NXN California Returning Rankings: Fastest 5,000 Girls

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Sara Leonard of Anaheim Hills talks about winning the girls team sweepstakes race.

The California region on the girls side is going to be a tough one as Claudia Lane would appear to be the heavy favorite. The Malibu (California) native is coming back as the defending Foot Locker National Champion, but if she chooses to run NXN she will no doubt be in contention for the NXN National title as well.

Others who will look to make it to NXN from the region are Californians Akemi Von Scherr of La Quinta, Sara Leonard of Anaheim Hills, and Olivia O'keeffe of Davis.

In her freshmen year, Von Scherr finished 12th at the CIF state meet with a time of 17:54.60 in the 5K. She also had a great run at the Woodbridge Cross country Classic where she finished 17th.

Leonard will be in the mix after qualifying for NXN in 2016. She was third at the D2 CIF State Meet behind only seniors Elizabeth Chittenden and Erika Adler.

O'keeffe was the 2016 CIF D1 state champion, earning her a spot on the ...