XC Weekend Recap: Foot Locker & California Rule the Weekend

In the boys' Division 1 race, Conor Lott of Clovis North (CS) improved from 19th place last season to capture the individual title with a time of 15:04.40, just four seconds off his personal best. Arrin Sagiraju of Dougherty Valley (NC) finished second in 15:06.20, while Luke Sanders of Buchanan (CS) rounded out the top three with a time of 15:06.50.

Arnold O. Beckman (SS) led the team competition with 139 points and an average time of 15:37, with a 1-5 split of just 26 seconds. Their top finishers included Nathan Horrocks (15:27.50), Anthony Barrera (15:27.90), and Aaron Feaster (15:31.20), who placed 13th, 14th, and 18th among scorers. Bellarmine College Prep (CC) took second with 154 points, while Redondo Union (SS) finished third with 157 points. Trabuco Hills (SS) rounded out the top four with 162 points.

On the girls' side, Rylee Blade of Santiago Corona (SS) repeated as the D1 champion, finishing with a time of 16:46.50. Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills (SS) took second in 16:58.90, also repeating her runner-up finish from last year, while Braelyn Combe of Santiago Corona (SS) secured third in 17:07.60.

Trabuco Hills (SS) dominated the team competition, scoring 48 points and finishing with a 17:33 average time. Barker (2nd), Millie Bayles (4th), and Anna Desormeau (8th) led the way, securing Trabuco Hills' title. Buchanan (CS) took second with 57 points and a 17:42 average time.

In the boys' race, JR Lesher of Hueneme (SS) claimed a surprise victory with a time of 14:43.00, improving from a 29th place finish last year. Lesher ran an impressive 18-second personal best, marking his first 5K victory of the season. Griffin Kushen of Tesoro (SS) finished in second place with a time of 14:44.60, while Trey Caldwell of De La Salle (NC) took third in 14:49.80.

The Jesuit (SJ) boys won the team title with 73 points, a year after finishing fourth. They were led by Drake Hoferer (7th), Isaac Abbott (10th), and Kyle Jakary (11th), and their average time was 15:18 with a 1-5 split of just 54 seconds. Glendora (SS) placed second with 91 points, while De La Salle (NC) took third.

On the girls' side, Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura (SS) won her third consecutive Division 2 state title with a time of 16:57.60. Kinga Czajkowska of Palo Alto (CC) finished second in 17:31.50, and Amber Dazey of Tesoro (SS) rounded out the top three with a time of 17:32.50.

The El Toro (SS) girls triumphed with a team title, a dramatic improvement from their 11th-place finish last year. They were led by underclassmen Gweneth Williams (11th), Ava Crocker (23rd), and Lilly Schroeder (26th). El Toro finished with 131 points and a 1-5 split of 51 seconds, averaging a time of 18:25. St. Francis Salesian Prep (CC) took second with 155 points, and Whitney (SJ) placed third with 158 points.

In the boys' race, Evan Noonan of Dana Hills (SS) claimed his third consecutive Division 3 title with a time of 14:43.70, leading his team to the championship. Liam Miller of South Torrance (SS) finished second in 14:51.90, and Miles Cook of Sacred Heart Cathedral (CC) placed third with a time of 14:54.50.

Campolindo (NC) made a significant improvement, winning the team title with 153 points after finishing 15th last year. They were led by Clark Gregory (12th) and Caden Ehrhorn (24th), among others, with a solid 1-5 split of 46 seconds and an average time of 15:50. Oak Park (SS) finished second with 182 points.

In the girls' race, South Pasadena's Abigail Errington won the state title in 16:57.50, a remarkable feat after finishing 43rd in Division 4 race last year. Errington only lost twice in 8 races this season. Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery (NC) placed second in 17:21.60, and Summer Wilson of Irvine (SS) rounded out the top three.

Errington's victory helped lead the South Pasadena girls to the team title with 106 points. They were supported by key performances from Saidbh Byrne (12th) and Maya Lee (37th), with a 2:19 1-5 split and an average time of 18:20. Point Loma (SD) finished second with 149 points.

Division 4

In the boys' race, Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz (CC) capped off his undefeated season with a dominant win, crossing the line in 14:41.30. This victory marked a slight improvement for Fitchen-Young, who placed fourth last year. Notably, he finished just behind Broen Holman of Sonora (SJ) last season but reversed that outcome this year, with Holman taking second in 14:57.20. Max Douglass of Corona del Mar (SS) rounded out the podium in third with a time of 14:58.00.

Oaks Christian (SS) won the boys' team championship, improving from their ninth-place finish last year to claim the top spot with a score of 61 points and a 15:32 team average. Their charge was led by Christian Yoder (4th) and Cooper McNee (5th), both delivering standout performances. Second place was occupied by the JSerra Catholic boys with 89 poitns and a 15:44 average. 

In the girls' race, Chiara Dailey of La Jolla (SD) continued her dominance, claiming her second consecutive state title with a stellar time of 16:44.40. JSerra Catholic (SS) teammates Chloe Elbaz and Sophie Polay followed in second (17:33.70) and third (17:49.40), respectively. Polay repeated her third-place finish from last year.

The JSerra Catholic (SS) girls repeated as team champions, securing the title with an impressive 34 points, a 54-second 1-5 split, and an 18:03 average. Their success was driven by top finishes from Elbaz (2nd), Polay (3rd), and Reese Holley (7th). Harvard Westlake (SS) finished second with 143 points and a 19:11 team average.

Division 5

In the boys' race, Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian (SS) repeated as state champion, winning with a time of 14:32.50. Turk capped an exceptional season, winning 11 of his 12 races, with his only loss coming at Woodbridge. Runner-up Landon Pretre of Menlo School (CC) ran 14:38.80, leading his team to victory. Benjamin Bouie of Crystal Springs Uplands School (CC) placed third in 14:54.50.

Menlo School (CC) went from fourth last year to first this year, claiming the boys' team title with 28 points and a 15:19 average. They were led by Pretre (2nd), William Hauser (4th), Henry Hauser (8th), and Jared Saal (11th). Viewpoint (SS) took second with 118 points and a 16:06 average.

On the girls' side, Amelia Sarkisian of Brentwood (SS) got hot at the right time, winning her last five races, including the state championship with a time of 17:31.80. Sarkisian improved significantly on her 24th-place finish last year and won 10 of her 11 races this season, with her only loss at Mt. SAC. Ella Mogannam of Lick Wilmerding (NC) followed in second at 17:47.40, and Brooke Oliveira of Castilleja School (CC) placed third in 17:58.20.

Branson (NC) captured won the title with 82 points, winning by 21 points over runner-up Immanuel (CS). The Branson girls were fueled by strong performances from Farah Allen (8th), Audrey Spaly (10th), and Imogen Brown (30th). Lick Wilmerding (NC) rounded out the podium in third place with 109 points.