By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 36th CIF Cross Country State Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 25 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 California representatives competing Dec. 2 at Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon:

Thomsen seeks memorable trifecta, Campolindo pursuing elite eight

Hanne Thomsen, a junior at Santa Rosa Montgomery High, has the opportunity to become the first female athlete to win a third consecutive Division 3 state title and only the seventh girls competitor in any division to win at least three in a row in California prep cross country history.

Sara (Bei) Hall won four straight titles for Montgomery from 1997-2000, but she captured her first two championships in Division 3, followed by a pair in Division 2.

Gioana Lopizzo of La Costa Canyon, Shea Volkmer from Campolindo, Melisse Djomby Enyawe of Corona del Mar and Winter Moritz from University City are all returning all-state competitors from last season, looking to knock off Thomsen, who prevailed last year in 17:12.8 on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park.

Thomsen ran 17:04.2 last season to win the Bill Buettner girls championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational and is also attempting to become the first Division 3 female athlete to eclipse the 17-minute barrier.

It could be a North Coast Section sweep of the girls individual and team titles in Division 3, with Campolindo looking to add to its legacy by becoming the first program to capture four consecutive state championships in the division.

The Cougars are also looking to become only the third team, regardless of gender, in state history with at least 17 podium appearances.

San Francisco University leads all programs with a record 18 girls podium appearances and could add to that total in the Division 5 final, with Dana Hills the top boys team at 17 overall, a total that should also increase in the Division 3 championship race.

Campolindo could become only the fourth girls program with at least eight state championships, joining San Francisco University, Saugus and Great Oak.

Cathedral Catholic is hoping to finally achieve a breakthrough after runner-up finishes in 2012, 2019 and last season, along with a third-place finish in 2021.

Dana Hills, which finished fourth last year, has not achieved a state podium finish since winning the Division 1 crown in 2008, but is looking to build off its Southern Section title from Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC.

Has Tritons’ time finally arrived?

San Clemente achieved the first boys podium appearance in program history last year, but the Tritons left Woodward Park highly motivated last season following a runner-up finish in the Division 1 boys final behind seven-time champion Great Oak.

An impressive rally in the final mile Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC helped San Clemente secure back-to-back Southern Section championships with a 60-84 victory against Great Oak.

But few teams in the state, regardless of gender and division, have found a way to rise to the occasion better at the state final than Great Oak, which secured six consecutive Division 1 titles from 2014-19 and finished runner-up behind Newbury Park in 2021, before winning against last season.

An eighth state championship for Great Oak would help the Wolfpack close to within one title of the California boys record of nine division crowns shared by Carmichael Jesuit and McFarland.

Just like fellow Orange County program San Clemente, Trabuco Hills is in the state championship conversation, having won Division 1 titles in 2006 and 2011. But the Mustangs haven’t made the podium since their last crown and finished fourth last season.

Mira Costa, which finished third in Division 2 in 2021, is also looking to return to the podium.

Clovis East, which captured its first Central Section championship Nov. 16 at Woodward Park, is also in contention as well, relying on Carter Spradling, one of the top individual challengers after finishing seventh last year.

Long Beach Millikan’s Jason Parra, who won the Southern Section title and was sixth at the state final last season, is the only other returning all-state honoree in the division.

Clovis North’s Teg Pandher, San Clemente’s Brett Ephraim, Beckman’s Ibzan Felix and El Camino Oceanside’s Omar Reyes are also top contenders.

Can Blade, Santiago deny another Buchanan title bid?

Corona Santiago junior Rylee Blade became one of seven female athletes to run under 16:50 all-time on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park when she clocked 16:45.8 on Oct. 7 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Blade also helped the Sharks match Buchanan with 128 points in the Bill Buettner girls championship race, only for Santiago to be edged on a sixth-runner tiebreaker.

The Sharks finally get their rematch seven weeks later in the Division 1 state final, seeking the first podium finish in program history while looking to deny Buchanan a potential fourth consecutive championship.

The Bears, who also captured a Division 2 crown in 1994, are attempting to join Great Oak – which secured seven straight Division 1 championships from 2012-18 – as the only programs in division history to win at least four in a row.

Santiago prevailed by a 49-65 margin Nov. 18 against Trabuco Hills at Mt. SAC to capture its first Southern Section crown. Trabuco Hills is seeking its first state podium appearance since 2013.

Clovis North, which took third last season in Division 1 to earn its first podium finish, is also in contention again, along with Del Norte, which placed fourth last year.

Tessa Buswell of Poway is the defending state champion, but she faces a big challenge from Blade, along with Chula Vista Eastlake sophomore Jaelyn Williams, in addition to fellow all-state honorees Santa Monica’s Phoebe Benun and Menlo-Atherton’s Tatum Olesen, as well as Buchanan’s Elle Lomeli and Stefania Sesock leading a balanced lineup.

One more run for Oakdale or determined Dana Hills?

Not since Brea-Olinda won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 has a Division 3 boys team captured consecutive state championships, but that is the opportunity presented to Oakdale this season.

In order to achieve the feat, the Mustangs will have to prevail against the most decorated boys program at the state meet in California prep history in Dana Hills, which added to its record last year with a 17th podium finish.

The Dolphins have won four Division 1 titles, including three in a row from 2007-09, but are seeking their first Division 3 crown after taking third last season.

Dana Hills won the Rob Brenner boys championship race Oct. 7 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, with Oakdale taking third.

The Dolphins boast one of the elite tandems in the country in Evan Noonan, the reigning state champion, and Jayden Hernandez. But Oakdale counters with the impressive trio of Jackson Oliveira, Omar Alsaidi and Mason Oliveira.

Noonan, who ran 14:44.3 at Clovis, is looking to become the first repeat boys winner in Division 3 since Liam Anderson of Redwood Larkspur in 2017-18.

Templeton’s Joshua Bell, a three-time Central Section champion, is also in strong contention after clocking 14:50.7 at Clovis, in addition to Sac-Joaquin Section winner Josh Chu, following his 15:04 effort Oct. 7 at Woodward Park. Carson Hedlund, a junior at San Jose Pioneer and the Central Coast Section champion, is also a returning all-state honoree.

Chu could also help Ponderosa produce its first podium finish after a 26-48 setback against Oakdale on Nov. 11 at the Sac-Joaquin Section final at the Willow Hills Course in Folsom.

West Ranch, Santa Margarita, Sage Creek, Tamalpais and Campolindo are also podium contenders as well.

Second three-peat could be even sweeter for JSerra

JSerra has the potential to not only capture a sixth Division 4 state championship in program history, but to achieve a feat in California girls high school cross country only previously accomplished by San Francisco University in Division 5.

The Lions, who previously won three in a row in Division 4 from 2010-12, have an opportunity to secure a second separate three-peat in the same division, joining University, which won from 1996-98, 2001-03 and 2009-12 in Division 5, as part of its state record 11 championships.

JSerra could also join University, as well as Great Oak in Division 1, Saugus in Division 2, in addition to Campolindo and Corona del Mar in Division 3 as girls programs to win at least six state titles in the same division.

The Lions, who are scheduled to compete last among the 10 championship races at Woodward Park, will also have the final say in pursuit of the two automatic berths awarded to California to participate Dec. 2 at Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon.

Oaks Christian senior Payton Godsey is attempting to become the first female competitor to win back-to-back Division 4 titles since Malibu’s Claudia Lane in 2016-17, but she will be significantly challenged by La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey. Godsey clocked 17:05.5 and Dailey ran 17:07.3 in their last matchup Oct. 7 in the Bill Buettner girls championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Renae Searls of Martinez Alhambra, La Canada’s Maya DeBrouwer, Ashlyn Boothby of Santa Cruz, Jesse Redding from Colfax and La Jolla’s Kirra Fisk are also returning all-state honorees, in addition to JSerra’s Brynn Garcia. South Pasadena’s Abigail Errington is seeking all-state recognition after finishing 14th last year.

Sophie Polay, a transfer from Santa Margarita, earned all-state accolades in Division 3 the past two seasons, but is a top contender in Division 4 for JSerra. Chloe Elbaz, a transfer from Xavier College Prep also racing for the Lions, was a Division 5 all-state honoree last year.

The top five team spots in the division last year were all secured by Southern Section programs, with Oaks Christian and La Canada achieving podium finishes. They will both be in contention again, along with La Jolla, which is pursuing its first state podium appearance since 1995.

Championship focus is again Crystal clear

One of the most underrated rivalries in the state in recent years has been the back-and-forth Division 5 battle among West Bay Athletic League programs Crystal Springs Uplands and Menlo School.

Crystal Springs Uplands prevailed by a 73-77 margin last year in the Division 5 final to secure its first state title, with the girls team also winning for the Gryphons by a two-point margin against San Francisco University to secure the championship sweep.

After Crystal Springs Uplands produced a 31-57 victory Oct. 4 in their first West Bay Athletic League showdown, Menlo School responded with a 35-36 triumph Nov. 3 at the league championship meet.

Crystal Springs Uplands prevailed by a 33-48 margin Nov. 11 at the Central Coast Section final, building momentum toward a potential state championship repeat, which would be the first in Division 5 since St. Joseph Notre Dame of Alameda won back-to-back titles in 2012-13.

The teams also feature two of the best juniors in the state in Menlo School’s Landon Pretre, who ran 14:52.0 to win the boys small school race Oct. 7 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, and Crystal Springs Uplands’ Benjamin Bouie, who captured the league and section titles. Unfortunately for Menlo, Pretre is sidelined and unexpected to race, along with James Yue.

Woodcrest Christian junior Eyan Turk is another top contender after winning the Southern Section title, with Bouie, Pretre and Turk all finishing in the top five last season in the state final. York Bourgeois of Francis Parker is another returning all-state honoree, in addition to Sacramento Country Day’s Andrew Burr and Yosemite’s Ben Olney.

Yosemite made its first podium appearance last year to take third, with College Prep also in contention this season, seeking its first podium finish since 2006. Francis Parker and Viewpoint also have aspirations of returning to the podium for the first time since 2019.

Engelhardt hopes to wear more than one crown

Following her 16:39.3 performance Oct. 7 to win the Bill Buettner girls championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, Ventura junior Sadie Engelhardt elevated to the No. 2 all-time female competitor at Woodward Park, with only the 16:30.3 effort achieved by Malibu’s Claudia Lane in the 2017 Division 4 state final left to chase.

But Engelhardt is even more motivated to lead Ventura to its first state team title since the Cougars captured back-to-back Division 1 crowns in 2003-04.

Ventura, which finished fifth last season in Division 2, hasn’t made a podium appearance in any division since 2005. After the group placed second in the Bill Buettner championship race at Clovis, along with winning the Southern Section title Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC, the Cougars are inspired to end that drought.

Engelhardt also has the opportunity to become the first female athlete to secure back-to-back Division 2 championships since Woodbridge’s Christine Babcock in 2006-07.

Ventura boasts three of the returning all-state honorees in the division, with Aelo Curtis taking third last season and Tiffany Sax placing ninth for Newbury Park last year, before transferring to join the Cougars’ program this fall.

Emily Soobrian, an all-state competitor, returns for reigning state champion Los Altos, which is looking for another podium finish, but must rebound from a 38-51 setback Nov. 11 to St. Francis Mountain View at the Central Coast Section final.

St. Francis Mountain View, which placed second in 2019 and took third last year, has the potential to capture its first championship with exceptional depth in its lineup that only features one senior and is led by Sabrina Zanetto and Caitlin Cilley.

Claremont, which won three straight Division 2 titles from 2016-18, is also pursuing another podium finish behind senior Denise Chen.

Mia Torrecillas of Bakersfield Highland, who was unable to finish the state championship race last season, is motivated to rebound in impressive fashion and earn all-state honors again after placing seventh in the Division 3 final in 2021.

St. Francis aims for another golden moment, Perez chases all-time mark

Cathedral’s Emmanuel Perez not only has his sights on becoming the first repeat Division 4 boys champion since JSerra’s Anthony Grover captured three in a row from 2017-19, but potentially challenging the all-time 5-kilometer performance at Woodward Park of 14:24 achieved in the 2007 Division 4 final by German Fernandez of Riverbank.

Perez triumphed last season in 15:05.4 and returned Oct. 7 to Woodward Park to clock 14:42.6 to place second in the Rob Brenner boys championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Following a second-place team finish last year, Cathedral has the potential to challenge for another podium appearance, but St. Francis has aspirations of becoming the first Division 4 boys program to secure consecutive crowns since Big Bear won three in a row from 2006-08.

The Golden Knights earned their first state title last season and produced an 82-119 victory against JSerra at the Southern Section finals Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC.

JSerra is seeking its first podium finish since 2016, with Foothill Tech, St. John Bosco and Miramonte also in contention for podium appearances.

Sonora’s Broen Holman, who ran 14:46.9 in the Rob Brenner boys championship race at Clovis, is also a strong title contender, with additional returning all-state honorees Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz and Zion Ortiz from Burroughs Ridgecrest also expected to challenge, as well as Albany’s Lucas Cohen, Cathedral’s Emmanuel Hernandez, St. Francis’ Samuel Franco and High Tech High’s Kai Lange-Dei.

Riddle looks to inspire Immanuel to solve championship puzzle

With Clara Riddle finishing 10th in her Division 5 state championship debut and Immanuel placing seventh as a team last year, the Eagles might have been overshadowed at Woodward Park, despite competing so close to home in Reedley.

But after Immanuel placed five athletes in the top six at the Central Section final Nov. 16, the Eagles have the potential to not only achieve the first podium finish in program history, but possibly challenge for the state title.

Francis Parker, which tied Immanuel for sixth last year and prevailed on a sixth-runner tiebreaker, is also a strong championship contender, especially with the improvement of sophomore Ariella Llorens, who placed 40th in her state debut last season.

Crystal Springs Uplands captured its first Division 5 girls crown last year with a 129-131 triumph against 11-time champion San Francisco University, which added to its state record with an 18th podium finish.

Both programs are in title contention again, as well as Lick Wilmerding, which is the last Division 5 girls team to secure back-to-back crowns in 2018-19.

San Francisco University edged Lick Wilmerding by a 69-70 margin Nov. 18 at the North Coast Section final at Hayward High.

St. Margaret’s, seeking its first podium appearance since 2019, could also be a significant factor after winning the Southern Section crown Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC.

Elsa Krummel of Bay School, who took 29th last season, has emerged as a strong challenger, along with Ella Murray from Pacifica Christian, Ariya Kaushek of Menlo School and Joyce Li of St. Margaret’s, plus Riddle, Llorens and Ayanna Hickey of The Bishop’s School.

Double play for Dybdahl or more Woodward Park prowess for Fast Horse?

Santa Barbara’s Andreas Dybdahl emerged victorious by less than a second in a thrilling battle with Ventura’s Anthony Fast Horse at the Southern Section Division 2 finals Nov. 18 at Mt. SAC, leading the Dons to an 86-88 victory against the Cougars.

It has set the stage for an exciting rematch, with Fast Horse looking to demonstrate similar form to his exceptional effort Oct. 7 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, clocking 14:32.5 at Woodward Park to win the Rob Brenner championship race.

Dybdahl was 13th at Clovis in 15:21.1. He also placed 25th at last year’s state final, with Fast Horse finishing fourth.

Ventura is seeking its first Division 2 boys championship since 2014, with Channel League rival Santa Barbara pursuing its first podium appearance in program history.

Carmichael Jesuit, which has won nine state titles and achieved 13 podium finishes, placed second in Division 1 in 2019. The Marauders haven’t produced a Division 2 podium appearance since winning the second of back-to-back titles in 2006, but are strong contenders following their Sac-Joaquin Section championship effort Nov. 11 at the Willow Hills Course in Folsom.

Newbury Park, which has won four consecutive state titles with three coming in Division 2 along with a Division 1 crown in 2021, still has significant aspirations to produce another podium finish, in addition to Glendora pursuing the program’s first podium appearance since 2009..

Livermore Granada, the North Coast Section champion, has placed second in the division the past two years and has the potential to challenge for the title once again.

Along with Fast Horse and Dybdahl, returning all-state competitors Aydon Stefanopoulos of Los Gatos, Trey Caldwell of Concord De La Salle and Dev Doshi from Newbury Park are all expected to be in contention, in addition to Palo Alto’s Grant Morgenfeld, Tesoro’s Griffin Kushen, Ventura’s Micah Grossman and El Diamante’s Devin Ibarra, who is looking to improve on a 45th-place performance last year.