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California Region Boys Early Season Rankings 2024Published by
Great Oak, MLK, Buchanan Top Early Projections In California By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Boys California Preview There are a lot of good boys cross country teams in California, but it remains to be seen if there are any great ones. Last year, California sent three representatives to Nike Cross Nationals and they finished eighth (San Clemente), 10th (Dana Hills) and 17th (Great Oak). Unlike the girls landscape in California, a big wave of seniors departed. San Clemente, Dana Hills and other strong programs are rebuilding. Great Oak returns three from its NXN team and appears to be the best positioned going into the fall campaign. But it could also be close. The Wolfpack could be better with a healthy Westin Brown back in the lineup, but Martin Luther King and Buchanan also bring back the bulk of their teams. Jesuit and Beckman are also teams to watch with state meet experience coming back. Individually, Dana Hills' Evan Noonan, Eli Fitchen-Young from Santa Cruz, Broen Holman from Sonora, Aydon Stefanopoulos from Los Gatos, and Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian are some of the leading candidates to score individual berths to NXN if their teams come up short. Next week's Woodbridge Cross Country Classic should shine more light on the picture in California with a massive turnout coming together to run on the same course. 1. Great Oak. The Wolfpack is back in a familiar spot, but this No. 1 ranking doesn't feel as secure as some in the past might have. After a 17th place finish a NXN last year, the team brings back three from that meet but also regains senior Westin Brown, who missed the end of last season. And he's a 4:08 1,600-meter runner. So really, it's four back from a team that finished second in the CIF Division 1 finals and then made the NXN field as an at-large selection. Senior Jacob Brown was 14th at state last year and senior Jack Paradise and junior Marco Franco are all back. Seniors Christian Gump and Carson Lynch and junior Reuben Sanchez will plug the remaining holes. 2. Martin Luther King. Junior Maximo Zavaleta, who was seventh in the CIF Division 1 cross country final, is the top returner from that race. His team finished 10th that day but brings back six of the seven who competed. This is heady stuff for the Wolves of Riverside, who made their second appearance ever at the state meet last year. In addition to Zavaleta, the team brings back junior Bradley Quezada, senior Brayden Lunetta, senior Alex Wesolowski, and juniors Logan Carlson and Frank Stewart. If this group can stick together and develop, it could take a big step forward. 3. Buchanan. The Bears should be on the upswing after placing 18th last year in the CIF Division 1 finals. Six are back from that team. Senior Luke Sanders had a productive track season, with bests of 4:11.55 in the 1,600 and 9:15.78 in the 3,200. This fall's cross country team has six runners who ran faster than 4:28 in the 1,600 in the spring, including senior Max Jauregui, juniors Michael Pritsky and Jansen Geyer and sophomores Andrew Ray and Dylan Rea. 4. Jesuit. With five of the top seven and four scorers coming back from the CIF Division 2 fourth-place team, the Marauders of Carmichael are in the hunt for a state title a potential postseason trip to Nike Cross Nationals. Junior Isaac Abbott, sophomore Matthew Ogilvie, junior Drake Hoferer, senior Chase Cressman and senior Navin Kadel return from the state meet. Junior Kyle Jakary is already pushing into the top five after leading the JV last year. 5. Beckman. The Patriots from Irvine bring back four from a team that finished eighth in the CIF Division 1 finals. Those four did a great job of staying connected and were separated by just 17 seconds. This team doesn't have a great low stick, but the depth of this year's pack goes beyond just four. Juniors Mason Nguyen and Christian Weber, and seniors Aaron Feaster and Anthony Barrera are joined this fall by junior Nolan Barajas and sophomores Ryan Barris, Hassan Syed and Brandon Boatman. WATCHLIST More news |
