By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

The 30th annual CIF State Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Fresno. The schedule is as follows: 8:30 a.m. Division 4 boys, 9 a.m. Division 5 boys, 9:30 a.m. Division 4 girls, 10:05 a.m. Division 5 girls, 10:40 a.m. Division 1 boys, 11:10 a.m. Division 2 girls, 11:45 a.m. Division 3 boys, 12:15 p.m. Division 1 girls, 12:50 p.m. Division 2 boys, 1:20 p.m. Division 3 girls.

Here are 10 teams to follow at one of the strongest state finals in the country, which also serves as a selection meet for Nike Cross Nationals:

Madera South boys

Since a fifth-place finish in the boys championship race at the Clovis Invitational, few Division 1 teams have performed better than the Stallions, who enter the state meet having won six consecutive races. The highlight during that streak was a ninth consecutive Central Section championship, including the fifth in a row in Division 1, with Miguel Villar capturing the individual title in 15:18.66 at Woodward Park. Madera South is no stranger to podium finishes at the state finals, taking second in 2013 and third in 2014, but after a fourth-place result last season, the Stallions are ready to square off against Southern Section powers Great Oak, Dana Hills and Roosevelt one more time.

Dana Hills girls

Following their only Division 1 state championship in 2008, the Dolphins have only managed to finish as high as fifth twice in 2009 and 2011. After missing the state meet last season as a result of an eighth-place finish at the Southern Section Division 1 finals, Dana Hills relied on sophomores Leila Keyvan, Sarah Meng and Lauren Soto to rebound in impressive fashion Nov. 19 and take second behind Great Oak to secure a return trip to Woodward Park. The Dolphins finished seventh in the girls championship race Oct. 8 at the Clovis Invitational – sixth among Division 1 teams – but have the potential to challenge Great Oak, Davis Senior, Buchanan, Arcadia, Yucaipa, Vista Murrieta and Homestead for one of three podium spots.

Dublin boys

The Gaels have produced an individual state champion, with James Attarian capturing the Division 3 title in 2007. Following their first North Coast Section team championship Nov. 19, Dublin is now seeking its first Division 2 state crown having never previously secured a podium finish at Woodward Park. The Gaels won their large school race Oct. 8 at the Clovis Invitational, but have been waiting all season to square off with Southern Section powers Ventura, Mira Costa, Claremont and Loyola. The Southern Section swept the top seven spots in last year’s Division 2 boys final, but after only Anirudh Surapaneni qualified for the state meet last season, the entire Dublin team is motivated to become the first North Coast Section winner in the division since Eureka in 1999.

Granada girls

One of the most inspirational performances by any team at the section championships was delivered by the Matadors, who held off East Bay Athletic League rival Monte Vista 48-49 to win the North Coast Section Division 2 title despite competing without sophomore standout Kinga Bihari. Colleen McCandless, Kalea Bartolotto and Gracie Dupuis all finished in the top six at the section final for Granada, which received timely support from Kaylie Lawsen and Daisy Guinchard in Bihari’s absence. The Matadors finished fifth last year in Division 2 and haven’t secured a podium finish since placing second in Division 3 in 1999 after a third-place effort in 1998. If Bihari can compete, Granada could not only place in the top three, but challenge for its first team championship.

La Costa Canyon boys

For four consecutive years, Southern Section programs have swept the podium in the Division 3 boys finals, contributing to a streak of 15 straight state champions in the division. La Costa Canyon was fourth last year, missing the podium by nine points after falling two points short of a third-place finish in Division 2 in 2011. The Mavericks held off Cathedral Catholic 39-43 to repeat as San Diego Section champions, relying on sophomores Jacob Stanford and Garrett Stanford as part of five scoring runners in the top 15. If La Costa Canyon can continue to keep a tight pack, it has a chance to compete with West Torrance, Brea-Olinda, Campolindo and Paso Robles for the first boys podium finish in program history.

Aptos girls

When the Mariners won a Division 2 state crown in 2005, they didn’t qualify for the state meet as a team the following season after placing fourth in the Central Coast Section final. Although Aptos isn’t the favorite to repeat as Division 3 champion this year, Marea Zlatunich led the Mariners to their sixth consecutive section title and 14^th in program history. In addition to its state championships, Aptos has one additional podium finish, placing third in Division 3 in 2011. If the supporting cast of Annika Niles, Annika McBride, Reina Garcia and Sofia Natividad can perform the way they did at the section final at Crystal Springs, then the Mariners can battle Palos Verdes, La Costa Canyon, Campolindo, Redwood Larkspur and Esperanza for another podium finish.  

Sage Creek boys

From the humble beginnings of a 20^th-place finish in Division 5 in 2013, the Bobcats have the potential to capture their first Division 4 state title after taking third last year. Brad Nelson, Beau Prince, Daniel Rubin and James Melkonian swept the top four spots at the San Diego Section finals, with Christian Mitchell placing seventh, producing a 42-second spread, indicating Sage Creek is ready to challenge Foothill Tech, JSerra and Bishop O’Dowd for a championship. Since a fourth division was added to the state finals in 1990, no San Diego Section team – boys or girls – has won a Division 4 title.

JSerra girls

The Lions produced an impressive run of three consecutive Division 4 state titles from 2010-12, followed by a third-place finish in 2014, but after taking seventh last season at Woodward Park, a young team led by Nadia Tabrizi and Tristan Saltonstall is ready to contend for another championship. JSerra knocked off Foothill Tech and Bishop Amat to win its fifth Southern Section crown in seven years, giving the Lions the necessary confidence to challenge Coronado, Miramonte and Santa Cruz in addition to their section rivals for not only a podium finish, but a fourth championship under coach Marty Dugard. Nordhoff is the only program to win four Division 4 girls state titles, achieving the feat from 1990-98 under coach Ken Reeves, who now guides Foothill Tech.

Cerritos Valley Christian boys

Following the first runner-up finish in program history at the Southern Section Division 5 finals, the Crusaders now have aspirations of making the podium at the state meet, also for the first time. Valley Christian finished 13^th at Woodward Park in 2014, then had only Ryan Vreeke qualify last year when he placed 49^th. But after finishing only five points behind winner Lancaster Desert Christian in Riverside and holding off reigning state champion Flintridge Prep by four points, the Crusaders have a legitimate opportunity to capture a state title if they can receive strong performances from juniors Hayden Lee and Payton Kooi in support of Josh Rupprecht, Nathaniel Tamminga and Vreeke.

St. Joseph Notre Dame girls

Perhaps the most significant favorite in any girls division is Flintridge Prep, which is seeking a third consecutive Division 5 state championship. But if any team has the firepower up front to keep pace with the Rebels, it could be St. Joseph Notre Dame, led by individual state title favorite Kiera Marshall. Flintridge Prep defeated the Pilots 67-143 in last year’s final, but St. Joseph Notre Dame returns all five scorers, including all-state performer Emily Perez and junior Beatrice Levy. Flintridge Prep possesses impressive depth, but if the Pilots can get improved performances from Zhane Duckett, Araceli Zavala, Maia Chareonsuphiphat and Danielle Perez to support Marshall, Levy and Emily Perez, then St. Joseph Notre Dame should not only return to the podium, but could pull off a big upset.