By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 33rd annual CIF Cross Country State Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

WOODWARD PARK ALL-TIME TEAM PERFORMANCES

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

Great Oak’s longevity eyes state’s two legacy streaks

Perhaps it is only fitting for a program that has already won a combined 13 state championships this decade – more than any school has achieved in meet history – that Great Oak would have an opportunity on the same day to surpass the two most impressive state title streaks in meet history.

The Wolfpack girls are looking to break a tie with Saugus (2006-12) for the longest championship run by any school, regardless of gender, in state history by capturing an eighth consecutive title.

Unlike past seasons, Saugus has an opportunity to actually prevent Great Oak from setting the record, with the Centurions returning to Division 1 for the first time since 2006.

However, the most likely opposition for Great Oak is Buchanan, which is not only seeking its first Division 1 crown in program history, but the Bears are pursuing their first state championship in any division since capturing the Division 2 title in 1994.

Great Oak is also seeking a sixth straight Division 1 boys championship, which would move the Wolfpack ahead of Woodcrest Christian (2005-09), which won five in a row in Division 5.

Great Oak has swept the Division 1 crowns five straight seasons – Nordhoff is the only other school to achieve the feat multiple times, but never in consecutive years – with the Wolfpack girls winning 13 consecutive races at Woodward Park since a setback at the 2011 state final and the boys prevailing in 11 straight races on the 5-kilometer course, beginning with the 2014 ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Jesuit, winner of nine state titles, along with Bellarmine Prep, Dublin and Clovis North all look to stand in the way of the nation’s top-ranked boys team making history.

With a pair of victories, Great Oak would also move into a tie for second all-time in both genders for total championships.

A ninth girls state title would equal the Wolfpack with Saugus and move Great Oak within one of matching San Francisco University for the most by either gender in California cross country history.

A sixth boys state crown would equal Barstow, Loyola, Nordhoff and Woodcrest Christian for the second-highest total, trailing Jesuit and McFarland, both with nine championships.

Newbury Park pursues matching pair

Led by individual champion Nico Young, Newbury Park captured its first Division 2 boys state title in program history last season.

The Panthers now have an opportunity to become the 10th school in meet history to sweep both boys and girls championships in the same year, including only the third in Division 2, joining San Pasqual in 1990 and Claremont in 2016.

The success has been expected for Newbury Park’s boys, the second-ranked team in the country, but it has been an impressive rise for the Panthers in their pursuit of the program’s first girls state title.

Newbury Park didn’t even qualify for the Division 2 girls championship last season, placing 10th in the Southern Section final. The Panthers have never finished on the podium in state history.

But the addition of Hailey Golmon, the significant improvement of Sam McDonnell and the contributions of Archana Mohandas, Fiona Hawkins, Ailish Hawkins and Hannah Round has Newbury Park in position to capture both state titles. St. Francis Mountain View and St. Francis Sacramento are also potential championship contenders.

In addition to San Pasqual and Claremont, Newbury Park has the potential to join Dana Hills, Flintridge Prep, Foothill Tech, Great Oak, Nordhoff, Oak Park and Palos Verdes as schools to achieve state championship sweeps in the same year.

Newbury Park is also looking to become the first Division 2 boys team to win back-to-back titles since Loyola in 2007-08. Young is also seeking the first individual repeat in the division since Loyola’s Elias Gedyon won three in a row from 2008-10.

Smith seeks rewarding return

Buchanan standout Corie Smith captured her third career Central Section Division 1 title Nov. 21, but the senior has unfinished business at the state meet after missing last year’s championship with illness.

Smith, the 2017 winner, is looking to become the first two-time champion in Buchanan history, with Hagen Reedy capturing the championship in 2011.

Smith would also be the eighth female athlete in Division 1 history to win multiple titles, including the first since former Davis Senior star Fiona O’Keeffe in 2013-14.

Smith elevated to the No. 4 performer in Woodward Park 5-kilometer course history Oct. 12 when she ran 16:53.9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational. She’s looking to become the fifth Division 1 female athlete to run under 17 minutes at the state final, joining Santa Rosa’s Julia Stamps, Hoover’s Anita Siraki, Simi Valley’s Sarah Baxter and O’Keeffe.

It won’t be easy for Smith, with Canyon Crest Academy senior Carlie Dorostkar, San Clemente senior Hana Catsimanes and defending champion Tori Gaitan of Great Oak all providing strong challenges.

Grover looks to join elite with three-peat

JSerra senior Anthony Grover has the potential to not only make Division 4 history, but join a select group of male athletes with a third career title.

Grover is attempting to become the first Division 4 athlete, regardless of gender, to capture three consecutive state championships.

The Wake Forest signee is also trying to become only the fourth male athlete in meet history to win three career titles.

Agoura’s Bryan Dameworth was the first to achieve the feat in Division 1 from 1987-89. Tim Nelson from Redding Liberty Christian accomplished the trifecta in Division 5 in 2000-02, with Loyola’s Elias Gedyon securing three in a row in Division 2 from 2008-10.

Seven male athletes have previously won twice in Division 4, including all-time Woodward Park 5-kilometer record holder German Fernandez of Riverbank, but none could capture a third career championship.

There are eight female athletes in state history to have won at least three career titles, but none of them achieved the feat in Division 4.

Sir Francis Drake’s Amir Barkan, along with Laguna Beach’s Mateo Bianchi and Foothill Tech’s Josh Villasenor all present significant challenges for Grover, with Godebo Chapman of West Campus also a leading contender.

McClain tries to add to North Coast Section mastery

For the past decade, the North Coast Section has dominated the Division 5 girls finals, with five athletes combining to win 10 consecutive individual titles, including Gabrielle Peterson of Healdsburg last year.

St. Helena junior Harper McClain has aspirations of becoming the 11th in a row and 17th overall champion representing the North Coast Section in the 24-year history since Division 5 was added to the state schedule.

McClain became the No. 2 performer in Division 5 history at Woodward Park with her 17:10.2 effort Oct. 12 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, trailing only the 17:02 performance by Mission Prep graduate Jordan Hasay in 2005.

McClain also elevated to the No. 5 all-time performer in the North Coast Section at Woodward Park, trailing only Santa Rosa’s Julia Stamps, Ukiah’s Amber Trotter, Carondelet’s Kristen Gordon and McKinleyville’s Morgin Coonfield.

Hasay also boasts the fastest Division 5 performance at the state final, running 17:05 in 2007. She was the last athlete from outside the North Coast Section to win a Division 5 individual championship, capturing four in a row from 2005-08.

Podium pole position

The two boys programs with the most state podium appearances in meet history, Flintridge Prep and Dana Hills, both have an opportunity to add to those totals Saturday.

Flintridge Prep, which captured its second straight Southern Section Division 5 title and eighth overall, is seeking not only a sixth state championship, but hoping to add to its California record with a 17th podium finish.

The Rebels extended their record with a second-place finish in 2016, but then finished fourth in 2017 and sixth last year.

Dana Hills, which has 15 podium appearances, could pull even with Flintridge Prep if the Rebels place outside of the top three for a third straight year.

The Dolphins have achieved Division 2 girls podium finishes in 1995-96, but all four of the boys state titles and podium finishes have come in Division 1. That trend could end with Dana Hills competing in Division 2 this season.

The Dolphins have secured six consecutive podium finishes in Division 1, but look to extend that streak to seven with a top-three finish for the first time in Division 2.

Jesuit, which has 12 all-time podium finishes, could also move up the boys list with its first top-three finish in Division 1 since 2015, led by defending champion Matt Strangio.

Quality quartet back in girls spotlight

The four most successful girls programs in terms of all-time state podium finishes – San Francisco University, Campolindo, Saugus and Palos Verdes – are all in contention again to place in the top three in their respective divisions.

San Francisco University is looking to add to its records, not only by capturing an 11th Division 5 title, but earning a 16th all-time podium finish.

Posing legitimate threats to University are defending champion and North Coast Section rival Lick Wilmerding, along with Southern Section winner St. Margaret’s – earning its first podium finish last season – and San Diego Section title holder Santa Fe Christian.

Palos Verdes and Campolindo, second and third last year in Division 3, are not only looking to capture the state title, but also hoping to add to their tradition of podium finishes. Vista del Lago, led by sophomore Alexandra Klos, moved to Division 2 after winning the Division 3 crown last season.

Campolindo is second all-time with 13 and Palos Verdes, led by individual state contender Savannah Scriven, is tied for third with 12.

Saugus, also tied for third with 12, is looking to return to the top three after having its state-record streak of a dozen consecutive podium appearances halted with a sixth-place finish in Division 2 last year.

The Centurions return to Division 1 this season, where their podium streak began with a state championship in 2006. Saugus looks to battle Great Oak, Buchanan, Canyon Crest Academy, Oak Ridge and Vista Murrieta for the top three spots.

Great Oak is looking to become the sixth girls program with at least 10 all-time podium finishes.

First-time favorites or two-time champions try to rise to the top

The battle for Division 3 boys supremacy features past winners Brea-Olinda (2014-15) and Royal (2004-05), as well as three programs all seeking their first championships in Agoura, Maria Carrillo and Campolindo.

Maria Carrillo won its seventh North Coast Section title and Agoura captured its first Southern Section crown since 1993.

Royal and Brea-Olinda placed second and third at the Southern Section final, with Campolindo placing second at the North Coast Section championship meet.

Cathedral Catholic, the 2016 state champion, is also in contention after securing the San Diego Section crown.

Brea-Olinda and Royal both have six all-time podium finishes, with Campolindo placing second last year behind Bakersfield Ridgeview, which moved to Division 2 this season.

Agoura has three podium appearances, with Maria Carrillo seeking its first boys top-three finish after its girls team has achieved the feat three times.

Sage Creek searches for Division 4 supremacy

In addition to winning its first Division 4 girls state championship last year, Sage Creek also challenged the all-time division record by clocking a team time of 94:04, second only to Santa Cruz producing a 93:55 performance in 2015.

Although difficult weather conditions at Woodward Park might make the task of taking down the record Saturday more challenging, Sage Creek demonstrated it is ready to embrace the opportunity, with Skyler Wallace, Stormy Wallace, Lavanya Pandey, Natalie Huestis, Malia Leupold, Madeline Mack and Katya Sumwalt sweeping the top seven spots at the San Diego Section Division 4 final.

Sage Creek, which should be tested by Central Coast Section champion Menlo School and Southern Section winner Orange Lutheran, is looking to follow Foothill Technology (2016-17) by capturing back-to-back Division 4 championships.

Skyler Wallace is also looking to challenge reigning champion Audrey Suarez of Mayfield for the individual title.

Sage Creek is attempting to become only the second San Diego Section girls program to win consecutive titles, following La Jolla winning Division 2 in 1989 and Division 3 in 1990.

The Bobcats are hoping to join La Jolla and San Pasqual, which won Division 2 in 1990 and 2001, as the only San Diego girls teams to secure multiple championships.

Freshmen primed for fabulous debuts

Highlighted by the Division 1 girls championship showdown involving Great Oak and Buchanan, several ninth-graders will be featured prominently in their first state finals appearances.

Aishling Fabian and Kelli Gaffney are scheduled to compete for Great Oak, with Grace Hutchison, Caroline Mendyk and Sydney Sundgren expected to race for Buchanan.

After Del Oro talent Riley Chamberlain won the Division 3 state title last season as a freshman, several promising ninth-graders have the potential to contend for the top prize in their respective divisions this season.

JW North standout Mackenzie Browne looks to continue to build momentum following her Southern Section Division 2 title, with Central Coast Section winners Lauren Soobrian of Los Altos (Division 1) and Kaiya Brooks of Crystal Springs Uplands (Division 5) also ready to compete for top-10 finishes.

Clovis East’s Erika Nyberg, Arroyo Grande’s Taylor Jones, Quartz Hill’s Brianne Smith, Del Norte’s Hannah Riggins, Archbishop Mitty’s Alexandra Zanon, Dana Hills’ Allura Markow, Campolindo’s Ellie Buckley, Homestead’s Katherine Hegblom, Newbury Park’s Ailish Hawkins, Portola’s Jadyn Zdanavage, Sonora’s Brianna Personius, Sage Creek’s Malia Leupold, St. Margaret’s Liesel Blau and San Francisco University’s Maya Mason are also expected to produce significant performances in their first state championships.

Newbury Park’s Leo Young and Aaron Cantu are among the top boys freshmen expected to compete Saturday, along with Oaks Christian’s Hector Martinez, Campolindo’s Alexander Lodewick, Davis Senior’s Ryan Mitchell, Jesuit’s Jacob Swanson, San Marcos’ Andrew Presa, Crystal Springs Uplands’ Furious Clay and Victory Christian Academy’s Jude DeVries.