By Bob Ramsey, on September 9th, 2015  The San Gabriel Valley boasts three defending CIF champs - Bishop Amat in both the Boys and Girls Div IV, and Flintridge Prep in Girls D5.
In the first official CIF-SS rankings, five SGV teams are projected to be champions this year – that’s half of the titles!  Among the boys Claremont and Flintridge Prep, off of their strong performances at the Cool Breeze Invitational, join defenders Bishop Amat.
Perhaps the biggest news of these early rankings is Mayfield‘s move up from Div. V to Div IV.  The Cubs are ranked first in their new division meaning they’ll be looking supplant Bishop Amat rather than Flintridge Prep.
Eighteen local schools are ranked in the Top 10 of their divisions, ten girls and eight boys!
Full Rankings are Here
SGV in the CIF-SS Rankings
- Div I – Boys: Arcadia #4; California #5; Girls: Arcadia #3
- Div II – Boys: Claremont #1;  Ayala # 8.  Girls: Claremont #4;  Ayala #9.
- Div IIIÂ –
- Div IV – Boys: Bishop Amat #1;  Covina #4.  Girls: Mayfield #1;  Bishop Amat #2;  Covina #8;  St. Paul #10.
- Div V – Boys: Flintridge Prep #1;  Poly #10.  Girls: Flintridge Prep #1;  Poly #6;  Pomona Catholic #10.
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015  Frosh Olivia Paez – left – leads Amat into the 2015 Season Thirty-Six of the Seventy-Seven schools of the San Gabriel Valley competed in five meets on the opening weekend of the 2015 Cross Country season.
There were no big surprises, with the strong teams confirming their status, and short courses and new courses making it difficult to compare performances.
There were great performances from frosh girls, but that’s not really a surprise – every year a few girls step immediately to the front of the group.  This year’s big debut came from Walnut’s Chloe & Emma Arriaga with Chloe winning the Fastback Shootout, while Olivia Paez arrived to give CIF Champs Bishop Amat the additional runner they needed at the Great Cow Run.
Claremont hosted the Cool Breeze Invitational and turned in two excellent performances.  St. Paul and Mayfield took home trophies while checking out the new CIF Prelims course at the Riverside Showcase, while three other SGV schools opened at the Colton Swarm.
Looking Ahead: The first big league clash of the year happens this Thursday as the Palomares League holds their initial cluster meet at Whittier Narrows in South El Monte, on a flat, fast but turning 3 mile course.  Claremont are the clear girls favorites, with Ayala a clear second, but those schools should really fight it out for the boys lead.
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015 In only its second year, the Cool Breeze Invitational was easily the strongest event on the opening weekend of the XC season.  Run at the El Prado Golf Course in Chino and under the lights, the full three mile course was excellent test. (Complete Results)
The hosts Claremont confirmed their pre-season status.  The SGV top-ranked girls were a strong 3rd behind national powers Great Oak and Desert View of Arizona.  CHS junior Annie Boos (18th/18:04) had the top SGV performance, leading her team to a tight 0:54 gap from 1-5.
On the boys side, host Wolfpack were one spot better, running second to Great Oak.  CHS top runner was junior Ryan Renken at 22nd/15:36.  Even better than the girls, the Claremont boys were propelled by a gap of just 16 seconds!
The top local performer was Salvador Capetillo (Sr, Baldwin Park) who ran an ambitious race, leading through the half-way mark and then finishing 5th/15:02, just ahead of Flintridge Prep senior Jack Van Scoter, who was 6th/15:03.  Jack led his SGV ranked team to an excellent 5th place finish.
SGV Team Times and Top Individuals after the jump
Continue reading Cool Breeze: Claremont and Capetillo Start Strong(ly)
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015 This super-fast meet draws some of the best teams, and this year was not exception.  And the SGV’s own #4 ranked California proved to be best of the bunch, winning this 3 mile event over a fast, mostly paved course in 76:05.  Defending CIF Div. IV champs and SGV #5 Bishop Amat was 5th/76:59. (Full Results)
 Great Cow Run Champ Steven Kahn The SGV also led the individual race – Ayala junior Steven Kahn was first in 14:36, followed by Bishop Amat senior Robbie Santoyo at 14:42.  Others in the Top Ten:
- 4th – 14:51  Adrian Diaz – Sr/Bishop Amat
- 6th – 14:54  Angel Aguirre – Jr/California
- 8th – 14:59  Cisco Cuellar – Sr/California
- 9th – 14:59  Julian Romero – Sr/Californi
Running shorthanded, the Bishop Amat girls were 3rd/94:48 followed by Ayala 4th/94:59.  While missing their top two returners, Amat did find the additional runner they needed to help defend their CIF Div IV title as frosh Olivia Paez debuted with a strong 8th, followed by a 9th/17:47 from Ayala senior Sydney Tullai.
SGV Team Times and Top Individuals after the jump
Continue reading Great Cow Run: California Opens with a Win
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015 Walnut frosh Chloe Arriaga made a huge high school debut in the Fastback Shootout at Mt.SAC, run on the shortened 1.9 mile course. (Full Results)
Chloe was the overall winner in 11:29, a mark that is second all-time among frosh behind only MtSAC full course record holder Sarah Baxter, and 12th best even among all the classes.
Almost as good was the performance from La Cañada soph Katie Scoville, 2nd overall in 11:35, a new soph course record and 19th All-Time.
The other top performance came from Chloe’s twin sister Emma, who was 9th overall with 12:00, =9th best ever among frosh.
Unranked Arroyo was the top SGV team, finishing 8th/65:52 overall.  The were followed by SGV#11 La Cañada in 9th and Walnut in 10th.
Among the boys, Jesse Ramirez (Sr, Arroyo) was the top SGV finishers at 16th/10:22, and the SGV #9 Knights were the best local team with a 9th/53:25 finish.
SGV Team Times and Top Individuals after the jump
Continue reading Fastback: Big Debut from the Arriagas & Scoville Shine!
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015 With CIF Prelims moving to this new course at the site of the old Riverside City golf course, three SGV teams entered the 2015 Riverside Showcase to take a look. (Full Results)
The course proved to be flat-ish but soft and uneven footing kept it from being fast. Â For the opening weekend, the races were only 2.25 miles.
 Mayfield leading the pack. SGV #5 Mayfield, newly promoted to the CIF Div. IV, rolled to an easy win in the Small Schools Division, senior Emily Serhan taking the win.  Clearly running within themselves, the Cubs were 3rd overall. Mayfield took the next three spots as well:
- 2nd – 13:30  McKenna Smith – Fr/Mayfield
- 3rd – 13:32  Katherine Tighe – Sr/Mayfield
- 4th – 13:38  Marisa Sanchez – Sr/Mayfield
St. Paul were 5th, led by Angelina Ramos, Sr – 15th/14:32.  Isabelle Phinney, Sr – 23rd/15:04 was tops for Poly, who didn’t field a full team.
 2014 CIF Div. V Finalists St. Paul took the Boys Small Schools title, in a close battle with Div. V rivals Poly (Pasadena).  The Swordsmen were led by senior Andres Falcon who was 3rd/11:46.  Also among the leaders were:
- 8th – 11:58  Michael Yen – Jr/Poly
- 9th – 11:58  Tommy Sanchez – Sr/St. Paul
By Bob Ramsey, on September 7th, 2015  Laura Diaz (Sr, Edgewood) was the top SGV finisher at the Colton Swarm meet, a twisting 3-mile course with three small hills.
Laura was 10th overall in 20:56, a 3:28 improvement from her performance in this meet last year!
Her junior teammate Alfred Flores was the top local boy, running 17:23 for 20th overall – a 1:02 improvement from 2014!
La Puente and Maranatha also traveled east to open their season here.
Team times and top individuals after the jump
Continue reading Colton Swarm: Three SGV’s Open Here
By Bob Ramsey, on September 4th, 2015 
And now, after months of training, on asphalt and on trails, in our own neighborhoods and at the beaches and in the mountains, it is finally time to race!
Most of the teams of the SGV will debut tomorrow at six different events.  All three of the defending CIF Champions got going earlier this week with the Flintridge Prep girls opening at the Crescenta Valley Mini-Meet, and both Bishop Amat teams traveling to the desert for the Xavier Prep September Sizzle.
Here’s tomorrow’s action…
Cool Breeze Evening Invitational (flat grass, promised to be 3 miles this year) at El Prado Golf Course in Chino.  This will be the second year for this meet that will run under the lights with a very strong field.
In the Boys Seeded race, SGV ranked Baldwin Park, Bonita, Claremont and Flintridge Prep along with Damien will face a very strong field.  Seven other SGV boys teams will compete in the Open race.
SGV ranked Bonita, Claremont and Flintridge Prep will contest the even stronger Girls Seeded race, while nine SGV teams will run the Open race.
Great Cow Run (flat, 3 miles, mostly paved) at Cerritos Regional Park.  SGV ranked Bishop Amat, California and Ayala and four other SGV schools will contest this super-fast opener with traditionally strong fields.
The Fastback Shootout (1.9 miles, two big hills) is contested over the “short” course at Mt.Sac and is a traditional opener for many teams.  The course shortens the famous championship course by running only one Valley loop and omitting Reservoir.
SGV ranked Arroyo, El Rancho, La Cañada and La Salle along with eight other local schools will be competing in an overall field of 50 schools divided over two divisions.
Rising Div V power Mayfield will lead three other SGV schools at the new Riverside Showcase (3 miles, twisting, mostly dirt).  The meet is at the former Riverside City golf course, and it will be site of (at least) this year’s CIF Prelims
By Bob Ramsey, on September 2nd, 2015  Gabi Bennett, left and Lacy Coan of Flintridge Prep, Defending CIF Div. V Champs The girls of the SGV had a great 2014 cross country season, taking two of the five CIF Championships: Bishop Amat in Div IV and Flintridge Prep in Div V.  FP followed up with a State Championship and Amat were second in Fresno. Twelve teams advanced to CIF Finals, and six to the State meet.
Looking forward to this season, Claremont looks to be the class of the SGV. But they compete in CIF Div II, which may be the strongest single HS division in the country, so CIF and State trophies will be a big achievement. Â For some perspective, SGV #3Â Ayala, also in D2, will need a strong performance to just to return to CIF Finals.
Further down the divisions, this could be the year Mayfield dethrones Flintridge, after finishing 2nd to their Prep League rivals last year at league, CIF and State.  Amat will be looking to repeat, but their big spread will hurt them in big races.
Newcomers can often have a big impact in girls XC, and you only have to get to five to be successful, so there may be some big swings in the rankings as the season progresses.
SGV 2015 Pre-Season Rankings
(Merge pts/School/’14 ranking/5 best returners time/1-5 gap)
-   37 - Claremont (1) – 1:31:57 – 0:35
-   64 - Arcadia (2) – 1:33:10 – 1:19
- 105 - Ayala (4) – 1:34:46 – 1:53
- 129 - Bishop Amat (3) – 1:35:05 – 2:58
- 129 - Mayfield (6) – 1:36:12 – 1:46
- 178 - Bonita (7) – 1:38:26 – 1:21
- 185 - Whittier (7) – 1:38:39 – 0:43
- 202 - Flintridge Prep (5) – 1:40:18 – 2:43
- 220 – Covina (8) – 1:40:15 – 1:21
- 247 - El Rancho (11) – 1:42:41 – 3:27
- 245 - La Cañada (10) – 1:42:09 – 3:08
- 269 - La Salle (16) – 1:42:48 – 0:55
Ranking Methodology: This ranking is a power merge of the teams with the 12 fastest 2014 Mt. SAC team times using only marks from 9th, 10th & 11th graders.
We didn’t track any transfers, nor make any adjustments based on 2015 track performances.
We rank the top 12, which is 15% of the 80 schools that advance to CIF finals in the five divisions of the Southern Section. The population of the SGV is about 15% of the population covered by the CIF-SS, so tracking the Top 12 gives us a rough equivalent of making CIF Finals is the SGV were it’s own section.
And as to any other inaccuracies or imbalances, that’s why we run the races.
By Bob Ramsey, on September 2nd, 2015  Bishop Amat lifting the ’14 California Div IV Champions Trophy 2014 was an excellent year for the 78 schools of the San Gabriel Valley in Cross Country. Â Twelve boys teams advanced to CIF finals, with four moving on to the State meet.
Bishop Amat were CIF-Southern Section and California State Div. IV Champions, while Covina was second at CIF and fourth in Fresno.  Flintridge Prep were 2nd at CIF in Div. V, and 3rd in the State.
And now looking forward, here are the initial boys rankings for the new season that will begin this week!
SGV 2015 Pre-Season Rankings
(Merge pts/School/’14 ranking/5 best returners time/1-5 gap)
-   45 – Arcadia (2) – 77:51 – 1:32
-   91 – Flintridge Prep (5) – 79:51 – 1:24
- 105 – Claremont (1)- 80:32 – 0:44
- 144 – California (3) – 81:35 – 1:20
- 142 – Bishop Amat (4) – 81:40 – 2:25
- 151 – Ayala (5)- 81:40 – 1:16
- 166 – Los Altos (9)Â – 82:30 – 1:06
- 187 – Bonita  82:24 – 2:00
- 213 – Arroyo (12)  83:48 – 1:06
- 221 – Covina (7) – 83:55 - 1:03
- 237 – Baldwin Park (10) – 83:51 – 2:18
- 279 – El Rancho (19)Â – 85:38 – 1:05
Ranking Methodology: This ranking is a power merge of the teams with the 12 fastest 2014 Mt. SAC team times using only marks from 9th, 10th & 11th graders.
Covina was the exception.  Only their top seven competed on the Mt.SAC course last year, and only two of those seven return, so their composite time for the other five athletes is their flat 3 mile best +0:35.
We made no attempts to track transfers nor athletes choosing not to compete this year, with one exception. Â Dominic Gonzales (15:24) transferred prior to the 2014 track season, so his best was taken from Walnut and added to Arcadia.
We rank the top 12, which is 15% of the 80 schools that advance to CIF finals in the five divisions of the Southern Section. The population of the SGV is about 15% of the population covered by the CIF-SS, so tracking the Top 12 gives us a rough equivalent of making CIF Finals is the SGV were it’s own section.
And as to any other inaccuracies or imbalances, that’s why we run the races.
Also…
In Rich Gonzalez’ State Rankings at PrepCalTrack, eight SGV boys teams are in the top 100 of the California pre-season rankings:  Arcadia is # , Flintridge Prep #22, Bishop Amat #25, Ayala #32, Claremont #33, California #53, Bonita #66, and Covina #90.  Rich makes a deep dive into each team and uses track marks and other info to project each team’s 2015 performance.
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SGV Track & XC This site is maintained by Bob Ramsey – a SGV T&F athlete (Arroyo ’80), and former coach at Glendora HS and Meet Director of the SGV Champs. Bob is currently Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Whittier College
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