Cross Country Express

NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

2026-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Farah Allen, Branson (NCS) UCLA
Hugh Heyer, McClatchy (SJS) Arizona State
Gelila Hailu, Leigh (CCS) Cal Poly SLO
Iliana Nierengarten, Castro Valley (NCS) Elon University
Ashlin Mallon, Cardinal Newman (NCS) UCLA
Josie Hill, Sonoma Academy (NCS) University of Oregon
Maya Day, Oak Ridge (SJS) Utah Valley State University
Norah Feldt, Davis (SJS) Northwestern University (NEW)
Eva Soto, Whitney (SJS) Stanislaus State (NEW)

If you know of other runners who have already committed and publicly shared their information, please add them to the list in the comments section below.

Top NorCal DTeams/Individuals at Woodbridge

2026-09-20T19:47:25.592-07:00

Boys' Teams
1) Mountain View 1:12:44
2) Granada 1:13:16
3) University 1:14:27
4) Jesuit 1:14:30
5) Menlo 1:14:34
6) Vacaville 1:14:41
7) Menlo Atherton 1:15:01
8) Piedmont Hills 1:16:13
9) Sequoia 1:16:56
10) St. Mary's College 1:16:57

Girls' Teams
1) St. Francis, SJ 1:25:15
2) Monte Vista 1:27:51
3) Carlmont 1:28:52
4) Oak Ridge 1:29:28
5) St. Francis, SJ (B Team) 1:29:29
6) Mountain View 1:30:11
7) Menlo Atherton 1:31:04
8) Redwood 1:31:15
9) University 1:31:37
10) San Ramon Valley 1:32:26

Boys' Individuals
1) Henry Hauser Menlo 12 14:02.8
2) Matthew Ogilvie Jesuit 12 14:09.8
3) Yuval Goldberg Mountain View 12 14:10.6
4) Evan Chopra Menlo Atherton 12 14:12.9
5) Rohan Iyer Milpitas 11 14:15.7
6) Cooper Stream Vacaville 12 14:16.3
7) Deven Koppala Mountain View 12 14:18.2
8) Eli Hernandez Granada 9 14:18.4
9) Djali de Chalus St. Mary's College 12 14:26.5
10) Liam Tassa Mountain View 10 14:29.5

Girls' Individuals
1) Alyssa Gutierrez St. Francis, SJ 10 16:08.0
2) Farah Allen Branson 12 16:20.0
3) Kaylie O'Connell Monte Vista 11 16:32.9
4) Gelila Hailu Leigh 12 16:34.8
5) Fernanda Cortes Golden Valley 12 16:39.3
6) Nadya Makarova Monte Vista 11 16:39.5
7) Emmy Angelo Ponderosa 12 16:45.4
8) Ada Bielinska Mountain View 12 16:48.9
9) Ellison Williams St. Francis SJ 11 16:52.3
10) Maddie Goss Woodcreek 11 16:54.4

Top NorCal performances from this weekend

2026-09-20T07:16:55.275-07:00

With Woodbridge in our hindsight mirror, the cross country season had its first notable weekend, with many teams and individuals revving their engines for the first time this season. Here are some of the more notable results and standout efforts from the following invitationals.

From the De La Salle Invitational
In the girls' varsity race, San Rafael senior Autumn Tanner won her second race of the season with a time of 17:13.7 over Sonoma Academy senior Josie Hill (17:28.8). The Newhall Park course runs about the same as the Woodward Park course, which gives you an idea about the times for those two girls. San Rafael resides in Division III, which puts Tanner among the top runners in the state in that division. Hill will compete in Division V and will also be a contender at state in that division after finishing in the top 10 last season. Tanner's time is the 5th fastest time run in DLS Invite history.

Team-wise, Davis came out on top following their 3rd place finish at their first league meet this past Wednesday behind nationally ranked St. Francis, SJ, and Whitney. Los Altos edged out the now formidable Miramonte team that will be favored to take the NCS Division IV crown.

For the boys, Davis junior Elias Thronson led from the gun and dominated the field with a sub-15 effort (14:55.7) over Crystal Springs Uplands senior Conrad Chern (15:27.2). Thronson led his Bluedevil teammates to the team victory over Dublin running the 5th fastest time in the race's history. Woodside Priory freshman Desmond Prindiville continued his impressive high school debut, finishing within 3 seconds of Chern. Both runners reside in the WBAL as well as Division V at the section and state levels. Branham finished in a competitive 3rd behind Davis and Dublin and will be among the top teams in the Section in Division II.

From Farmer Invitational (NCS course)
In the girls' varsity race. Menlo freshman Masha Sobieski was the winner with a time of 17:39.8 over 2nd place finisher, Maya Smith of Head Royce (17:42.9). Teamwise, Northgate was the winner led by 4th place finisher, Olivia Joseph (18:09.7). Berkeley edged Lynbrook for 2nd with the 6 man tiebreaker.

For the boys, Lynbrook senior Hisham Mohammed edged Moreau Catholic's Santiago Henriquez 15:07.2 to 15:07.5. Berkeley was the team winner at 82 points over 2nd place finisher Lynbrook with 95.

From the Woodbridge Classic
Lots to unwind here, and we will start with the Sweepstakes races. For the girls, the St. Francis SJ girls finished in 5th place as the 2nd-fastest California team, just ahead of another nationally ranked team, Buchanan. The Troubadours were led by sophomore Alyssa Gutierrez, who, after leading at the gun, finished in 7th place with a time of 16:08.0. The next fastest NorCal runner was Branson senior Farah Allen, who finished 12th overall with a time of 16:20.0. Monte Vista's top 2 runners (Kaylie O'Connell and Nadya Makarova) finished in 23rd and 31st, respectively. Leigh senior Gelila Hailu finished in 25th place with a time of 16:34.8.

In the boys' sweepstakes race, the Mountain View team finished in 5th place as the top California team. They were led by senior Yuval Goldberg, who finished in 25th place with a time of 14:10.6. Granada finished an impressive 7th place after being in 4th place at the 2 mile mark. The top NorCal individual was Menlo senior Henry Hauser (13th at 14:02.8). Jesuit's Matthew Ogilvie was the next individual with a 25th place finish and a final time of 14:09.8. Milpitas junor Rohan Iyer finished in 28th place (14:15.7) just in front of defending Division II state champion, Cooper Stream of Vacaville (14:16.3). Mountain View's 2nd runner, Deven Koppola finished in 35th place (14:18.2). Impressive Granada freshman Eli Hernandez was next in 36th place with a time of 14:18.4).

In the girls' rated race, Fernanda Cortes of Golden Valley was the individual winner at 16:39.3. Emmy Angelo of Ponderosa was in 3rd at 16:45.4. The Carlmont girls finished in 2nd place as a team, led by senior Katelyn Elliott and her 8th place finish (16:56.9).

In the boys' rated race. Menlo Atherton senior Evan Chopra continued his undefeated season, winning this race in a time of 14:12.9. The Bears finished in 2nd place behind Liberty of Bakersfield.

Other notable performances
Bella Vista swept the Tom Laythe Invitational. Bella Vista's Calvin Fear and Julia Thomas were the individual winners, respectively. At the 9th Annual Eye Opener, the fastest times of the day were posted by Piner senior Kamila Olvera at 18:15.0 and Casa Grande junior Matthew Lindeman (15:29.69). At the 3rd annual Tom Leikam Invitational, Hollister was the boys' varsity team winner. Individually, Aptos senior Sam Hansen won in a time of 15:11.89. For the girls, Santa Cruz was the team winner. Scotts Valley senior Hanna Shehorn was the individual winner with a time of 17:13.46.

De La Salle Invitational Meet Preview by Sonoma Academy coach, Chris Puppione

2026-09-17T12:42:56.800-07:00

You can check out his meet preview at this LINK. Live results will be posted at this LINK.

If you want to check out other posts by Coach Puppione which are super informational, go to this LINK.

Feel free to comment below if you plan on racing, attending, or cheering from afar.

Catching up with Stanco's 'Screamin Scott

2026-09-16T21:54:09.409-07:00

This blog dates back to 2006, when I started doing North Coast Section rankings. Since then, I have enjoyed interviewing many athletes and coaches during that time. I have also interviewed other people who are involved in our community and make our two sports that much better, such as Hank Lawson and Jim Crowhurst. My interview today is with Scott Durham, who is better known as 'Screamin Scott. He covers Cross Country and Track and Field in the Stanislaus and lower Sac-Joaquin Section areas. He covers meets, takes photos, does rankings, honors runners and gives scholarships to worthy students. You can find his blog at the link below. If you want to learn more about Scott beyond this interview, feel free to go to this LINK and this LINK.

1. For someone who has heard the name “Screamin Scott” but doesn't know your story, how would you introduce yourself and explain how and when you became involved in cross country and track and field? Where did the nickname “Screamin Scott” come from?
I ran XC and track in JrHS and HS and ran 2 years of XC at Chico State. I wanted to be a teacher and coach XC and track from about 9 th grade. I got hired at a continuation school, so no XC or track. I was a science teacher and found that I was busy prepping for my classes and grading so there was really no time to coach at the traditional HS. I got busy with my job, marriage, homeownership, fatherhood, and life, and kinda forgot about coaching. When my daughter began running in 7th grade, it rekindled those thoughts. I was able to coach one year at Downey HS. At the end of the year, the old coach returned. I taught in a different district, and we had some personal differences, so I was bumped. BUT I had learned A LOT. I had met another former coach who posted distance results for Stanislaus County teams. He went by the moniker “Runnin Ruben.”

So, when I got going, I adopted “Screamin Scott” because it had similar alliteration and when I get excited during a race, I can get very loud. But most of the kids call me “StanCo.” Ruben allowed me to gather results and add pics to the blog. Each year, I did more, and he did less. He moved to So Cal, and I took the whole thing over. I thought it was important to create a “brand,” so I shortened the Stanislaus County Distance to StanCo Distance. On the Blog, I post results, info, links to photos etc. Each year, I have tried to add something (T-shirts, scholarships, Instagram, more schools…).

2 What area (cities, leagues etc) do you cover, and what is the web address of your blog? What do you post on your blog?
The Blog address is https://runninruben.blogspot.com/. Now I call the blog “South SJS Distance.” The leagues are CCAL, CCC, VOL, SAL, MLL, WAC, and some of the CCAA/MVL). With realignment in 2028, all of those names will change, but I will still cover the same geographic area. I cover all of Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Stanislaus Counties. Plus a few schools in southern San Joaquin County (Manteca, Lathrop, Mtn. House area) because they are in leagues with those other schools. It amounts to about 53 schools (however some are very small, and some don’t have XC or track or both). 44 for XC this season (I think). I post a weekly preview of meets that any of the teams are competing in, results, and links to pics (pics are posted on FB), Runners of the Week, Course all-time record lists, South SJS All-time lists, County all-time lists. I take donations and offer scholarships in the Spring. I gave 7 ($500) scholarships last year and am at 27 total.

3 You take photos at the meets that you attend. Were you a photographer before covering XC and TF? How has taking photographs at meets evolved for you? What are some helpful hints for taking good photos with moving subjects?
I have always liked taking pics. My wife and I travel, and I am always looking for an interesting shot. The walls of our house are covered with some of the better ones. As with running, it began with my daughter and her teammates. It grew to be her league’s runners and then to all StanCo runners. Gradually, I connected with other coaches in nearby counties and took pics of their runners too.

High shutter speed and good lighting work best for me. My goal isn’t to be arty. I am looking for the best, clearest shot of each runner. I believe that is what the parent ultimately wants. Night meets are a huge challenge. I get some good stuff and a lot of garbage. I started with film, then moved to an auto fixed lens digital, then to an adjustable lens digital SLR, and finally to a top-of-the-line Nikon 810 SLR (I have 4 of them)…I haven’t gone mirror less.

4 You award Runners of the Week shirts. How did that come about, and when and how did you come up with the design of the shirt? In what other ways do you award outstanding performances or efforts to local runners?
It came about as a way to go to team practices and introduce myself to the coaches and runners who didn’t already know me. And as far as gaining reputation, respect, and building “brand,” it was the smartest thing I ever did. The original design logo came about as a design for MY UNIFORM shirts so I was identifiable to everyone. It involves an outline of Stanislaus County. The new logo shows all of the covered counties/area, and four other people/coaches helped me with the image and even finding the font that would work the best. Who knew that different lettering would make such a difference?

The shirts are on a four-year cycle. So if a runner earned one each year, he would receive 4 different shirts. I also have shirts for sub 10 boy/12 girl 3200; sub 4:30/5:30 in the 1600, and sub 2/2:20 in the 800. Anyone who makes one of the all-time lists 800, 1600, 3200, Woodward, Willow Hills gets a “Record Breaker” shirt that has an LP getting shattered in the design.

In track, StanCo Meet distance event champions get a shirt, and County Clash (StanCo vs Merced County) distance champions get a shirt. There is also a meet named after me in XC, The Screamin Scott Showdown, and there are shirts of a special design given there.

Additionally, to thank the coaches, I bought shirts for all the StanCo coaches and am gradually catching up with the coaches of the newer schools that I am covering. Now, often when I go to schools to award shirts, the team gives me a shirt. Those are my trophies.

5 You've watched cross country and track and field change dramatically over the years. What are some of the biggest changes you've seen?
In this area, there are 4 changes (according to many of the coaches—we have had this discussion several times) 1. Super shoes for those who can afford them. 2. All weather tracks. When I coached in 2010/11, there were very few in this region, and now almost all the larger schools have them, and many of the smaller ones. 3. Training methods are more focused on threshold heart rate. 4. (This came from the coaches) ME, giving credit, recognition, props to these kids.

6 Which courses, meets, or venues have always had a special place in your heart?
We call the park Legion but it is really a piece of Tuolumne River Regional Park. There are no hills, sometimes there are homeless people, and currently the RRs are closed…sounds great, right? It is close to my house, and Modesto area kids have been running here for decades. Only CCAL still runs there, but I spearhead the cleanup and trail preparation every year.

Personally, I grew up in Fresno, and we were at Woodward twice a week, training. The smell of crushed sagebrush gives me a little PTSD. I think Willow Hills in Folson is a great section course. It is rolling up-down-up-down the whole way. A successful runner has to be able to constantly switch gears and the runners that come out of that meet, qualifying for State, often roll through the Woodward course

7 Who are some of the coaches, officials, meet directors, or other people who you think deserve more recognition for their contributions to Northern California cross country?
Local SJS starter Chuck Buettner died last year. He was the only starter I knew by name. He was a frequent donator to my scholarship. If I could give back to the sport 10% of what he did, I would be gratified. Joel Bernard (Hughson) is able to have a competitive team every year with a very small school enrollment. His kids run through the summer on their own, and he teaches them the strategy of the training and the racing. Ken Rhoades (Atwater) has such a calm and even temperament. He becomes like a personal life counselor for his runners. He is building better humans.

8 You've developed a reputation for being one of the most recognizable voices and personalities at cross country meets. What do you enjoy most about being part of the atmosphere on race day?
I am a loner by nature. So I am rarely where all of the team tents and excitement are. I like it and appreciate it, but small talk is hard for me. So, I am normally walking the course, looking at the overall condition, and finding my photography spots. I like when kids come up to me after their races and want to talk to me about how their race went. This can also be tough as I am trying to take pics in the next race. I try to check the results immediately and message the runners right then if I think they had a good race. They live in a world of immediate gratification, so I try to give those props ASAP.

9 You've seen thousands of high school runners compete. What separates the runners who really stand out in your memory from everyone else?
It can be different for different runners, but somehow we had a personal connection. Damian Garcia (ran for Pitman, now for Chico St) started talking to me at every meet his frosh year, and I became like a mentor. We are still very close. Elle Williams (now at St. Francis but was at Turlock), we are very close. Although some others, like Natalie Arriaza (Patterson now at Stan St), earned every recognition I gave, and yet she never once spoke to me. So it is really up to the kids; I don’t push myself on anyone.

10 What is one race and/or performance you've witnessed that you will never forget?
A couple of years ago at the State track meet in the 3200, Oakdale’s Dax Daley was moving up on the last lap. With 200m to go he was in 3 rd starting to move into 2 nd when he was tripped from behind. He went down and was stepped on by multiple runners. One of the spikes missed his eye by ¼ inch. He got up and finished in about 11 th . I guess after the initial shock of seeing his eye afterwards, we all realized how lucky he was to still have two functioning eyes…there are so many things in life more important than racing/running.

11 What is something you've learned from watching great runners compete that you think young athletes could benefit from understanding?
I think question 13 partially address this…they need set goal and honestly work toward them. Work faithfully and consistently. If you can get your peers to buy into it, then it makes it so much easier. Success won’t happen overnight. There will be set-backs. Success in running isn’t linier. You might not even realize that you are getting stronger. And then BAM, you’ll have that breakout meet. And then it is time to set new goals. You can always be more than you think. Don’t be afraid to fail. Elle Williams raced Saturday at Kim Duyst. She messaged me afterwards that she appreciated the photos but was disappointed in her race (time). I told her that (she already knew) that she wasn’t going to PR in every race. Learn from it, shake it off, and move forward to the next race.

12 Cross country is obviously about running, but you've seen the sport from a much broader perspective. What do you think young runners get from cross country that has nothing to do with their race times?
Family, recognition, personal confidence…the same things I got from the sport. In my scholarship application they must write an essay of “how distance running has positively impacted their lives.” Most of the kids have similar stories of finding belonging and inner-strength. Using running to clear their heads…

13 What advice would you give to a freshman who is just starting cross country and isn''t yet sure whether they belong in the sport?
Ask your coach about some reasonable goals. Write them down and tape them onto the bathroom mirror where you will see them every day. On the hot, hard days keep reminding yourself of those goals. If you achieve them repeat the process. I was at Oakdale today and Coach Vic Moreno was talking to the freshmen about the career arc of the current senior top runner Weston McGhee. How he wasn’t so great 4 years ago and it has taken a lot of consistent hard work and belief to get to where he is…and if they want that type of success it is not out of reach.

14 When you look back at all the years you've spent around cross country, what are you most proud of?
I hope that I am making a difference. That is not for me to judge—when you are gone who will remember your name, who will tell your story? My mother died when I was 14. At 15 my step-father kicked me and my sister out of the house. It was XC and track (my team and my coach) that kept me from going down the wrong road…I believe that it saved my life. So I do what I do as a repayment to the sport that saved me. I believe that this is a debt that can never be repaid, so I can’t ever do enough. So, I keep trying to do more, helping more, recognizing more kids. My bathroom mirror goal is to award at least 8 scholarships this spring and go to more meets than last year (76)…tomorrow 9/16 I hope to make it to three different league’s cluster meets.

15 What do you think people who aren't involved in cross country don't understand about the sport?
They think it is boring, it is torture, it isn’t fun…they don’t see the family, the confidence building

• Favorite XC course? Track venue? It is hard to find a fault in Buchanan, other than I can’t get onto the field. The new SJS track format has all of the divisional finals at Hughes Stadium on the same day. That is an interesting format.
• Favorite meets (XC and TF)? Any meet where it doesn’t rain is a good meet.
• Most exciting runner you've ever watched? Madison Kackley (Gregori later UC Davis). She was pure peddle-to -the-metal. No strategy, just I dare you to catch me. Unfortunately, she collapsed at xc section her frosh year 100m from the finish and again her soph year, but fortunately finished (eventually was 12th in State that year). She was 5 th in State D1 in 2019 as a junior and then lost her senior year to COVID
• Most memorable upset? In 2009 Modesto HS girls were the defending MMC XC champs. The league was still doing dual meet in XC. The first meet of the year was MoHi vs Downey (and Downey had finished last in the league the year before). It was my daughter’s second race of her frosh year. Modesto was going to Mt Carmel that weekend, so they were trying rest some kids for this dual and they figured to roll over Downey anyway. It came down to a sprint of the #5 runners and Downey won the meet 28-29. I might be the only person who remembers the meet, but it was a seismic upset.
• Best team you've ever seen in your area? Not exactly “my area,” but the 2025 Jesuit Boys were amazing. For teams that I cover, it was the 2022 and 2023 Oakdale Boys
• Toughest course? Frogtown, Willow Hills. Lagoon Valley all are challenging in the hill department in the SJS. But it might be the hot dusty nature of the courses that is the worst. At Frogtown there are a procession of ambulances in and out of the meet. My daughter fell on the course, slid on her belly down a steep hill, and her jersey burned into her skin…she still has scars.
• Best race-day atmosphere. UPO Tiger Inv used to have the best meet atmosphere. They had an award for the most spirited team. They had a mascot race. Kids had on paint and glitter, and tutus…it was a fun day. Since it was on a golf course the times were fast too. Unfortunate when they suspended the program the meet went away and when the program came back the meet didn’t. On the more serious side Clovis and State are their own spectacle.

Thank you very much for your time, Scott. AJC

Coming up this week...

2026-09-15T13:55:52.585-07:00

Friday Steve Nesheim Invitational at Shastice Park (NO)

Saturday De La Salle Invitational at Newhall Park
Participating schools: https://www.dlsinvitational.com/confirmed-schools

Friday/Saturday Woodbridge Classic at Great Park, Irvine
Rated and Sweepstakes race entries: https://www.woodbridgexcclassic.com/racingInfo/featuredEntries

Saturday Farmer Invitational at Hayward HS
Participating teams: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/276197/teams
Live results: https://live.adkinstrakwest.com/meets/77305

Saturday Bret Harte Frogtown Invit'l at Calaveras County Fairgrounds (SJS)

Saturday Eye Opener Invitational at Shollenberger Park (NCS)

Saturday Josh Ruff Invitational at Johnson/Springview Park (SJS)

Saturday Tom Leikam Invitational at Pinto Lake County Park (CCS)

Saturday Tom Laythe Invitational at Bella Vista HS (SJS)

Results
BCL West 1 (NCS)
https://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2026Meets/bclw1/mp/

PAL #1 at Westmoor HS (CCS)
https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/271950/results/all

CCAA-MVL #1 at Lawson Family Vineyard (SJS)
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2026/ecxc1/

SFL Cross Country #1 at Jessup University (SJS)
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2026/sflxc1/

Catching up with Mountain View HS senior, Ada Bielinska

2026-09-13T21:21:47.095-07:00

Today, we catch up with Lowell Invitational Varsity Girls 2 race winner, Mountain View senior runner, Ada Bielinska. She helped lead her Spartan teammates to a 2nd place finish behind state-ranked Clovis North. Last cross country season, Bielinska led Mountain View to a 2nd place finish at CCS by finishing in 10th place in the Division II race. During the spring, Bielinska made a breakthrough on the track, starting with a 4:58.07 personal best at the CCS 1600m final. She wasn't finished at that meet as she set her sights on breaking 11 minutes for the first time in her running career. In the 3200m final, Bielinska did just that but not by a few seconds but by close to 30 seconds. She finished in 2nd place with a new best of 10:31.70. At the state meet, Bielinska lowered her PR even further with a 10th place finish and a new Mountain View HS school record time of 10:27.11.

1) What do you think first attracted you to distance running?
Honestly, I wasn't attracted to distance running at all. I only joined the track team to spend more time with a friend who was planning to do sprints and jumps. Unfortunately, she broke her leg the day before practice began, so I had to show up on my own. Since I didn't really want to be there, I wasn't paying attention when the coaches explained where each group should go for warmups. When we were dismissed, I panicked and followed the largest group, assuming they were the sprinters, but it turned out to be the distance group. Throughout the season, I actually began to enjoy running, and with encouragement from my parents, I decided to sign up for cross country the following year.

2) What keeps you motivated when training gets difficult or repetitive?
Since I'd never done a sport before, I wasn't used to athletic ability coming naturally to me, so I expected training to be hard from the start. That made it easier to stay motivated, since I always went in expecting the process to be difficult. As for repetition, I actually prefer my training to be structured that way. Knowing what's coming each day helps me stay recovered and mentally prepared.

3) If someone watched you train for a week, what would they learn about you that they wouldn't learn from looking at your race results?
My progress in workouts is never linear. I've had some of my worst workouts right before some of my best races. I'm not a perfectionist, so I'm not afraid of missing a rep or two; what matters more to me is consistency and showing up. That reality is usually invisible in race results, especially given my steady track progression since freshman year. People might be surprised by how much self-doubt I used to face behind the scenes.

4) What has running taught you about handling setbacks?
My junior cross country season taught me the hard way that results can be affected by things far beyond injury or lack of training. I came off some of the best months of training I'd ever had and still didn't see the results to show for it, due to circumstances completely unrelated to running. It was a real hit to my confidence, but pushing through and finally running a personal best at the end of the season taught me the value of perseverance.

5) Has your attitude toward running changed as you've gotten older?
I've given running more and more attention every year, and I think that growing focus has helped me become more serious about the sport.

6) What is your biggest strength as a racer that isn't reflected in your times?
My biggest strength as a racer is my endurance. I'm good at running even or negative splits, which means I don't get discouraged starting a race near the back of the pack, because I know I'll be able to work my way through the field as others settle. That takes a lot of pressure off early on and helps me stay confident, since I know my starting position isn't tied to my ability to win. This isn’t reflected in my times because the final mark only shows the result and not the process or strategy it took to get there.

7) What's the hardest part of a cross country race mentally?
I've always preferred cross country to track, but after a difficult junior season, the hardest part this year will be trusting that I can meet my own expectations despite past disappointment.

8) Do you have any particular thoughts, phrases, or strategies you rely on when a race starts to hurt?
My coach always says consistency is key, so whenever I'm nervous on the starting line, I remind myself that I've shown up and put in the work every single day. That's our team motto, and reminding myself of it helps me relax.

9) How do you deal with a race that doesn't go according to plan?
When a race doesn't go to plan, I'm usually a little shaken up at first, but within a few hours I take time to reflect and figure out what went wrong. Then I talk it through with my coach, and together we adjust my race plan and figure out what led to the mistakes so I can fix them going forward.

10) When you compare yourself to the runner you were a couple of years ago, what change are you most proud of?
Comparing myself to who I was a couple of years ago, I'm most proud of how my habits have changed. I'm getting more sleep and eating better.

11) Was there a point when you started believing that you could compete at a much higher level?
I've always had competitive goals for myself, but I think the turning point was sophomore year at the Clovis Invitational, when I ran 18:40 in my first 5K. That's when I realized I had the potential to be great if I really put in the work.

12) Who has played the biggest role in helping you develop as a runner?
The people who've played the biggest role in my development are a mix of my teammates and my coaches. I don't think I would have stuck with the sport into sophomore year without the team culture and the friendships I built along the way, and having coaches who know how to develop athletes has made all the difference. I'm really grateful Mountain View turned out to be a place that gave me both.

13) What's something about your training that you didn't appreciate when you were younger but understand much better now?
Freshman year, I didn't appreciate the workouts at all. Just going on a run felt hard at that point. Now, workouts are the best part of my week. I love pushing myself and running fast; it makes me feel fit and builds my confidence. I'm really happy I've grown to love them instead of dreading them as I did a few years ago.

14) At the end of track season, you made a big jump in the 3200. What do you think finally came together for you at CCS and State?
What came together for me at the end of the season was my competitive spirit. After a demotivating junior cross country season, I'd wanted to break 11 all year, and it just hadn't happened. Going into CCS, I realized it was my last shot, so I fought to hold my position. The race went out slowly, and I realized that if I just stuck with the leaders of the chase pack, even though we weren't on sub 11 pace, I could still have a chance to qualify for state. I didn't even realize that when a competitor and I broke away, we were running close to 5 flat pace. Coming down the final straightaway, I looked up and saw 10:10 with a hundred meters left, and I couldn't believe it. I'm so happy it worked out the way it did. If I'd realized how fast we were actually going, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it, and that PR never would have happened. I was genuinely shocked by the time. You can see it on my face in the pictures from that meet.

15) Looking back at those races, was there anything you did differently tactically or mentally that you think made a difference?
I think ignoring the pace and racing for place instead of time made all the difference. If I'd been focused on trying to hit a specific number, I probably would have panicked and backed off. I'm just really glad that for that one race, I decided to ignore the clock, ignore my watch, and race the competition in front of me.

16) Did that 3200 performance change what you believe you're capable of running in cross country?
It definitely raised my goals. I've always set high goals for myself, but this year I believe they're actually achievable. Those races were proof that I'm capable of more than people think, and I'm ready to show them what I can do.

17) How has that track season breakthrough changed your expectations for this cross country season?
Usually when I set a cross country goal, I tone it down before writing it on paper because it can feel a little unrealistic. This year, I'm not doing that. I genuinely believe the ambitious goal I have in mind is achievable, and I'm excited to work toward it all season.

18) What are you most excited to find out about yourself this fall?
I'm excited to see how my 3200 endurance translates to 5K pace. The jump this year feels like the biggest one yet, and I'm curious to find out what I can handle.

19) Is there a particular course or race where you'd like to see what you can do?
Definitely the Woodbridge and Clovis Invitationals. Those are the two races I'm most looking forward to. I'm especially focused on Woodbridge since it comes early in the season and I've never had a great race there before. I'm excited to see if I can be competitive in the sweepstakes race and run a genuinely competitive time.

20) What would you consider a breakthrough cross country season?
A breakthrough season for me would mean breaking 18 minutes, maybe even dipping into the low 17s. Since the conversion between track and cross country times isn't exactly linear, it's hard to pin down a precise goal, but right now I'm expecting somewhere in the 17:XX range. I'll know more once I have a real baseline for the season.

21) If everything goes perfectly this season, what do you hope you're able to accomplish?
I have specific time goals, but I'm ultimately focused on racing the field. My biggest goal right now is winning an individual CCS title and earning a spot on the podium at State.

22) What's your favorite part of being on a cross country team that has nothing to do with racing?
My favorite part of being on the Mountain View XC team is how connected we are, not just the girls' team, but the whole program. I love our pasta parties, cheering each other on, and talking through results after races. Everyone on varsity, and everyone who could be on varsity, genuinely loves the sport and loves coming to practice, and that pushes me to be my best every day as well. It's a great environment to grow in, especially since everyone around me is just as motivated academically as they are athletically, which helps me stay motivated in all aspects of my life.

23) What's something you've sacrificed for running that has been worth it?
I've sacrificed a lot of my free time: going to bed early, going to the gym, and more. Since I've refused to sacrifice my academics, that's left very little time to spend with friends.

24) If you could give one piece of advice to your freshman year self, what would it be?
I'd tell myself that the workouts you dread right now are going to become your favorite part of the sport, so stick with it even when it feels hard. Progress isn't going to be linear, and that's okay. Showing up consistently matters more than any single bad rep or bad race.

25) When your high school running career is eventually over, what do you hope you will be most proud of?
I hope I'll be most proud of how much I changed, not just as a runner, but as a person who learned to push through setbacks that had nothing to do with talent or effort. I want to look back and know I showed up every day, stayed consistent through the hard seasons, and became someone my team and my coaches were glad to have around.

Thank you very much for your time, Ada. AJC

Invitational coverage for this past weekend

2026-09-13T08:16:06.022-07:00

Lowell Invitational video

Chris Althouse was at the Lowell Invitational and has started posting videos from each individual race. Use this link to find your video as they are posted:

https://www.youtube.com/@dutchessofmilpitas/videos

Kim Duyst photos by Todd Tokubo

https://toddsportsphotos.pixieset.com/kimduystbrief/

Viking Opener newspaper coverage at this LINK. PHOTOS.

The Weekend Ahead: Meets Worth Watching

2026-09-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park

• Which teams look strongest?

• Which individual runners can challenge for the win?

• How will the Golden Gate Park course affect the times?
• https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/280061/teams
•. https://rtspt.com/events/cif/2026Meets/lowellxc/ (Live Results)

Ed Sias Invitational at Hidden Valley Park

• Which NCS teams are using this as their first major test?

• Who emerges from the individual races in the small and large school races?
• https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/273553/teams

• Alhambra, American Canyon, Archbishop Mitty, Berean Christian, Bishop O'Dowd, Campolindo, Chesterton Academy of St. James, Clayton Valley, College Park, Concord, Contra Costa, Christian, Dublin, El Cerrito, Foothill, Heritage, Homestead, Hope, Las Lomas, Liberty, Los Gatos, Maria Carrillo, Miramonte, Mt. Diablo, Northgate, Piedmont, Skyline, St. Ignatius College Prep, St. Joseph Notre Dame, St. Mary's - Berkeley, St. Mary's - Stockton, Valley Christian, Woodside Priory, Ygnacio Valley
• https://diablotiming.com/results/2026-09-12/ (Live Results)

Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational at North Monterey County HS
• Super preview of this meet posted last week HERE. Who will come out on top?

• Mostly CCS teams, with some teams making the long trip like Whitney out of SJS.

• Live Results

Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational at River Oaks Golf Course
• Super competitive meet with almost 70 teams participating.

• https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/274814/teams
• https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2026/duysths/ (Results)

Nevada Union Invitational at Nevada Union HS
• 17 teams scheduled to compete at this meet

• https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/274638/teams

Viking Opener at Spring Lake Park

• One of the most used courses in the North Bay. Season opener for many teams.

• https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/273553/teams

• Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/275680/results/all

Dyestat Rankings

2026-09-10T11:24:52.549-07:00

If you go to the front page of dyestat.com, you will find their early-season top 100 individual rankings for boys and girls. The NorCal individuals ranked nationally so far are:
GIRLS
63 Alyssa Gutierrez St. Francis, SJ
84 Farah Allen Branson

BOYS
49 Cooper Stream

Also posted on DyeStat today is the California Region Team Rankings by Doug Binder. The NorCal teams that made the lists are as follows:
GIRLS
5 St. Francis, SJ
Watchlist
Oak Ridge

BOYS
1 Campolindo
5 Jesuit
Watchlist
Mountain View

Do Not Waste Good Time – My Reflections on Sarah Sumpter, by Chris Puppione

2026-09-10T10:49:52.502-07:00

September 10th is Stump Day as we remember and celebrate former Healdsburg and UC Davis elite distance runner, Sarah "Stump" Sumpter. You can check out this LINK , which will take you to an article written by her UC Davis coach, Chris Puppione, about what she thought him during her courageous battle with a brain tumor until her untimely death.

Lowell Invitational Race Assignments and Maps

2026-09-09T13:41:37.616-07:00

Jim Tracy Challenge results

2026-09-08T19:05:20.476-07:00

https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/9826/events

SF University scores a low of 17 in FS girls led by individual winner Sienna Trujillo. For the boys, Sacred Heart Cathedral easily outdistances the field scoring 30 points. SF University freshman Kai Roy takes the individual victory. In the varsity girls, Head Royce dominated the race scoring the victory led by the 1/2 finish of Emma Singh and Maya Smith. For the Varsity boys, SF University senior Ethan Kraska led the Red Devils to the easy victory with four UHS runners dipping under the 16 minute mark.

Also on September 8th, Firebird Invitational
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/XC/2026/fb_res.htm

Artichoke Invitational update

2026-09-08T14:27:22.729-07:00

SJS Early Season Rankings by Mike Carroll

2026-09-07T20:33:04.508-07:00

All the top teams from SJS have had at least one meet so it feels like a good time to do a early-season rankings review:

Boys' Overall
1 (tie). Vacaville & Jesuit
3. Davis
4. Oak Ridge
5. Bella Vista
6. Del Oro
7. Ponderosa
8. McClatchy
9. Atwater
10. Pleasant Grove

Vacaville and Jesuit both deserve the early season #1 ranking as Jesuit looked strong, but not as dominant as last year with the transfer of Bilodeau and graduation of 4 seniors from last year's state-winning team. Vacaville looked strong at Lagoon Valley. #1 will be decided when they face each other in the sweepstakes race at Woodbridge. Davis beat Jesuit and Oak Ridge at the Soiree at SWRA meet, but Jesuit was resting 2 of their top runners, and Oak Ridge was not running their full squad. McClatchy finished lower than expected at Oakmont invitational but their top 2 runners (Heyer and Warriner) sat out. Bella Vista had a solid effort at Sierra Invite without their top runner, Calvin Fear. They will face many of their D2 rivals at the Kim Duyst next Saturday. Pleasant Grove is the surprise team of the season, and finished respectively at Oakmont and Soiree.

D1
1. Davis
2. Oak Ridge
3. McClatchy
4. Pleasant Grove
5. Folsom

D2
1. Vacaville
2. Jesuit
3. Bella Vista
4. Atwater
5. Rio Americano/Vista Del Lago

D3
1. Ponderosa
2. Del Oro
3. Twelve Bridges
4. Oakmont
5. Nevada Union

D4
1. Christian Brothers
2. Colfax
3. Placer
4. Galt
5. St Mary's

D5
1. Bradshaw Christian
2. Westlake Charter
3. Ripon Christian
4. Argonaut
5. Denair

Girls' Overall:
1. St Francis

2. Oak Ridge
3. Davis
4. Golden Valley
5. Whitney
6. Pleasant Grove
7. Vacaville
8. Ponderosa
9. Del Oro
10. Christian Brothers

There is no doubt the #1 SJS ranking goes to St Francis, even without Turlock transfer, Ellison Williams. They will have to prove their state #1 ranking when they line up against top teams from Southern California and out-of-state competitors at Woodbridge Invitational. Oak Ridge looked impressive at Soiree and beat defending D1 Section champion Davis and D2 Section champion Whitney. Golden Valley finished 3rd behind St Francis and Oak Ridge at Oakmont Invite, led by Fernandes Cortes. Whitney and Ponderosa have a talented 2 or 3 runners but they fall off a bit after that. Christian Brothers are the strongest squads from the D4-D5 teams and finished well against bigger schools at early season meets.

D1.
1. Oak Ridge
2. Davis
3. Pleasant Grove
4. Lincoln-Stockton
5. Turlock

D2.
1. Golden Valley
2. Whitney
3. Vacaville
4. Rio Americano
5. Granite Bay

D3.
1. St Francis
2. Ponderosa
3. Del Oro
4. Lathrop
5. Oakmont

D4.
1. Christian Brothers
2. Colfax
3. Placer
4. Galt
5. St Mary's

D5.
1. Westlake Charter
2. Golden Sierra
3. Ripon Christian
4. Argonaut
5. Forest hill

2026 Artichoke Invitational cancelled

2026-09-05T00:15:19.616-07:00

Just passing the word from Half Moon Bay HS that the 2026 Artichoke Invitational will not be taking place this year. The plan is for the meet to return next season. Please help pass the word to teams that have traditionally raced at this meet.

Coming up this week

2026-09-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

September 2 Alisal Time Trial at Natividad Creek Park (CCS)
September 2 Oakland Section Season Kickoff at Skyline HS (OAK) LIVE RESULTS
September 2 Stinson Beach Relays at Stinson Beach (NCS) NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
September 2 TCAL #1 at Oak Grove Park (SJS)
September 2 Southern League Meet 1 at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park (SJS)
September 2 MVC Invitational at Monte Vista Christian School (CCS)
September 2 MVAL Opener at Newark Memorial (NCS)
September 2 BVAL Center Meet at Stoneman Trailhead (NCS) RESULTS
September 2 BVAL #1 at Freedom HS (NCS)
September 3 Cleve Thayer Invitational at Stevenson School (CCS)
September 4 Baylands Invitational at Baylands Park (CCS) RESULTS SLANEY PHOTOS
September 4 Little Ed Practice Meet at Hidden Valley Park (NCS) RESULTS
September 5 St. Mary’s Invitational at St. Mary’s College (NCS) LIVE RESULTS
September 5 Soiree Distance Festival at Sunset Whitney Recreation Area (SJS) RESULTS
September 5 Lagoon Valley Classic at Lagoon Valley Park (SJS) LIVE RESULTS
September 5 Fort Ord Relays at Fort Ord Day Camp Cycling Area (NS)

Woodbridge Classic Featured Races

2026-09-03T12:33:15.371-07:00

Just posted...
https://www.woodbridgexcclassic.com/racingInfo/featuredEntries

NorCal teams/individuals in the Sweepstakes Races
BOYS
Granada (NCS) Division II
Jesuit (SJS) Division II
Mountain View (CCS) Division I
Vacaville (SJS) Division II
Djali DeChalus, St. Mary's (Berkeley) Division IV
Hugh Heyer, McClatchy (SJS) Division I
Landon Warriner, McClatchy (SJS) Division I

GIRLS
Branson (NCS) Division V
Monte Vista (NCS) Division II
Mountain View (CCS) Division I
Oak Ridge (SJS) Division I
San Francisco University (NCS) Division V
St. Francis, SJ (SJS) Division III
Gelila Hailu, Leigh (CCS) Division II

NorCal teams/individuals in the Rated Races
BOYS
McClatchy (SJS) Division I
Menlo (CCS) Division IV
Menlo Atherton (CCS) Division I
Milpitas (CCS) Division I
Oak Ridge (SJS) Division I
Oliver Charkiewicz, River City (SJS) Division I
Rohan Iyer, Milpitas (CCS) Division I

GIRLS
Granada (NCS) Division II
Leigh (CCS) Division II
Menlo Atherton (CCS) Division I
Emmy Angelo, Ponderosa (SJS) Division
Paula Devine, St. Mary's College (NCS) Division IV
Ashlin Mallon, Cardinal Newman (NCS) Division V

Jackie Henderson Memorial Meet Preview

2026-09-03T11:38:49.695-07:00

Thanks to Coach Gustavo Ibarra. You can find a detailed meet preview as well as all-time records for the 7th annual event.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GnU4JdC4RDqB_Q3a9q05t2K9xQdc2Hgv7dBCots8OkA/edit?usp=sharing

Stinson Beach Relays report

2026-09-03T10:09:43.812-07:00

You can check out an article about that race in the MarinIJ at this LINK.

Participating teams were Archie Williams, Redwood, Branson, San Rafael, San Marin San Domenico, Marin Academy, Terra Linda, and Tamalpais.

West Coast XC NorCal preview of the top teams and individuals

2026-09-02T09:53:19.649-07:00

My interview with Ken Martinez of West Coast XC highlighting the top teams and individuals in Northern California, as well as the top girls teams and individuals in the Central Section. If I missed anybody that should have been included, please mention them in the comment section below.

CIF 2026 Forecast

2026-08-31T21:40:07.770-07:00

The following links were forwarded to me by the -XCTF Stats Team. Check them out and feel free to comment below. Never too early to project to the state meet races.

BOYS
Write up here: https://xctfstats.substack.com/p/the-cif-2026-boys-forecast
Forecast Interactive Dashboard here: https://cif26-boys.pages.dev/

GIRLS
https://xctfstats.substack.com/p/a-preseason-forecast-for-the-california

Who Has Surprised You So Far in the 2026 XC Season?

2026-08-30T08:50:15.717-07:00

Now that we have had a small sample of races, who have been the standout performances so far (individuals and teams)? You can check out the results in the post below.
• A team that looks better than expected?

• A boy who has made a big jump?

• A girl who has made a big jump?

• A freshman who has caught people's attention?

• A team or individual that is flying under the radar?
• Most improved team from last year so far?
• Any other observations.

Coming up this week...

2026-08-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 26-9th Annual Bob Shor Invitational at Spring Lake Park RESULTS PHOTOS
Thursday, August 27-Brian Rogers/Peninsula Jamboree at York School Course RESULTS
Thursday, August 27-South County Jamboree at San Lorenzo County Park RESULTS
Friday, August 28-Sonoma Twilight 3200 Time Trials at Maria Carrillo HS RESULTS
Friday, August 28-Serra XC Jamboree at Bob Rush Crystal Springs Course RESULTS

Saturday, August 29-Acalanes Invitational at Acalanes HS RESULTS
Freshman Eli Hernandez wins Varsity 2 mile race leading Granada to the team victory. For the girls, Elise Bayan-Ruiz, Granada sophomore, was the individual winner leading her team to the varsity team sweep.

Saturday, August 29-Hayward Scrimmage at Hayward HS LIVE RESULTS
Dublin varsity boys sweep the top 8 spots. Livermore's Jasmine Moniz wins varsity girls' race.

Saturday, August 29-Oakmont Invitational at Johnson Springview Park (65 teams) RESULTS
Galena boys edge Jesuit boys led by individual winner David Coisson at 11:36.65 (new course record). For the girls, St. Francis sophomore Alyssa Gutierrez won in 13:13.76, leading the Troubadours to the team victory.

Saturday, August 29-Thunder 2-miler at Buhach Colony HS

Saturday, August 29-Fighting Knights Joust at Bob Rush Crystal Springs Course LIVE RESULTS
Leigh senior Gelila Hailu won girls' senior race in 17:57.1 (fastest time of the day). Fastest time of the day for the boys belonged to Evergreen Valley junior, Johann Coss at 15:32.1. For the 2.13 mile course, the fastest time of the day for girls belonged to Carlmont sophomore, Isabella Schuett (13:26.8). For the boys, Woodside sophomore Calvin Peterson ran 11:11.3. In the freshman boys' race, Woodside Priory's Desmond Prindiville ran 11:13.5. For the girls, Carlmont's Camille Lacher was the winner at 13:32.2.

On Tap for the Day (A closer look at NCS)

2026-08-28T13:37:49.690-07:00

5 NCS Runners Worth Watching Closely This Fall

BOYS
1. Clark Gregory 12 Campolindo Division III
2. Djali De Chalus 12 St. Mary's College Division IV
3. Caden Ehrhorn 11 Campolindo Division III
4. Ethan Kraska 12 University Division V
5. Rohan Kotamraju 11 Monte Vista Division II
Also mentioned: Ben Friedland 12 University, Alex van Veen 11 Granada.

GIRLS
1. Farah Allen 12 Branson Division V
2. Nadya Makarova 11 Monte Vista II
3. Sade Bumpus 12 Granada Division II
4. Josie Hill 12 Sonoma Academy Division V
5. Kaylie O'Connell 11 Monte Vista Division II

Now it's your turn. Feel free to answer the following questions in the comment section below. I will start adding individuals and teams as comments are posted.

The 2026 NCS Cross Country Season: 10 Questions We Need Answered

1. Who will emerge as the top boys' individual? Girls' individual?
2. Can last year's strongest teams repeat?
3. Which girls' team has improved the most?
4. Which sophomore will break through?
5. Which freshman could make an immediate impact?
6. Who will be the biggest riser from 2025?
7. Which team has the best 1–5 depth?
8. Who will surprise at Crystal Springs?
9. Who will contend for a state-meet spot?
10. What will be the biggest storyline of the season?

Who are the Runners you didn't know about last year who could be big in 2026?

Early NCS Team Rankings — But With a Twist.
Best front runner (boys and girls)?
Best 1–5 (boys and girls)?
Most improved (boys and girls)?
Best young team (boys and girls)?
Biggest sleeper (boys and girls)?
Teams I'm most curious to see race?

Ask Cross Country Express: What Do You Want Me to Cover This Season?
Teams to watch?
Historical questions?
Training questions?
Course questions?
CCS records you're curious about?
Interviews you'd like to see?