California cross country championships preview: Can Buchanan pull off a three-peat?
Can the Buchanan High girls cross country team make it three straight state titles?
The Bears will be eyeing that when the California Interscholastic Federation state championships take place at Woodward Park on Saturday.
Buchanan is coming off another Central Section title last week, roaring to a first-place finish ahead of Clovis North with a near-sweep of the top five finishers. The Broncos are ranked No. 2 in the state behind Buchanan, according to PrepCalTrack.com.
Buchanan will be led by senior Sydney Sundgren who placed third in the state meet last year. She returned to the course last week after experiencing an illness and finished seventh in the section meet.
Elle Lomeli finished in eighth place in the state last season, but didn’t run in last week’s section meet because of knee pain. The coaching staff sat her out.
Bears coach Brian Weaver said at the time she should be OK for the state meet.
That would bode well, but even if she can’t go, the Bears will still be the favorites to win another state championship.
Other team, runners expected to contend
The Yosemite boys are ranked No. 1 in the state in Division V.
The Badgers are led by twin brothers Ben and Jack Olney, who led a sweep of the top five at the section meet.
Christopher Caudillo of Clovis is one of the favorites to win the Division I boys race.
He finished sixth in the state last season.
The Matilda Torres boys from Madera figure to have a say-so in the D-IV race.
Race schedule
Division IV Girls 8:30 a.m.
Division V Girls 9 a.m.
Division IV Boys 9:30 a.m.
Division V Boys 10 a.m.
Division I Girls 10:30 a.m.
Division II Boys 11:a.m.
Division III Girls 11:30 a.m.
Division I Boys noon
Division II Girls 12:30 p.m.
Division III Boys 1 p.m.
Tickets
General Admission: $10
Children (5+yrs)/Students/Seniors: $5
Tickets are available online only at GoFan (gofan.co).
CIF says every spectator must have a ticket to enter the park and children 4 and under are free.
Fresno-area runners to compete
Boys
Division I: Christopher Caudillo, Clovis; Josiah Delgadillo, Clovis; Ricky Martinez, Clovis; Joaquin McGee, Clovis; Cole McNeal, Clovis; Jalen Morales, Clovis; Isaiah Watkins, Clovis; Carter Spradling, Clovis East; Sam Dresick, Clovis West; Nathaniel Nodal, Clovis West; Isaac Chavez, Madera South; Dylan Devine, Madera South; Adrian Hipolito, Madera South; Vidal Luna, Madera South; Estevan Medina, Madera South; Edwin Quiroz, Madera South; Juan Ramirez, Madera South
Division II: Alazar Teffra, Central; Alberto Andrade, Monache; Jake Estrada, Monache; Conner Machado, Monache; Devin Marino, Monache; Salvador Martinez, Monache; Monte Moore, Monache; Joseph Toledo, Monache; Jacob Diaz, Reedley; Santiago Basurto, Tulare Western; Erik Delgado, Tulare Western; Felipe Figueroa, Tulare Western; Joseph Flores, Tulare Western; Joziah Hagedom, Tulare Western; Carter Mendes, Tulare Western; Julian Valdivia, Tulare Western
Division III: Noel Carrasco, Fresno; Tyler Speir, Fresno; Aidan Ransom, Edison; Alesandro Escarzaga, Porterville
Division IV: Emilio Nunez, Avenal; Mandeep Bhatti, Garza; Drake Murrill, Garza; Justin Ramirez, Garza; Landon Rivera, Garza; Zelalem Teffra, Garza; Noah Felix Andrade, Torres; Benjamin Fernandez, Torres; Emanuel Gomez, Torres; Hunter Hannah, Torres; Ozzy Hernandez, Torres; Esaud Vargas, Torres; Evan Torres, Parlier; Esteban Yanez, Garza
Division V: Justin Canaday, Central Valley Christian; Adam Colin, Central Valley Christian; Jayden Forsyth, Central Valley Christian; Daniel Kostelyk, Central Valley Christian; Brayden Soerens, Central Valley Christian; Wyatt Talk, Central Valley Christian; Nathan Walhof, Central Valley Christian; Reid Bishel, Immanuel; Koen Ensz, Immanuel; Logan Beaumont, Yosemite; Noah Graffigna, Yosemite; Robby Gresham, Yosemite; Ben Olney, Yosemite; Jack Olney, Yosemite; Anthony Ruiz, Yosemite; Ford Stegge, Yosemite
Girls
Division I: Kynzlee Buckley, Buchanan; Sierra Cornett, Buchanan; Avery Hutchison, Buchanan; Grace Hutchison, Buchanan; Elle Lomeli, Buchanan; Sydney Sundgren, Buchanan; Tayler Torosian, Buchanan; Erika Nyberg, Clovis East; Samantha Ebell, Clovis North; Kaitelyn Emmons, Clovis North; Ashlyn Leath, Clovis North; Miya Maltos, Clovis North; Daniela Munguia, Clovis North; Aubrey Pacheco, Clovis North; Keira Quigley, Clovis North
Division II: Abigail Spain, Bullard; Bianca Scott, Madera
Division III: Keira Sorenson, Central; Brooklyn Bawanan, El Diamante
Division IV: Elizabeth Urquilla, Farmersville; Rhiannon Walker, Fresno; Sofia Caloca Pinedo, Kerman; Cathy Calzada, Kerman; Milani Gutierrez, Kerman; Daniela Lua, Kerman; Baylee Melgoza, Kerman; Kinsley Salsedo, Kerman; Ashley Villafana, Kerman; Alyana Chavez, Roosevelt
Division V: Caitlin Chea, Central Valley Christian; Norah Kostelyk, Central Valley Christian; Addyson Adler, Fresno Christian; Vivian Cheema, Fresno Christian; Emma Connolly, Fresno Christian; Meghan Connolly, Fresno Christian; Eve Dixon, Fresno Christian; Julia Gray, Fresno Christian; Laina Penland, Fresno Christian; Sydney Friesen, Immanuel; Sarah Larger, Immanuel; Camila Lupa, Immanuel; Gaby Ramirez, Immanuel; Clara Riddle, Immanuel; Macie Riddle, Immanuel; Lexi Schartmann, Immanuel; Erin Solis, San Joaquin Memorial
