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No. 8 Saugus

Analysis: Saugus is full of potential after a building-block season that saw them finish sixth at the CIF Division 2 State Cross Country Championships. Back are six of seven, including three girls under 18 minutes for 3-miles -- Isabella Duarte, Julia Pearson and Hannah Fredericks -- and nine under 19 minutes for 5K. Saugus has a chance to make 2019 a big year, and it will revolve around that pack competing together as a unit. Based on personal best times from last year the squad enters the fall with an average of 18:39.62 and a 1-through-5 spread of just 47 seconds. In a challenging CIF division, Saugus won't have anything handed to them, but iron sharpens iron, as they say, and Saugus will have plenty of chances to compete against nationally elite-squads through the 2019 season. They're a team to watch. 

Biggest question: Can Saugus challenge the blue bloods of California? 

Saugus travelled to New York last October and finished fourth in the Eastern Championships race, behind another California team, Claremont, and it finished fourth in the CIF Southern Section Championships, behind Claremont, Mission Viejo and Serrano. Consistency at an elite level will be key for Saugus in 2019.