In D1, don’t sleep on the girls from Long Beach Wilson. They made it to SS finals for the first time in 20 years and only missed going to state by two spots. The entire team is returning next year and are all still developing as runners. (yes, as a parent I’m biased as hell, but their potential is super exciting.)
In D1, don’t sleep on the girls from Long Beach Wilson. They made it to SS finals for the first time in 20 years and only missed going to state by two spots. The entire team is returning next year and are all still developing as runners. (yes, as a parent I’m biased as hell, but their potential is super exciting.)
That’s where I got the above list. Returners on top teams. Taking teams that did well at State and looking at who they return.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned this team, but I’d look out for them- they have serious potential and return literally everyone- their top three runners have vastly improved by at least 20 seconds to 1 minute and could in contention for podium finish in D4 (I doubt they’ll beat Jserra’s girls though but there is potential for a podium finish). A program that has had a history of state title from the boys side, Archie Williams from San Anselmo.
Looking at their results from Dublin this year they seem to have serious potential. Ani Stieg: (Junior; 4:56 1600, 2:13 800, 17:59 Woodward Park 5k- one of the top returners in D4) Brooke Lee (Junior; 5:03 1600, 18:56 5k) Alyssa Silverstein (Junior; 5:11 1600, 10:53 3200- an almost 1 minute improvement from last season, 18:55 5k) Ainsley Sullivan (Sophomore; 20:06 5k) Teya Strong (Sophomore; 21:07 5k- seems to be hurdler who converted to distance running) Hanna Cortwright (Junior; 21:07 5k) Sloane Korty (Sophomore; 21:54 5k)
If these girls keep training, stay consistent, and healthy- they could something special next season. Not an NxN contender, but could be in contention for a podium finish, a lot of serious potential.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned this team, but I’d look out for them- they have serious potential and return literally everyone- their top three runners have vastly improved by at least 20 seconds to 1 minute and could in contention for podium finish in D4 (I doubt they’ll beat Jserra’s girls though but there is potential for a podium finish). A program that has had a history of state title from the boys side, Archie Williams from San Anselmo.
Looking at their results from Dublin this year they seem to have serious potential. Ani Stieg: (Junior; 4:56 1600, 2:13 800, 17:59 Woodward Park 5k- one of the top returners in D4) Brooke Lee (Junior; 5:03 1600, 18:56 5k) Alyssa Silverstein (Junior; 5:11 1600, 10:53 3200- an almost 1 minute improvement from last season, 18:55 5k) Ainsley Sullivan (Sophomore; 20:06 5k) Teya Strong (Sophomore; 21:07 5k- seems to be hurdler who converted to distance running) Hanna Cortwright (Junior; 21:07 5k) Sloane Korty (Sophomore; 21:54 5k)
If these girls keep training, stay consistent, and healthy- they could something special next season. Not an NxN contender, but could be in contention for a podium finish, a lot of serious potential.
It takes more than three girls. Someone is going to have to step up.
Predictions based on returners from the State Meet.
D1: Buchanan, Trabuco Hills, Del Norte
D2: El Toro, Whitney, Claremont
D3: Santa Margarita, St. Francis (Sac), Campolindo
Looking in at how these teams are doing in Track and who's returning:
D1 Buchanan: 5 girls 2:21 or better, 5 girls 5:02 or faster, 5 girls 10:36-11:36 TH: 2 girls under 2:20, 5 girls 4:48-5:36, 5 girls 10:26-12:09 DN: 4 girls under 2:20, 5 girls 5:02-5:20, 2 under 11:00 and 3 more 11:14-11:21
D2 ET: 5 girls 2:17-2:26, 5 girls 4:58-5:23, 5 girls 10:46-11:26 Whitney: 2 under 2:20 (2 at 2:13), 5 girls between 5:00-5:15, 3 under 11 and 5th at 11:37 Claremont: 2:08, 2:15 and 5th 2:25, 2 under 5:00 with 5th 5:33, 5 11:13-12:40
True… but it’s also DIV where the only team the girls should worry about is Jserra. My Alma mater got by with a third place finish with one girl going 18:05, one girl under 19, 3 girls in 19:30-19:50, and 2 girls in mid 21 minutes. Yes, it takes more than three girls to podium but… when you’re in division that isn’t that competitive with the exception of Jserra and Chiara Dailey, you could get by with more or less. If anything Archie Williams looks a lot better than my Alma mater (Placer) but they only got within the top 10 while Placer got 3rd- just saying, it’s not as hard to podium in D4
Plus they come from a program with a history of state titles (sure most of them come from the guys, but it still goes to show that the program has the credentials within D4)
D2: Tough call, the SJS bias in me wants to say Khole DeLaTorre or Natalie Arriaza but this is honestly too close to call. The Tesoro duo of Amber Dazey and Mackenzie Forrest are also formidable. Then there is Claremont freshman Grace Smith. Then Palo Alto’s Amaya Bhardwaj. Honestly, this could be anyone’s race going by returners
D3: Summer Wilson no questions asked
D4: Chiara Dailey no questions asked, but watch out for Giselle Fernandez- the little sister of German Fernandez. She’s had an amazing season of sub 18 and 4:43 1600- definitely not enough to win state but could provide a challenge
D5: This is one is also a little too close to call but not as much as D2- this either between Amelia Sarkisian, Ella Mogannam, or Brooke Oliveria. Sure Sarkisian is the fastest returner but going by this season’s track times, it might be a closer race than we think.
Buchanan is looking hard to beat. They return 4 of their top 5, and plus they have incoming sophomore Merancio, who was not in their top 7 last fall but ran 5:00 / 10:41 in the spring.
According to the CA track thread, rumor is that one of the top Trabuco Hills returners (Williams) is moving out of state. They already lose Barker and Guilfoile and this is kind of reducing the depth on the team. This will give JSerra an edge over Trabuco Hills to make NXN. If there’s an at-large, there could be a team that never made NXN before but makes it this year
Buchanan is looking hard to beat. They return 4 of their top 5, and plus they have incoming sophomore Merancio, who was not in their top 7 last fall but ran 5:00 / 10:41 in the spring.
According to the CA track thread, rumor is that one of the top Trabuco Hills returners (Williams) is moving out of state. They already lose Barker and Guilfoile and this is kind of reducing the depth on the team. This will give JSerra an edge over Trabuco Hills to make NXN. If there’s an at-large, there could be a team that never made NXN before but makes it this year
Trabucco Hills super freshman Evangeline Williams announced today that she is moving to Texas. Not sure if she is moving for running reasons (seems unlikely) or moving just because her parents want to move there. In any case, Trabuco Hills is losing a lot of their top girls.
D2: Tough call, the SJS bias in me wants to say Khole DeLaTorre or Natalie Arriaza but this is honestly too close to call. The Tesoro duo of Amber Dazey and Mackenzie Forrest are also formidable. Then there is Claremont freshman Grace Smith. Then Palo Alto’s Amaya Bhardwaj. Honestly, this could be anyone’s race going by returners
D3: Summer Wilson no questions asked
D4: Chiara Dailey no questions asked, but watch out for Giselle Fernandez- the little sister of German Fernandez. She’s had an amazing season of sub 18 and 4:43 1600- definitely not enough to win state but could provide a challenge
D5: This is one is also a little too close to call but not as much as D2- this either between Amelia Sarkisian, Ella Mogannam, or Brooke Oliveria. Sure Sarkisian is the fastest returner but going by this season’s track times, it might be a closer race than we think.
Buchanan is looking hard to beat. They return 4 of their top 5, and plus they have incoming sophomore Merancio, who was not in their top 7 last fall but ran 5:00 / 10:41 in the spring.
According to the CA track thread, rumor is that one of the top Trabuco Hills returners (Williams) is moving out of state. They already lose Barker and Guilfoile and this is kind of reducing the depth on the team. This will give JSerra an edge over Trabuco Hills to make NXN. If there’s an at-large, there could be a team that never made NXN before but makes it this year
Trabucco Hills super freshman Evangeline Williams announced today that she is moving to Texas. Not sure if she is moving for running reasons (seems unlikely) or moving just because her parents want to move there. In any case, Trabuco Hills is losing a lot of their top girls.
Also someone mentioned in the CA track thread that JSerra is getting 2 really fast incoming freshmen
DAILEY, Chiara JR La Jolla 16:44.4 COMBE, Braelyn JR Santiago 17:07.6 BAYLES, Millie JR Trabuco 17:22.2 SUNDGREN, Molly SO Buchanan 17:29.4 RAMIREZ, Isabella JR Bullard 17:29.9 DYE, Carol SO San Juan 17:30.0 DESORMEAU, Anna JR Trabuco 17:30.6 WILSON, Summer JR Irvine 17:30.8 SARKISIAN, Amelia SO Brentwood 17:31.8 DAZEY, Amber JR Tesoro 17:32.5 ELBAZ, Chloe JR JSerra 17:33.7 HOPKINS, Charlotte JR Arcadia 17:34.4 BHARADWAJ, Amaya JR Palo Alto 17:34.6 GUTIERREZ, Gaby FR Buchanan 17:36.4 OSORIO, Becky JR West Covina 17:43.2 DIAZ, Harper SO Santana 17:44.2 SMITH, Grace FR Claremont 17:45.3 JACKLIN, Elizabeth JR ML 17:46.4 PEREZ, Sophia SO Oak Park 17:46.5 DELATORRE, Khloe JR Vacaville 17:46.7
Jaelyn Williams isn't on the list, as she was injured and ran a 17:50. She'll be in the top 3, if healthy.