Covering California Prep Track & Field/Cross Country!

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Golden State Top Dozens

 

The following is an attempt off of last year’s results in Cross-Country and Track and Field to place the top dozen overall teams and individuals for boys and girls in California State High School Cross-Country. With divisional placements up to the different sections with the flexibility allowed them by the State CIF, exact placement of teams in their racing levels for the fall season will not come until mid or late September. It is thought that it might be fun for discussion to place the top dozen teams and individuals Boys and Girls up beforehand.

 

Boys Teams:

1. Dana Hills (Dana Point - Southern Section) - Return a solid five from the rain of Fresno at State last year who brought home a third place plaque Division I from that competition, with hopes for a higher placing this Fall. Coach Tim Butler has Coached some of the State’s top groups during his tenure, and if the troops believe he can lead.

2. Poly (Long Beach SS) - Super recent tradition, with a fourth place finish last year at State Division I. Six scorers from that group return, with Coach George Wright able always to blend a group with track skills from 800 to 3200 meters together in what will be another Jackrabbit powerhouse.

3. Barstow (SS) - Division III Champs last year with a dominating performance, the Aztecs under Coach Jim Duarte should be able to pick and choose their solid efforts this year, with five of the top seven back from the championship team to romp in from the high desert once again and seek another first place plaque for the trophy case.

4. Canyon (Canyon Country SS) - Another with great recent tradition, they were the 2001 State Champs in Fresno last November. Five are back from that group, with the Cowboys backing down from no one in search of a higher place than this ranking this fall.

5. Jesuit (Sacramento Sac Joaquin) - Certainly one of the the state and nation’s most successful cross-country powers at the top end over the last decade and a half has been Coach Walt Lange’s Sac Joaquin crew, with the sixth place group from last Fall Division I having five back from a group that developed perfectly during the Fall season.

6. Rubidoux (Riverside SS) - Division II Champs last Fall in a dominating performance, Rubidoux and Coach Sam Gee have four of that top seven back with the ability each year to develop runners to move into the scoring group from a solid back-up crew.

7. Loyola (Los Angeles SS) - Leading group back out of the huge Southern Section (nearly 600 schools) who did not qualify for the Fresno competition last Fall. Loyola has the ability to challenge for one of the State Meet Division I top three plaques with a flawless Fall.

8. Vista (San Diego) - "Leap of faith" crew, with an very, very solid group of runners from the spring track season, who, if they develop, will be another super team from the San Diego area.

9. Valencia (Placentia SS) - Second place last year Division II, with Juan Robles leading four of the top seven from that squad back for Coach Pat Hadley.

10. Orange (SS) - Not their best race of the year at State last Fall, but return a very solid five that have proven themselves in Section action last year.

11. La Sierra (Riverside SS) - Solid five scorers back for another solid group that just missed out on the State meet experience last year from their huge section.

12. Temecula Valley (SS) - Another strong squad out of the Southern Section’s Division I level.

 

Individuals:

1. Yong-Sung Leal (Arroyo, San Lorenzo NCS) - Missed last part of the spring track season with injury, but hopefully has recovered and can challenge as one of the nation’s best this Fall.

2. Tim Nelson (Liberty Christian, Redding No) - Another with national ranking in the sport, with a fine spring track season, led by third place State Meet 3200m effort (9:02.50 seasonal best from Arcadia) .

3. Kyle Alcorn (Buchanan, Clovis - Central) - Fine fall last year, with huge effort in State Track Meet, with 28 second final half lap in 9:00.46 win.

4. Michael Poe (Etiwanda - SS) - Fine efforts last Fall, 4th place Division I statewide, with same placing in Track over 3200m at State at 9:08.43.

5. Mohamed Trafeh (Duarte SS) - Super junior emerged solidly in the spring, with 6th in State 3200m Track with 9:08.69 best.

6. Erik Maldonado (Don Lugo, Chino Hills SS) - State Div I Champ in CC Counts for much.

7. Manuel Ruiz (Monroe, Sepulveda LA) - Another with super solid spring season, 9:13.77 for 3200m and 9th at State Meet 3200.

8. Phillip Reid (Rio Mesa, Oxnard SS) fine distance runner, with great spring season, 4:12.25 1600m best and runner-up effort at State, in addition to 9:07.41 3200m clocking.

9. Mike Chavez (Esperanza, Anaheim SS) - Solid cross-country runner, 10th in State Track Meet over 3200mwith 9:09.52 best, and 4:14.47 1600 clocking during season.

10. Babey Wagnew (Helix, La Mesa SD) - Third last Fall Division II Cross Country, with 14th State Track 3200m with 9:15.51 seasonal best.

11. Michael Haddan (Woodbridge, Irvine SS) - Best known as State soph 800 Champ at 1:51.02, but has run 4:15.32 1600 and was 5th State Division II Cross-Country last Fall.

12. Jeremy Mineau (Menlo Atherton, Atherton CCS) - Twelfth State Track 3200m with 9:15.92 seasonal best in that competition.

 

Girls Teams:

1. San Pasqual (Escondido SD) - State Division II Champs with Coach Pat King developing the group in fine style. Six are back from that championship team, with five talented juniors to lead.

2. Dana Hills (Dana Point SS) - State Division I runner-ups last Fall, Coach Beth Niednagel has everyone back from a team ready to step to the top of the awards platform.

3. Sultana (Hesperia SS) - Six are back from the State 4th Place Division II squad for Coach John Mahr this Fall, with great recent tradition.

4. Murrieta Valley (SS) - If leader Liza Pasciuto, one of the nation’s best, can stay healthy and upright this Fall, MV will be one of the State’s toughest! Coaches Steve Chavez and Tim Sall have developed a fine program.

5. Ayala (Chino Hills SS) - Fifth Division I last Fall Statewide, Ayala has everyone back for Coach Erik Starkey, with higher hopes for this season.

6. Montgomery (Santa Rosa NCS) - Third place Division II last Fall, Montgomery has super recent tradition, with Coach Josh Dorris welcoming Kim Conley and four other scorers back from that fine team.

7. Royal (Simi Valley SS) - Super improvement last Fall, Royal has the top six back from the 2001 Sixth place Division I squad.

8. Thousand Oaks (SS) - Right down the road from Royal, the Lancers were third in State last year Division I, with four from that group and back-up ready to assist the team to lofty heights again this Fall.

9. Peninsula (Rolling Hills SS) - Coach Joe Kelly retired after magic that brought the "at-large" qualifiers a State Title last Fall! Five are back from that Championship team, with hopes of a smooth coaching transition this year.

10. Fountain Valley (SS) - The top six return from last year’s seventh place State Division I squad, as that area took the top seven places teamwise at State Large Schools last year.

11. Campolindo (Moraga - NCS) - Another great recent tradition, with a well-earned Division III State title for Coach Chris Walsh in 2001, and five of the top six back for this campaign.

12. Buchanan (Clovis Central) - Ninth Statwide Division I last Fall, the Central powerhouse returns six from that team with higher goals this Fall.

 

Individuals:

1. Liza Pasciuto (Murrieta Valley SS) - Highly ranked nationally as long ago as a frosh athlete, the soccer-running star is the state’s best when healthy and a finisher.

2. Ruth Graham (Gunn, Palo Alto CCS) - National Foot Locker Finalist in 2001, Graham was State Division II individual champ, and had a 10:32.06 from the spring track season.

3. Rachel Bryan (Laguna Creek, Elk Grove - Sac Joaquin) - solid Fall last year in Cross-Country, but peaked nicely in the spring to take second in State Track Meet over 3200m at 10:36.32.

4. Danielle Schuster (Torrey Pines, Encinitas SD) - Top returner from the State Division I CC Meet at 4th, she was 4:54.23 for 3200m in Track and State Finalist.

5. Shelby Leland (Ukiah NCS) - greatly improved in spring to 5th State Track Meet 3200m with 10:37.32 best.

6. Melissa Grelli (Presentation, San Jose CCS) - Top returnee from Division III Cross-Country at third, she was 7th State Track over 3200m with 10:36.68 best.

7. Caitlin Chock (Granite Bay Sac Joaquin) - Runner-up to Ruth Graham last Fall in State Division II CC, she was 10:38.2 in the spring track season for 3200m.

8. Lindsey delMontag (Rancho Bernardo - SD) - frosh was 5th Division I Cross-Country last Fall with sub 18:20 in the rain at Fresno.

9. Katie Gose (La Reina, Thousand Oaks SS) - steady improver in the spring track season, all the way to 8th in the State 3200 with a 10:51.12 best.

10. Casey Nevitt (Aptos CCS) - 6th Division I last Fall in Cross-Country, Casey was 10:36.84 during the spring Track season for 3200m.

11. Phyllis Blanchard (Rancho Cotate, Rohnert Park NCS) - 9th Division I last fall in Cross-Country.

12. Bethany Nickless (Fountain Valley SS) - Top fifteen last Fall Division I in Cross-Country, Bethany was 10:44.50 for 3200m during the spring track season.