Overview: After playing second-fiddle to Campolindo for decades, Northgate came up big last year to win its first-ever NCS team title. With the Broncos returning 6 varsity runners from that squad, they're firmly in the driver's seat to capture another section title and vie for a podium spot at state.
1. Northgate
The Broncos had everything finally come together at the rain-soaked NCS championships last year, winning the team title and beating Campo in the postseason for the first time in decades. Northgate carried that momentum into the track season, where they had 8 returners break 6:00 in the 1600 and 5 break 13:00 in the 3200. Camilla Terrazas, Olivia Joseph, and Natasha Cohen are interchangeable at the front, with each of them running between 5:28-5:30 in the 1600 and 11:42-11:53 in the 3200. The Broncos have loads of depth and plenty of talented middle-distance runners who could break into the varsity lineup and make a huge impact.
The only thing lacking here is a legitimate frontrunner to contend with all the other teams on this list. Campolindo and Las Lomas both have multiple runners better than Northgate's projected #1, so getting the pack farther up in races will be critical to the Broncos repeating as section champions.
2. Campolindo
Campo's 10-year NCS championship streak was snapped last year, but the Cougars return the bulk of that team this season, putting them in position to reclaim the crown. Campo returns 6 of their 7 top from last season and added Ohio transfer Jillian Randolph during the spring track season. Considering she ran 11:17 in the 3200, she should be a significant factor for the Cougars.
Returners Amalia Contreras and Kiona McCasland both have sub-19:00 credentials at Woodward Park, so that gives Campo a great front end to work with. Add in senior Anya Houston, who ran 19:30 at state last year, and you have the makings for another strong team. After that, there is a big drop-off, compounded by inconsistency and injury, which is why the Cougars are ranked second here.
At full strength and health, the Cougars should have one of the best lineups in the section, if not the state, but that's a big if. Neela Whatley, Claire Andrzejek, and Kaitlyn Kinsey all missed big stretches of the past year in cross country and track. Inserting them into the lineup would vault Campo past Northgate. But for now, they're just a little bit behind as the season begins.
3. Las Lomas
The Knights lost a decent amount due to graduation, but a series of rapid improvements by their younger athletes during the spring track season points to great potential this fall. Ella Malick rolled to a 5:05 clocking in the 1600 and looks to carry that momentum into cross country. Behind here, Lorelei Fairclough and Ananda Simon both cracked 5:30 in the 1600 at the frosh-soph level, showing that they have the potential to step up to varsity-level competition. All in all, Las Lomas returns 8 runners under 5:50 in the 1600, so there's plenty of depth to pull from. Getting to race Northgate and Campolindo all season in the Diablo Athletic League will help as well.
4. Maria Carrillo
The Pumas missed out on state for the first time in decades last year, and look to get back to Clovis this season. Joslyn Tribbey appears to be the frontrunner for Maria Carrillo based on her 5:17 performance in the 1600 last track season. The Pumas return 7 runners sub 6:00 in the 1600 but will need them to make the transition to 3 miles/5k quickly.
5. Tamalpais
The Red-Tailed Hawks return a solid group and are a dark horse pick to land in the top 4 and make it back to state. Ava McMahon burst onto the scene in the spring, running 5:09 in the 1600 as a freshman. If she can continue that upward trajectory this fall, that will give Tam a strong frontrunner. Behind her, the Hawks have 5 returners who broke 6:00 in the 1600, but there is a pretty big dropoff after that. If Tam can continue to progress and develop more depth at the backend scoring positions, a top 4 finish is likely. But for now, they're just a few steps behind Maria Carrillo.
6. Newark Memorial
The Cougars advanced to the state championships for the first time ever last season, but grabbing another spot to Clovis will be much harder this year. Newark lost a lot of runners due to graduation and will need to rebuild quickly. Alice McCarty gives the Cougars a strong #1 runner who will be at the front of most races, but after that, there is a massive drop-off. That puts Newark a bit out of the picture as the season starts, but given the success this program has had in recent years, don't count them out at the end of the season.
Individual rankings:
With 4-time NCS champion Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery now at Stanford, there's going to be a new individual winner for the first time since 2019. Track times do not always translate to cross-country performances, but Alice McCarty of Newark Memorial has the best 3200 time of any returner, which places her as the slight favorite for now.
1. Alice McCarty - Newark Memorial
2. Gretchen Yakaitis - Carondelet
3. Ella Malick - Las Lomas
4. Ava McMahon - Tamalpais
5. Jillian Randolph - Campolindo
6. Kiona McCasland - Campolindo
7. Amalia Contreras - Campolindo
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