential during the track season as well, and any big improvements from them could also make a huge difference.
As it stands now, Campo has some question marks that need to be answered and some new faces will need to step up and lead the team after such heavy graduation losses. Given the squad’s championship pedigree, it’s likely that they will rise to the occasion and challenge the top 2 teams at the section championships.
4. Tamalpais
The Red-Tailed Hawks are on the upswing and had a very solid spring track season. Emma Gardner and Estella Wong both broke the 5:20 barrier in the 1600 and with 5 returners under 5:50 in the 1600, Tamalpais has plenty to build off of.
The lack of a proven frontrunner is a bit of an issue but that can change very quickly after a full summer of training. Tam is not too far ahead of the other teams contending for the fourth and final spot to state. Right now, they have a slight edge but the battle for fourth place could come down to a handful of points.
5. Northgate
The Broncos continued to progress during the spring track season, with Elena Carcamo posting a huge breakthrough in roaring to 5:12 in the 1600. If she can continue that development into the fall, she will give Northgate a strong frontrunner.
Northgate’s projected 2-5 runners all ran between 5:39-5:43 in the 1600, so the team will have a good amount of depth backing Carcamo. The real challenge will be working on the pack margin between their first and fifth scorer, as this will be critical to closing the gap on the likes of Tamalpais and Campolindo.
Given that Northgate competes in the Diablo Athletic League along with Campolindo, the squad will have plenty of opportunities to test themselves before the NCS championships.
6. Las Lomas
The Knights are the most interesting team on this list due to their impressive front-running duo of Charlotte Orr (state meet participant in the 800) and Lilly Montilla (5:09 1600). Orr had a very solid cross country season last fall and her massive improvement in the longer distances during the track season, running 5:08 for 1600, points to another big jump next fall.
After those two there is a big drop off to Grace England, who has a 1600 best of 5:39. The Knights tend to have one of the larger teams in the area so filling out the remainder of the team should not be too challenging. Still, given the lack of depth, Las Lomas is on the outside looking in for now.
7. Newark Memorial
The Cougars have a solid front end, with Alice McCarthy posting solid times of 5:18 and 11:27 in the 1600/3200 respectively during the track season. Depth is still an issue for Newark-Memorial though, after Rahwa Fekadu (5:40 1600) and Grace Veloza (5:41for 1600) there is a big drop off. For the Cougars to have any shot at making it to state, this will have to be addressed, as the team lacks the front-end firepower of the teams ranked ahead of them.
Individual rankings
Montgomery should have no trouble going 1-2-3 in this race at the NCS Championships, something that will greatly aid their title chances.
Today we catch up with CCS 800 meter record holder, Ann Dyer (née Regan). She competed at Camden High School in San Jose which closed in 1980. She set the CCS record in the 800 meters in a dual meet versus the USSR team in 1977 as a sophomore. She was also state champion in the 800 from 1977 to 1979 making her the first 3-time state champion in the event. Only Lindsay Hyatt of Placer who won the same event four years in a row was able to surpass Ann's championship accomplishment. Ann is now the head cross country coach at Notre Dame San Jose.
1) How did you get started running? Aside from running, what other sports did you do before high school?2) What was your experience as far as competing in running before high school? What were your personal bests before high school?
My first race was the 50-yard dash on a dirt track! I gradually moved up in distance but don’t remember my times. That was so long ago!! We’d practice a couple days a week and have a meet on the weekend. In a junior high/middle school meet I had to get special permission to run both the 400 and 800 because girls weren’t able to run two distance races at one meet.
3) What was your experience during your freshman year in high school? What were some of the standout races that you remember during cross country and track and field seasons?
I ran with the Cupertino Yearlings my freshman year but I wasn’t able to compete on both the club team and the high school team. I moved to the San Jose Cindergals at the beginning of my sophomore year. I ran cross country with the Cindergals but not with my high school team.
I have many great memories of running track meets in high school. There was a dual meet where I thought I was finished for the day but we needed some extra points so I jumped up and ran the 2 mile. Breaking five minutes in the mile at a duel meet with Los Gatos and the LG coach cheering for me as loud as my own coach! One time I took the VTA bus to get to the CCS meet at San Jose City College. The bus driver wished me good luck and it worked! I also ran the mile relay all three years and the 440 (yards at that time!) in my junior and senior years at the CCS meet. CCS meets and CA State meets were always fun and exciting! I also was able to run in some indoor meets which were fun too.
5) You won the 800 meters three straight years from your sophomore to senior years. What do you remember about those three races? Who were the main competitors that you remember? Was any of those victories any more satisfying than the other ones?
One thing that is different about the CA State Meet is that you run trials one day and finals the next day. Also, it’s different not knowing many of the people in your race. I competed against Linda Goen from Bakersfield all three years. We ended up at college together, became friends and I even attended her wedding. My sophomore year was special because it was my first State meet and it was a close race. My senior year is also a good memory because it was my third win. I missed my senior prom because it was the same night as the meet!
6) What do you remember about your high school training? What did a typical week look like?
Training with my club team allowed me to practice with many of the best local high school runners. I think we pushed each other to be better. We worked out together on weekdays, usually had a meet once a week, and did a run on our own on the weekend. We also trained pretty much year-round.
8) Can you tell us a little about your college experience? How did you end up choosing West Valley College and then UCLA? Highlights? Proudest achievements? Post-collegiate experiences?
My club coach was coaching at West Valley so I stayed to train for the Olympic Trials. After that, I transferred to UCLA. I had known the UCLA coach from having attended training camps and meets over the years. I had so much fun in college but didn’t run as well as I had hoped. After college, I ran a little bit but as work commitments increased it was hard to run consistently.
9) You are now coaching at Notre Dame San Jose. How did you get into coaching and what have been some of your previous coaching experiences? What are you looking forward to this season?
I had always thought about coaching but couldn’t make it work with my schedule. When I retired from teaching, I learned that Notre Dame San Jose was looking for assistant track coaches. Last spring was my first coaching experience and this fall is my first time coaching cross country. I am learning about track and cross country from a different perspective and look forward to having fun with the teams.
10) You have the experience of being a very elite high school runner. What advice would you give other female runners who are either elite or have aspirations to be elite?
I’d say to have fun, be positive and try your best! It’s important to enjoy what you’re doing, know that you can always take away something good from a practice or race, and that there will be good and bad days. Be patient, keep things in perspective, and appreciate the present!
11) Can you tell us a bit about what coaches or adults helped you during your athletic career? What did you learn from them? What do you feel you carry on from them with you as a current coach?
I have had the opportunity to work with many great coaches during my running career! I didn’t realize how hard they worked to enable my success until I started coaching. There is a lot of time, thought, and planning that goes into each athlete. I would just come to practice and run the workout but now realize my coaches did a lot “behind the scenes”. I continue to be impressed at how much knowledge the coaches have about the sport.. I’d like to be as dedicated!
12) Anything else you would like to add.
I have met many great friends and amazing people through Track and Field and Cross Country. I have terrific memories of fun times, challenges, and experiences. I hope that anyone participating in the sport will be able to celebrate their accomplishments, learn from their disappointments, and have fun. Happy trails!
Thank you very much for your time, Ann!
Rod on the left in the photo finished in 2nd place with a time of 14:24:15. You can check out the results and description of the race at this link:
https://www.irunfar.com/2024-western-states-100-results
Crystal Springs Uplands School: is looking for two cross country assistant coaches for the 2024 fall season. Crystal is located in Hillsborough and competes in Division 5. This is for the 2024-2025 school year. A zest for distance running, a positive attitude, and running experience is a plus. Practice will start on August 9th and will run until the end of November. A stipend is available. Interested individuals should send a resume with references to athletic director Chris Wade at CWade@crystal.org and Albert Caruana at ACaruana@crystal.org
1) What was your own athletic background and some of your highlights?
I was always one of the faster and more agile kids when I was younger. I grew up in a running family, with my Uncle Rob Durkee being an Oregon XC Champion when I was a kid, which inspired all of us to run. We used to just go to the track and run around and have fun. It wasn’t ever anything structured, but always fun to see what we could do. I did almost every sport at some point, but running was always my strong suit.
As I got older, it was easy to recognize that my quickness and speed lent itself more to shorter races over long ones, so I went in the direction of sprints in jr. high and high school. I ended up at Seaside High School on the coast in Oregon and ran sprints for Gene Gilbertson from 1992-94 and we had a great group at the time. We finished 2nd at state in the 4x100 and 3rd in the 4x400. Getting the baton in the 4x4 to a packed crowd at Hayward Field was an amazing experience! I went on to run for Mt. Hood Community College and Western Oregon University under Coach John Knight. My roommates were all multi-eventers and we had a blast. I learned a lot about competing from those guys.
2) How did you get into coaching and what sports have you coached?
My first coaching experience was in basketball. Our high school had us doing service projects and I volunteered as an assistant coach for my local elementary school’s 5th-grade team. The starting point guard was my little brother, so I had some experience with the people there and was excited to help. I learned a lot about motivating young athletes, and in the final game of the season, the head coach gave it to me to coach. We took on the undefeated team and found a way to win! I was hooked after that!
In college I got the opportunity to teach sprint form and technique and a few different camps and clinics, working with young athletes. That’s when I really started thinking about coaching as something I wanted to do. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but the coaching came on after these experiences.
My first coaching job was at Desert Hot Springs High School in the Palm Springs Unified School District, coaching with my wife. We had a small but fun group and I got the chance to make many mistakes and learned a lot from those amazing kids!
3) During your time as the Great Oak/Herriman cross country and track and field coach, what were some of your highlights and proudest achievements?
We had a lot of success at Great Oak, starting with our 2010 girls' state championship. That really opened the door for all of us to really evolve into a national-level program. Those girls really worked to win that one, and it motivated me as a coach to improve to keep up with the level they were achieving. Our boys started catching up in 2014 and we ended up with 14 Division 1 State Championships at the California State Meet (8 girls and 6 boys)! That makes me tremendously proud because of how many different athletes went into that success. The girls won 7 straight titles (2012-18), while the boys won 6 in a row (2014-2019), which are pretty amazing streaks in their own right, but incredible when you realize how many times they both won in the same year. Obviously, our boy's team winning NXN in 2015 will always be a special moment for me and that program. Beating everyone in the country in any sport is near impossible to do, so I truly remember that as a special group of kids.
For track, I think having the success we did in the distance relays during the regular season, and the individuals during the postseason really stands out for me. Our boys running 16:52 for the 4x1600 and breaking the national record in 2016 was a special moment for me as a coach, as they set the goal and worked incredibly hard to achieve it. On the girl's side, we did some special things. Watching Haley Dorris run 4:44, Destiny Collins run 4:45, and Ashley Helbig 4:48 in 2014 at the Master’s Meet was incredible, being the first team to have 3 under 4:50 in the same race. We did it again in 2018 with Fatima Cortes running 4:46, Tori Gaitan running 4:47, and Arianna Griffiths at 4:49! Too many amazing athletes to list during my time at GO!
.jpeg)
My time at Herriman has been short so far, taking over in Track 2022. Our boys won the Timpanogos Invite in Utah last year, Woodbridge in CA, took 2nd at NXR, and 3rd at NXN in my first XC season with the group! We followed that up with some amazing performances in track with Noah Jenkins running 4:05/8:43, Will Horne taking 2nd at nationals in the steeple chase in 5:46, Kadan Allen winning the 800 state title in 1:52, and William Steadman finishing 2nd in the 1600 right behind Danny Simmons! Our boys won the state title in the 4x800 and broke the state record by running 7:39! They also won the Mt. SAC relays DMR at 10:02! Our girl's group is starting to close the gap too, taking 2nd in the girl's 4x1600 at the Mt. SAC Relays this year! Looking forward to a big XC season here in 2023, where our boys have become the deepest team in the nation, and our girls are closing in on the top teams in Utah!
4) What was your incentive to write your book?
Famous writer Martin Dugard really encouraged me to write one to help coaches understand all the different components it takes to build and sustain a championship-level team. I’ve always had a lot of correspondence with other coaches around the country, and many of the questions were the same. What I found was most coaches had a pretty good idea of what they were doing, but they just needed someone to confirm it for them. My hope is that this book can do that for many coaches, and maybe fill in some gaps that anyone has in their program. Mentoring coaches and seeing them dial it in with their teams has always motivated me to share what my program has looked like. When you help coaches, you are really helping the kids they work with and that is why anyone gets into education.
6) Where can someone purchase your book?
The only place to pick up a copy is on Amazon.com. It is the easiest place to get it out to anyone looking to purchase a copy. Here is the link: Building Championship Cross Country Programs: Soles, Doug: 9798372119963: Amazon.com: Books
7) How can someone reach out to you with any questions?
I get lots of amazing emails from coaches all over the country trying to dial in all the different things it takes to be successful in XC and Track. The best way to reach me is via email at dsoles3737@gmail.com and my personal website is www.coachsoles.com.
