By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 40th Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17-18 at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco, Calif.

Here are 10 storylines to follow at one of the largest and most prestigious high school meets in the country:

WATCH LIVE RUNNERSPACE WEBCAST OF WOODBRIDGE CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ASICS ON SEPT. 17-18

Full speed ahead for Newbury Park

After not competing at full strength Sept. 3 in the season-opening Cool Breeze Invitational and with coach Sean Brosnan considering the option of not racing all of his veteran athletes until Oct. 9 at the Clovis Invitational, the 2019 national champion Newbury Park boys team is expected to showcase the country’s top-ranked lineup Saturday in the 9:54 p.m. PDT sweepstakes race.

The Panthers swept the top five spots at their first Marmonte League meet Sept. 9 on their home course at Peppertree Park, with an 18-second margin among the competitors.

Newbury Park won the Woodbridge sweepstakes title in 2019, led by Nico Young, who set a national high school record for the fastest 3-mile cross country performance at 13:39.7.

The Panthers also achieved a record team time of 71:13.7, more than a minute faster than runner-up Great Oak, which produced the second-fastest performance in meet history.

Newbury Park had three competitors in the top 10, six among the first 25 finishers and all seven athletes in the top 35 overall two years ago, and have the potential to be even better Saturday.

Senior Colin Sahlman, who placed 10th in 2019, is among the individual favorites, with juniors Lex Young, Leo Young, Aaron Sahlman and Hector Martinez also scheduled to race, in addition to sophomore Aaron Cantu.

Although Newbury Park has graduated three athletes from the 2019 lineup, including runner-up Jace Aschbrenner who ran 14:04.8, this year’s group overall has more depth and has the potential to place multiple competitors under 14 minutes.

Only six athletes in meet history have achieved sub-14 performances, including four competitors at SilverLakes since the venue hosted the meet for the first time in 2016.

Nico Young holds the Woodbridge junior class record at 14:01.1 from 2018, with Colin Sahlman producing the meet’s all-time sophomore mark by clocking 14:26.9 in 2019.

Engelhardt excited for another memorable run

Ventura High ninth-grader Sadie Engelhardt achieved the fastest 3-mile time ever by a California high school freshman Sept. 3 at the Cool Breeze Invitational when she clocked 15:59.9 to win the Sundown Showdown in her prep debut.

Engelhardt will not only be targeting another sub-16 effort Saturday in the 9:34 p.m. PDT sweepstakes race, but looking to eclipse the top freshman mark in meet history of 16:09.8 achieved in 2019 by Desert Vista High of Arizona standout Lauren Ping.

Since the sweepstakes races were added to the Woodbridge schedule in 2003, no freshman has won the individual title.

There have also been only four sub-16 performances in meet history, including three achieved at SilverLakes.

The 3-mile course record of 15:53.6 was set in 2016 by Nike Cross Nationals champion Brie Oakley of Grandview High in Colorado.

Buchanan teammates Corie Smith (15:58.4) and Meagan Lowe (15:59.3) joined the prestigious list in 2017 by taking the top two spots in the sweepstakes race.

Former Simi Valley star and two-time NXN winner Sarah Baxter ran 15:57 at the 3-mile layout at Estancia High in Costa Mesa in 2013.

Engelhardt, who has run a 14-year-old world record 4:40.16 in the mile, should thrive once again in ideal conditions on the flat, fast course at SilverLakes, especially competing against Ping and several other athletes with either Nike Cross Nationals or Foot Locker Nationals credentials.

A meaningful measuring stick

Cheyenne Mountain High from Colorado has aspirations of securing a podium finish along with Newbury Park at Nike Cross Nationals.

Great Oak knows the path to returning to NXN involves racing Newbury Park on four potential occasions from now until December.

The two elite programs are among several challengers who look to gain valuable experience in such a deep sweepstakes field, with the opportunity to also evaluate their postseason potential racing against one of the strongest teams in prep history.

Cheyenne Mountain suffered a 53-57 setback Sept. 11 against Valor Christian at the Liberty Bell Invitational in Colorado, but the Indians still boast a formidable lineup, led by junior Kaden Levings and seniors Enzo Knapp, Erik Le Roux and Tyler Nord.

Great Oak won the Sundown Showdown race Sept. 3 by a 66-99 margin over Hart at the Cool Breeze Invitational, with senior twins Carson Smith and Cameron Smith leading the way for the Wolfpack, followed by junior twins Mark Cortes and Ramses Cortes.

In addition to Great Oak, Hart is entered in the sweepstakes field, along with fellow California powers Ayala, Claremont, San Clemente and West Torrance.

Cheyenne Mountain is joined by Desert Vista from Arizona, Desert Hills from Utah, Loveland from Ohio and Texas representatives Cedar Park, El Paso Eastwood, Lewisville Flower Mound and Southlake Carroll among the out-of-state programs entered in the boys sweepstakes race.

A terrific trio at the top

For the first time this season and one of three expected showdowns this year in California in their pursuits of returning to Nike Cross Nationals, Buchanan, Great Oak and Newbury Park are scheduled to clash in the girls sweepstakes race.

With Newbury Park, the 2019 California Division 2 state champion, moving to Division 1 this season, it will require a significant effort from all the remaining programs to prevent the three teams from earning spots on the podium at the Nov. 27 state championship meet at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Buchanan, still the reigning Division 1 state champ from 2019 without the presence of a meet last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, tied Southlake Carroll of Texas two years ago in the Woodbridge sweepstakes and secured the title based on a faster sixth runner.

The Bears went on to place fifth at NXN in 2019, with Southlake Carroll finishing 21st in Portland.

Great Oak was third and Newbury Park finished fifth at Woodbridge in 2019. The Wolfpack secured ninth at NXN and Newbury Park was 17th in its debut appearance in Oregon.

Buchanan is led by juniors Sydney Sundgren and Grace Hutchison, with its lineup bolstered by the arrival of freshmen Elle Lomeli and Sierra Cornett.

Newbury Park, which won the Sundown Showdown in its season opener Sept. 3 at the Cool Breeze Invitational by a 71-185 margin over Great Oak, also took seven of the top nine spots Sept. 9 at their first Marmonte League meet, led by seniors Samantha McDonnell and Morgan Nygren, along with junior Ailish Hawkins.

Great Oak is headlined by a deep group of juniors, including Kelli Gaffney, who helped the Wolfpack win the rated race two years ago in addition to their sweepstakes performance. Aishling Fabian and Divine Torza both return from Great Oak’s 2019 sweepstakes lineup.

Givens seeks spotlight again

Pasadena High senior Isaiah Givens delivered an impressive performance Sept. 3 to win the Sundown Showdown at the Cool Breeze Invitational in 14:08.1, prevailing against Agoura senior Ethan Godsey by more than 40 seconds.

There are few athletes in the field capable of competing up front with the Newbury Park standouts, especially senior Colin Sahlman, in the boys sweepstakes race, but Givens is certainly one of them, having run 4:08.43 for the mile and 8:59.64 in the 3,200 during his junior track season.

With Givens competing in Division 3, the opportunities to race against not only Division 1 Newbury Park, but several elite athletes from outside California, are significant in his pursuit of qualifying for one of the two postseason national meets in December.

Bryce Gilmore of Division 4 Sage Creek has plenty of experience racing against Givens and Newbury Park, and has run 8:58.82 in the 3,200, and should be among the top competitors Saturday.

Another San Diego Section standout, Kenan Pala of Division 5 Francis Parker, is also ready to challenge himself against an elite field following two exceptional performances to start his season.

Max Sannes of Big Bear High, who will battle Gilmore in the postseason for the Division 4 state title, is also entered in the sweepstakes race, along with Daniel Winter of Stockton St. Mary’s.

In addition to the teams traveling from out of state, there are several individual entries representing Arizona, Florida and Texas.

Logan Marek of Ironwood Ridge High in Arizona and Nick Carpenter of Trinity Prep in Florida are joined by Texas athletes Isaac McGill from Amarillo, Isaiah Billingsley from Tilden McMullen and Kevin Sanchez from Austin Vandegrift.

Anthony Monte of Vandegrift took third in the 2019 sweepstakes in 14:14.5, the second-fastest performance by a Texas competitor in meet history, trailing only Foot Locker national champion Reed Brown of Southlake Carroll running 14:11.7 in 2016.

Rylan Stubbs of Campo Verde achieved the fastest all-time mark by an Arizona entry at SilverLakes, clocking 14:24.3 in 2017. No Florida prep competitor has eclipsed 14:30 in meet history.

Timely tests for Texas

Reigning UIL 5A state cross country champion Isabel Conde de Frankenberg of Cedar Park leads an impressive group of Texas girls competitors into the sweepstakes race, looking to challenge themselves against several elite programs from California and Arizona.

Conde de Frankenberg, a sophomore, is riding momentum from an impressive performance Sept. 11 at her home invitational, but has yet to face such an elite level of competition as a prep athlete.

Sarah Andrews of Conroe The Woodlands still boasts the fastest 3-mile effort by a Texas female competitor in meet history, running 16:01 in 2009 at the original Woodbridge High course. Since the meet moved to SilverLakes five years ago, Elizabeth Reneau of Liberty Christian achieved the top performance by a Texas athlete in 2017, clocking 16:14.9.

Conde de Frankenberg will be joined by McKenzie Bailey from Georgetown High in Texas, along with Taylor Lovell of Perry High in Arizona, as well as reigning Colorado 3A champion Katelyn Maley of Basalt. Fellow Colorado individual entries Olivia Krueger and Jaycee Williams of Berthoud are also scheduled to participate in the sweepstakes race.

Following the success of Southlake Carroll in the girls sweepstakes competition in 2019, Lewisville Flower Mound has the potential to be in contention against the top California programs, in addition to Arizona power Desert Vista, led by junior Lauren Ping and senior Katie Sigerud.

Flower Mound is led by seniors Natalie Cook and Allison Buemi, along with sophomore twins Samantha Humphries and Nicole Humphries.

Southlake Carroll also returns to SilverLakes, with senior Kaylie Cox the lone athlete remaining in the Lady Dragons’ lineup from 2019.

Austin Vandegrift, runner-up to Round Rock on Sept. 11 at the Cedar Park Invitational, is also making the trip to California to gain experience in an elite sweepstakes field, in addition to Loveland High from Ohio.

Quite a collection for Central Section

It is rare to see such a strong presence of Central Section boys programs competing anywhere other than Woodward Park in Fresno, whether it’s a regular-season event like the Clovis Invitational or postseason competitions like the section final and state championship meet.

But the boys sweepstakes race Saturday will feature Tri-River Athletic Conference rivals Buchanan, Clovis, Clovis North and Clovis West, along with Madera South and Sanger.

All the teams, with the exception of Sanger, already squared off Aug. 14 in the annual Fleet Feet Summer Sizzle on the 2-mile Woodward Park course.

Buchanan senior Brenton Maddox earned the victory, followed by Clovis junior Christopher Caudillo and senior Nathaniel Avila. Clovis North is led by a strong senior trio of Andrew Cape, Spencer Mueller and Mathew Oaks, with Madera South featuring juniors Dylan Devine and Isaac Chavez, Clovis West showcasing sophomore Sam Dresick and Buchanan also boasting junior Noah Ray.

The pecking order, not only in the league, but the top division in the Central Section will become more apparent Saturday following their performances in such a strong sweepstakes field.

More California powers set to clash

In addition to the matchup involving top Division 1 girls teams Buchanan, Great Oak and Newbury Park, there are several other intriguing divisional showdowns as part of the overall girls sweepstakes race.

After being separated by only eight points Sept. 3 in the Sundown Showdown race at the Cool Breeze Invitational, leading Division 2 title contenders Anaheim Canyon and Mira Costa will square off again, with the Mustangs and senior Dalia Frias hoping to field a complete lineup after having to rest two of their top competitors in the season opener at Brookside Golf Course.

Junior Anna Chittenden has provided more strength up front for Mira Costa in an effort to compete against Anaheim Canyon seniors Emma Hadley and Isabella Frisone.

West Ranch and St. Francis High of Sacramento are also potential Division 2 challengers in the sweepstakes field. Cate Joaquin of St. Francis, who prevailed Sept. 11 at the Lowell Invitational in San Francisco, finished fifth in the 2019 sweepstakes race.

One of the most fascinating divisional clashes involves Cathedral Catholic and Del Oro in a preview of the Division 3 state final. Del Oro, led by two-time state champion and Brigham Young commit Riley Chamberlain, will look to keep pace with Cathedral Catholic and rising freshman Chiara Bonomi following the Dons’ impressive victory Sept. 4 at the Canyon Crest Academy Ravens Fleet Feet Invitational.

And the most underrated matchup of the sweepstakes race is the first meeting this season among Sage Creek, reigning Division 4 state champion from 2019, and top contender JSerra.

Sage Creek, led by senior Stormy Wallace, junior Malia Leupold and sophomore Kaya Scuba, will need to match the fearless mindset of JSerra, featuring freshman Brynn Garcia, junior Anastasia Snodgrass and senior Ashlee Gallegos.

JSerra placed third Sept. 3 in the Sundown Showdown at the Cool Breeze Invitational, just one point behind Great Oak. La Canada and Oaks Christian, also potential podium contenders in the postseason, are entered as well.

Torrey Pines, representing Division 1, and Division 2 Poway are two other San Diego programs, along with Cathedral Catholic and Sage Creek, with the potential to make an impact in the sweepstakes race.

Under the radar

Several athletes and programs scheduled to compete in the rated races Saturday have the potential to produce impressive performances, especially in the girls event at 8:54 p.m. PDT.

Laguna Hills freshman Holly Barker, who ran 16:59.2 on the 3-mile layout Sept. 11 at her home invitational, is scheduled to compete, looking to build momentum against a much stronger field.

Ayala, Citrus Valley, Clovis West, El Toro, Granada Hills, Laguna Beach, Linfield Christian, Redondo Union, St. Margaret’s Vista Murrieta and Westlake are among the top California girls programs in the rated race, in addition to El Paso Eastwood from Texas and Frontier Academy of Colorado.

In the 9:14 p.m. PDT boys rated race, the top California entries include Arcadia, El Toro, Orange Lutheran, Redondo Union, Poway, Torrance and Vista Murrieta, as well as Brophy Prep from Arizona and Frontier Academy of Colorado.

Great Oak demonstrated its depth in 2019 by winning both rated races with their respective “B” teams.

Friday night lights

Before the blue and gold division races are scheduled for Saturday afternoon and early evening, leading into the rated and sweepstakes competitions to cap the two-day event, the red and white division races for smaller schools will take place Friday at SilverLakes.

One of the most exciting competitors scheduled to race is junior JiaLian Mackey of Viewpoint High, one of the top California Division 5 athletes.

Mackey won her race in impressive fashion Sept. 3 at the Cool Breeze Invitational and would have placed 10th overall among all divisions combined. She should be challenged more in her white division race Friday.

Another athlete with strong potential in her white division race is junior Ava Lane from Basalt High in Colorado. Lane has continued to benefit from training with and racing against 3A state champion Katelyn Maley and has the potential to be formidable in her competition.

Brea-Olinda, one of the top girls programs in California Division 3, is scheduled to compete in a red division race Friday, along with the Capistrano Valley girls team.

Palos Verdes, one of the deepest Division 3 programs, also has boys and girls teams entered in red division races.

Cathedral, one of the leading boys contenders in California Division 4, is slated to participate in a white division race, with Northern California power Menlo School also entered in a white division competition.

Teams from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Washington are also scheduled to race Friday.