XC Rankings Index 

Week # 3 brings our first mega-meet: Cross Country Classic (formerly Woodbridge). There are some significant meets going on outside of Orange County as well. Here's the weekly preview -

Cross Country Classic (Woodbridge) (SS) - Based on this week's DyeStatCAL Top 25, there are 16 of 25 boys teams and 13 of 25 girls teams competing at the Cross Country Classiic. It doesn't get much more stacked than that! Of those combined 29 teams, 21 are in the two Saturday Night sweeps races! Our national Editor Doug Binder has already done a Meet Preview, focusing on the course change and individual matchups, but I want to go a bit deeper - especially regarding California teams.  

Sweeps Girls - The super-stacked girls sweeps race is headlined by #1 Simi Valley and #2 Great Oak. Simi looked really good last Saturday at Fastback Shootout and came away with the merged score victory. Great Oak, was without top scorers Haley Dorris and Maiya Larsen, but saw big step up performances from Emily Clause and Desiree Stinger to fill the void. Great Oak owns the top 3 team times on the Estancia course, while Simi owns the next 2. Who will take home top honors in 2013?

Also definitely in the hunt for team bragging rights is #4 Capistrano Valley led by middle distance star Natalie Herberg, fresh off their victory at Laguna Hills XC Invitational. Trabuco Hills (#7) will also be joining the fun following their awesome debut at Seaside, and we'll get our first good look at the Central Section's Buchanan girls who are currently ranked 10th.  Up and coming teams Vista Murietta (#12), Moorpark (#13), West Ranch (#23), and Poway (#25) also are poised to make a statement.  

Individually this is likely to be the Sarah Baxter show once again, fresh off her Fastback Shootout course record. I would say the meet course record is in danger, but with an altered layout in2013, which one?  The Estancia record is 16:12 by Sarah herself last year, and the old Woodbridge course record is 16:01 by Sarah Andrews of Texas back in 2009.  Could Sarah bust 16:00 for three miles for the first time on this new layout? I wouldn't bet against it! Don't get me wrong, the field is loaded after Sarah well with top competitors Marissa Williams, Caroline Pietrzyk, Destiny Collins, Megan Huebner, Kimberly Coscia, Natalie Herberg, and Madi McClelland of Texas to name a few!  

Sweeps Boys - Are you ready for this?  The boys sweeps race features 12 top 25 teams including 6 of the top 10 teams in the state. This week Great Oak took over the #1 spot after an amazing performance at Fastback Shootout. However, the defending state and national champion Arcadia boys, currently ranked 3rd, is reportedly showing up at full strength after resting 3 of their top 5 at Laguna Hills XC Invitational. Seems like this will be the real shootout! Arcadia own's the #1 and #2 team times at Estancia from 2011 and 2012, but Great Oak was a close second in 2011 with the #3 time, and they are ready for THEIR time.  

Top challengers to the two titans are #5 Canyon of Anaheim, fresh of a breakout victory at Laguna Hills, #6 Warren who also showed great at Laguna Hills, and the Central Valley's Madera South (#7) who have been making their own noise in other parts of the state. I also have to mention preseason favorites Brea Olinda (#19) and Jurupa Hills (#16).  Brea Olinda ran without their 2-5 at Great Cow, and Jurupa Hills hasn't faced any significant competition. Though ranked in the teens, I would not be surprised if these guys were challening at the front. Other top 25 teams include #12 Glendora, #14 Westlake, #23 Long Beach Poly, and #24 Fountain Valley.

Individually, this is one of the top matchups in the nation and DyeStat Nationals preseason #1 Estevan De La Rosa of Arcadia goes against preseason #2 Blake Haney of Stockdale. Also featured in the race is San Pedro's Steve Correa, who upset De La Rosa last week, and sophomore sensation Austin Tamagno of Brea Olinda. Other contenders include Caleb Webb, Garrett Corcoran, David Luna, and Kasey Knevelbaard. Again the course records could be in jeopardy. Chad Hall ran 14:00 on the old Woodbridge HS layout in 2006 [btw - my oldest was a frosh and I think I got hooked that day:)] and CJ Albertson ran 14:13 on the old Estancia Layout in 2011. With the quality that will be up front, don't be surprised if those numbers are challenged. [Who do you think will win?  Join the discussion in the TrackTalk forum]

DyeStatCAL will be on-site with race videos and post race interviews.

Mt. Carmel Invitational (SDS) - Believe it or not, there are other meets happening in California this weekend.  The best of the rest is the Mt. Carmel Invitational happening down in the San Diego Section, where boys D1 powers will dual as #13 Dana Hills takes on #4 Loyola. Loyola is fresh off a dominating performance at Rosemead while Dana may be feeling a little beat up after Laguna Hills last weekend. But anyone who follows SS XC knows Dana is deep and strong. Expect a great team battle there. On the girls side, Central Coast up and coming team Arroyo Grande (#11) is traveling south to take on SDS powers La Costa Canyon #8, Monte Vista #15, and Rancho Bernardo #20.

Bob Firman Invitational (Idaho) - The Bob Firman Invitational is one of the biggest meets in the nation, with California (Whittier) boys and Mira Costa girls making the trip. 

DyeStat will be on-site with race videos.

DLS/CHS Nike Invitational (NCS) - Boys power Bishop O'Dowd (#18) will join host De La Salle (#2) as the two top 25 schools at the DLS/CHS Nike Invitational in Concord. Many strong teams through the region will be attending.

Finally the time is here that we can see many of the top teams in California compete head to head.  DyeStatCAL will be on site in Orange County Saturday, but will bring you results, videos, and stories as fast as we can.  As usual, below is a summary of who's running where: 

By Meet

Where the Top 25 Teams are Competing

By Rank