Week 4 Preview: We’re Kind of All Over the Place

stanford_crowdThe opening month of the 2015 Cross Country season will wrap up with at least 48 SGV teams scattering to six meets.  The biggest meet in both quality and size is the Stanford Invitational and will have several strong SGV match ups.  Almost all of the top local teams are racing, with only El Rancho, California and Bonita taking the weekend off.  However, several teams are likely to hold their Varsity teams out of the races ahead of big cluster meets next week.

Previews for all of the meets after the jumpStanford-logoStanford Invitational – 5000 meters on a rolling golf course.  Over 200 schools from at least seven states will contest this big, big meet.  Almost all of the top schools from Northern California will be here, and many of the Southern Section’s best make the drive, including four ranked SGV schools.

Arcadia will have both teams in the big Seeded race.  The boys will be led by defending State Champ and SGV #1 Phillip Rocha.  This will be his first big race of the season after a late start due to competing in the World Youth Track Championships last summer.  The young (no seniors) Arcadia Girls will contend for a trophy, as will Bishop Amat. After her midweek seasonal debut, the Lancers will have an on-form Ally Palomino up front.  The SGV record holder should contend for the individual title.

In the Divisional races, the Flintridge Prep girls are solid favorites to win the Div. V race, while Mayfield is just as favored in Div. IV.  Also competing will be Glendora, South Hills, St. Francis and St. Paul

top speedTop Speed Running Super XC Classic 3 miles with some hills and slow footing at Bonelli Park in San Dimas.  This is the only XC meet that takes place in the SGV this weekend, and while just 15 teams are taking part, seven are locals and four are ranked.  The best matchup will come in the boys Varsity race as Baldwin Park will try to hold off Arroyo and fast rising West Covina.  The Arroyo Girls will contend for the title.  Claremont is the host and while their top athletes are entered, they will very likely not race ahead of their next cluster meet on Tuesday.

Bell Jeff logo42nd Annual Bellermine-Jefferson Invitational 3 miles with several severe hills at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.  This is one of the oldest XC meets in SoCal run on a very tricky course.  Eleven of the 101 competing teams come from the SGV.  The La Cañada girls and their leader Katie Scoville should contend for the Title.

Billy YorkBilly York Invitational 3 miles on a gently rolling mostly dirt course at the former Riverside Golf Course. This will be the first meet of the season over the full 3-mile course that will be used for CIF Prelims this year.  There are a number of strong teams taking part to preview the course, including four ranked SGV teams.  Covina, Los Altos, Whittier and Ayala will compete, but Ayala’s varsity will not in favor of Tuesday cluster meet.  A total of 11 SGV schools will be part of a field of 53.

Dana Hills Invitational - 3 miles, some elevation changes but net down hill at Dana Hills HS. The big guns of Orange Country are racing here on this fast course.  Four SGV schools will make the trip.

Sunny Hills Invitational 3 rolling miles at Craig Park in Fullerton.  Walnut is the top local school at this low key meet that usually attracts several top OC schools.  There will be six SGV schools in the field of 32.

 

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SGV Track & XC

This site is maintained by Bob Ramsey – a SGV T&F athlete (Arroyo ’80), and former coach at Glendora HS and Meet Director of the SGV Champs. Bob is currently Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Whittier College