SGV Boys Team Rankings: Arcadia Still #1 in the SGV

Rankings in Cross Country are notoriously difficult.  Teams run on flat courses and hilly courses, and in different weather, so that even schools running on the same course on the same day, as will probably happen at Mt.SAC this Saturday, can face very different conditions.

That said, here’s our first attempt to rank the 70 schools of the San Gabriel Valley, regardless of CIF Division.  These rankings give preference to recent performances, and to performances achieved on hard and/or hilly courses, since Southern Section XC always points to Mt.SAC and Woodward Park.

And so we can have something to talk about before the athletes sort it out themselves at Mt.SAC this weekend, here are the rankings:

1. Arcadia (Div. I – Pacific League) – Easily the class of the SGV, the Apaches ranked #1 in Div. I until last week, the defending National Champs really haven’t stumbled at all, notching meet record wins at Woodbridge and Central Park, two Pacific League wins over a very strong Burbank team, and scoring a big win at the national Bob Firman Invite in Idaho.
2. Glendora (Div. II – Baseline League) – The Div. II ranked Tartans have kept something of a low profile, but have won every Invite they’re entered – their opener at Bronco, a meet record win at Sunny Hills, and the divisional race at Clovis.  They were second twice to State #1 Rancho Cucamonga in the Baseline League
3. California (Div. I – Del Rio League) – The Condors continue to build on the their CIF Finals qualification from last year.  Starting fast at the Great Cow Run, their biggest honor is their two wins in the highly competitive Del Rio League meets.  Ran well at Clovis.
4. Damien (Div. III – Sierra League) – Fast our of the box with a win at the Bosco Tech meet over much of the SGV and ran well again at Woodbridge and won the first Sierra League meet.  They stumbled a bit in the second Sierra meet, their only competition in the last month
5. Bosco Tech (Div. IV – Del Rey League) – Ranked #1 in Div. IV all year, the Tigers started with a strong 3rd overall at their own meet, but then struggled mightily with sickness and injuries.  Their victory over Div. III ranked Cathedral in last week’s Del Rey League indicates they’re nearly back to full strength.
6. El Rancho (Div. I – Del Rio League) – Fast at Don Bosco and Woodbridge, the Dons best efforts have been their two seconds to Cal in the Del Rey League, while they had a bit of an off day at Clovis.
7. South Hills (Div. III – Sierra League) – #6 SGV at Woodbridge, the Huskies have been third both times in the tough Sierra League, and won their own Super XC Classic.
8. Santa Fe (Div. I – Del Rey League) – Two strong thirds in the Del Rio League meets and a #7 SGV ranking at Woodbridge are their top achievements so far.
9. South Pasadena (Div. III – Rio Hondo League) – Started well with the #4 SGV time at Woodbridge, and held form with two wins in the Rio Hondo League.  Had a rough day at Clovis.
10. Claremont (Div. II – Sierra League) – This CIF and State podium team in ’10 was hurt by graduation, and their young team can’t break through in the deep Sierra League.  Top performance was an 83:18 at Clovis