SGV Boys Rankings – Week 6: Claremont Still the Class of the SGV

Claremont again leads the San Gabriel Valley in our second rankings of the year. The Wolfpack scored a win at Stanford over a good field, and (almost) tempo-ed for a win in the Palomares meet – a league that could advance all six teams to CIF.

Teams at the high end of our sport don’t change a lot over the year, so success is usually about making incremental progress and avoiding injury. The one exception is Whittier – who were ranked in the pre-season, and then fell out of the rankings. They’re back at #10, driven by a rarity for a boys team – at frosh #1 runner.

2018 San Gabriel Valley XC Rankings – Week 3

1. Claremont (Previously – 1st)
2. La Serna (4th)
3. Arcadia (3rd)
4. California (2nd)
5. Arroyo (5th)
6. Rowland (6th)
7. South Pasadena (8th)
8. Bonita (7th)
9. Glendora (9th)
10. Whittier (NR)

Detailed Team Analysis through the Top 15 after the jump

2018 San Gabriel Valley XC Rankings – Week 3

#1 – Claremont (Previous Rank: #1)

Honors: 1st – Cool Breeze Invitational; 1st – Stanford Invitational  Ranked: #3 CIF-SS Div. 2

League Ranking: 1st in the Palomares League

Notes: Going from strength to strength, the Wolfpack beat a strong field at Stanford, and cruised to a win in the tough Palomares League

#2 – La Serna  (#4)

Honors: 1st – Fastback Invite; 19th Woodbridge Sweeps; 14th Clovis Champs Div.  Ranking: #6 – CIF-SS Div. 1

League Ranking: 1st – Del Rey League

Notes: The Lancers are having a solid season, building each week. They registered a big win over league rival California, and then competed really well at Clovis, despite being without their usual #1.

#3 – Arcadia  (#2)

Honors: 2nd The Great Cow Run, 11th Woodbridge Sweeps; 8th Nike Portland XC Classic  Ranked: #9 CIF-SS Div. 1

League Ranking: 2nd in the Pacific League

Notes: All of the Apaches lead runners have run well, but they’ve yet to do it in the same race. Nevertheless, they have clearly returned to prominence, and the State meet remains in their sights.

#4 – California (#3)

Honors: 4th – The Great Cow Run, 13th Woodbridge Sweeps; 2nd Central Park  Ranked: Unranked

League Ranking: 2nd – Del Rio League

Notes: The Condors have a solid first five, with a small gap in almost every meet, but the positions in the lead group have been pretty volatile. They will need to put all five to put it together on the same day to climb back to the top of their league and to challenge for a State Meet spot.

#2 – La Serna  (#4)

Honors: 1st – Fastback Invite; 19th Woodbridge Sweeps; 14th Clovis Champs Div.  Ranking: #6 – CIF-SS Div. 1

League Ranking: 1st – Del Rey League

Notes: The Lancers are having a solid season, building each week. They registered a big win over league rival California, and then competed really well at Clovis, despite being without their usual #1.

#5 – Arroyo (7th)

Honors: 3rd - Fastback Invite; 2nd – Rosemead Invite; 1st – Billy York Invite  Ranking: Not in CIF Div. 2 Top 10

League Ranking: #1 in the Mission Valley League

Notes: The Knights have raced twice since the last ranking – a win in the low key Billy York meet and a really strong effort in the second MVL meet. Just outside of the rankings in Div. 2, they’ll need further progress to claim a State Meet spot.

#6 – Rowland  (5th)

Honors: 14th – Woodbridge Invite Rated Race  Ranking: Unranked CIF-SS Div. 2

League Ranking  – #1 in the Valle Vista League

Notes: Rowland has not had a bad race, and performed well at Clovis while missing their usual #1. They probably will not be tested again until CIF where the exam in Div. 2 will be very challenging

#7 – South Pasadena (8th)

Honors: 2nd – Medium Div. – Clovis Invite  Ranking: #4 in CIF-SS Div. 4

League Ranking: 1st in the Rio Hondo League

Notes: This team traditionally starts slowly, and runs fewer races than other top teams. They did that again this year, finally running their full team at Clovis, where they were a solid 2nd in the Medium Schools division. Moving to Div. 4 this year, they’re contenders for both the CIF and State podium.

#8 – Bonita (7th)

Honors: 1st – Cool Breeze Varsity Race, 1st Brea Invite   Ranking: #9 CIF-SS Div. 3

League Ranking: 3rd – Palomares League

Notes: The Bearcats were third in their first league meet, by a point, but were closer to sixth than second. The Palomares League is brutal, but their solid progression this year, including a nice win over several CIF ranked teams at Brea means they’re likely to remain ranked and qualify regardless of where they finish.

#7 – South Pasadena (8th)

Honors: 2nd – Medium Div. – Clovis Invite  Ranking: #4 in CIF-SS Div. 4

League Ranking: 1st in the Rio Hondo League

Notes: This team traditionally starts slowly, and runs fewer races than other top teams. They did that again this year, finally running their full team at Clovis, where they were a solid 2nd in the Medium Schools division. Moving to Div. 4 this year, they’re contenders for both the CIF and State podium.

#9 – Glendora  (9th)

Ranking: Unranked in CIF-SS Div. 2

League Ranking: 5th – Palomares League

Notes: Starting out hot in their opening meets, the Tartans have had uneven results at Stanford and their first league meet. Fifth in their very difficult league and unlikely to make the Div. 2 rankings next week when they expand to 16, they will have to rally this month to advance to CIF

#10 – Whittier (NR)

Ranking: Not Ranked in CIF Div. 3

League Ranking – 4th in the Del Rio League

Notes: This team lost most of their top 7 from last year, but have developed over the season. They sandwiched a poor showing at their first league meet with good efforts at Sunny Hills and especially at Clovis. Rare for a boys team, their rise has been led by a #1 frosh Miguel Viderique

Next 5

#11 – Flintridge Prep (10th)

Notes: A perennial power in Div. 5, the young Rebels have developed nicely this year. Without one of their usual first five, they were not far from winning at Clovis. Their key will be the seniors remaining solid and their three soph scorers’ continued progress.

#12 – Damien  (11)

The Spartans followed a disappointing league meet finish with a win in Perris Valley. Getting to the top half of their league will be hard, so getting into the Top 16 in Div. 3 when the rankings expand next week.

#13 – Walnut  (12)

This team continues to show solid progress over the season, with another win in the improving Hacienda League and a good race at Sunny Hills. Advancing to CIF seems certain, but making Finals will require a big effort.

#14 – South Hills  (15th)

The Huskies had mixed results at Stanford, but had an excellent five-man effort in finishing second in the Hacienda League meet moving past Los Altos and almost reaching Walnut. Their chances of making Div 3 CIF Finals are looking brighter.

#15 – Pioneer  (13th)

The Titans rolled through their first 605 League meet with a perfect 15, and presumably did again last week (results have not been published) – and these were there only races since the last rankings. Still a good bet to advance to CIF Finals.

 Previously Ranked…

• Los Altos – #14