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National High School Girls Team Rankings - 11/25Published by
Final race in New York for Saratoga Springs at regional meet, along with California showdowns involving Buchanan and Newbury Park, as well as Mira Costa and Anaheim Canyon headline upcoming schedule, as top teams look to build momentum toward RunningLane championship event in Alabama By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor There is plenty of anticipation as the postseason schedule builds toward the RunningLane Championships on Dec. 4 in Huntsville, Ala., but there are still a pair of impressive matchups involving national top 20 programs scheduled for Nov. 27 at the California state meet at Woodward Park in Fresno, in addition to one final showcase in New York for the country’s top-ranked team Saratoga Springs. Buchanan and Newbury Park will square off in the Division 1 final in their third matchup this season after splitting the first two meetings Sept. 18 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic and Oct. 9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational. Newbury Park secured its first Division 1 title at the CIF Southern Section finals Nov. 20 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut after winning the Division 2 championship in Riverside in 2019. Samantha McDonnell, an Alabama commit, captured the individual crown for the Panthers and is the Division 1 favorite entering the state final. Buchanan secured its fifth straight CIF Central Section title, led by the 1-2-3 finish of juniors Sydney Sundgren and Grace Hutchison along with freshman Elle Lomeli, and 23rd in program history Nov. 18 at Woodward Park. Only five girls teams in California history have run under 90 minutes on the 5-kilometer course in Fresno and Buchanan achieved performances in back-to-back races Nov. 11 at the Tri-River Athletic Conference final – eclipsing its own program record by running 89:33.4 – and again Nov. 18 at the section championship meet. Although Buchanan prevailed by a 57-65 margin Oct. 9 in the championship at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, Newbury Park ran 89:43, thanks to McDonnell winning the race in 17:02.1. Buchanan clocked 89:58, giving the Bears three sub-90 performances this season. Great Oak set the all-time Woodward Park girls record of 89:13 in 2015. The other anticipated matchup in Fresno is in the Division 2 final, with Mira Costa looking to maintain its advantage over Anaheim Canyon following a 73-82 victory Nov. 20 at Mt. SAC at the Southern Section championship meet, helping the Mustangs capture their first division title since 1982. Dalia Frias, a Duke commit, leads Mira Costa, which is trying to capture its first state title after three runner-up finishes under coach Renee Williams-Smith. Frias will square off against Ventura freshman Sadie Engelhardt and Peninsula junior Aishling Callanan once more, but will need strong support from Anna Chittenden and Ella Parsley in order for Mira Costa to secure the state championship. Anaheim Canyon, led by seniors Emma Hadley and Isabella Frisone as well as sophomore Makena Oliva, has improved significantly since a sixth-place finish in the championship race Oct. 9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational. The Comanches were second behind Mira Costa in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes race Oct. 23 at the Mt. SAC Invitational and closed the gap even more on the Mustangs at the section final. Saratoga Springs won’t encounter a third matchup with Fayetteville-Manlius at the Nike New York Regional on Nov. 27 at Bowdoin Park, after defeating the Hornets in both the Class A state final and Federation Championships. With Bethlehem Central, the third-place finisher from the Federation Championships, as the top competitor in the race for Saratoga Springs, expect the Blue Streaks to produce another memorable performance in pursuit of the regional title. Ella Kurto, Sheridan Wheeler, Mackenzie Hart, Emily Bush and Anya Belisle return from the 2019 regional lineup that was edged by Fayetteville-Manlius by a 47-49 margin, before capturing the Nike Cross Nationals title a week later in Oregon with 78 points. Alycia Hart and Claire Cuneo are also scheduled to compete at the regional for Saratoga Springs. Nike Regional winners American Fork from Utah (Southwest), Edina from Minnesota (Heartland), Southlake Carroll from Texas (South) all ascended in the rankings, with Northwest champion Eastlake High from Washington making its first appearance. Jesuit, led by senior Chloe Foerster, also moved ahead of Oregon 6A rival Summit for the first time this season following a Nov. 20 victory with 59 points in the Pacific Northwest Regional Showcase, presented by Hole in the Wall and Stumptown Running. Boise High from Idaho was second with 64 points and Summit took third with 75 points. Ann Arbor Pioneer of Michigan surpassed York High of Illinois based on their performances at the Midwest Regional at the LaVern Gibson course in Terre Haute, Ind. York was recognized as the regional champion, although Ann Arbor Pioneer – not allowed by the Michigan High School Activities Association to officially compete in postseason meets – had a faster lineup, despite treating the race as an exhibition event.
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