By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 44th ASICS Clovis Cross Country Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.

Here are 10 storylines to follow at one of the most prestigious meets in the country:

Lions ready to roar again

It isn’t common for California Division 4 programs to compete in the Bill Buettner girls championship race.

It is even rarer for one of the Division 4 teams to be in contention to win the elite competition at Woodward Park.

And it is a truly memorable opportunity for one of the Division 4 programs to potentially achieve the historic feat at the expense of reigning Division 1 state champion Buchanan High.

That is the challenge facing reigning Division 4 state champion JSerra following a runner-up finish in last year’s Bill Buettner championship race behind Division 2 state champion Los Altos.

JSerra did prevail last year against Buchanan at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, only because the Bears had just four athletes complete the 5-kilometer race. But the Lions are still looking to become the first Division 4 girls program in meet history to capture the Bill Buettner championship race title.

But following a second-place performance Sept. 16 in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, with JSerra prevailing by a 50-point margin against third-place Buchanan at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, the Bears are looking to respond with an impressive performance in the 8:55 a.m. PDT race Saturday.

Los Altos triumphed by a 93-122 margin against JSerra last season, with Newbury Park taking third with 123 points.

The top five girls teams in California – JSerra, Buchanan, Corona Santiago, Los Altos and Ventura – are all scheduled to compete in the Bill Buettner championship race.

JSerra has only added strength and depth to its lineup since Woodbridge, with Santa Margarita transfer Sophie Polay – fifth in last year’s Bill Buettner championship race in 17:35.1 – and Xavier Prep transfer Chloe Elbaz joining the Lions’ lineup for the first time this season, along with Brynn Garcia, Kaylah Tasser, Reese Holley, Anne Elise Packard and Brooke O’Brien.

JSerra is also targeting the Division 4 all-time team performance at Woodward Park of 90:58.6 by Sage Creek at the 2019 state final.

Buchanan also has plenty of options with its lineup, as Kynzlee Buckley, Riley Burgess, Sierra Cornett, Avery Hutchison, Elle Lomeli, Stefania Sesock, Molly Sundgren and Tayler Torosian are all expected to compete Saturday.

Los Altos will attempt to repeat as champion, with Lydia Anderson, Emma Beedon, Emma Lewis, Samantha Patel, Jasleen Sidhu, Emily Soobrian and Lily Symon scheduled to race.

Tiffany Sax, a Newbury Park transfer, is expected to make her debut in the Bill Buettner championship race for Ventura, adding more strength at the top of a lineup that already includes Sadie Engelhardt and Aelo Curtis.

Great expectations, greater challengers

Great Oak had won six consecutive Rob Brenner boys championship race titles from 2014-19, before placing second behind Newbury Park at the 2021 ASICS Clovis Invitational.

The Wolfpack had an even longer stretch of consistency at the event by placing in the top two every Rob Brenner championship race the program had entered since 2009.

So, it was no doubt a shock to the system for Great Oak to finish fourth last season in the Rob Brenner championship race, trailing Newbury Park, San Clemente and Granada.

But the Wolfpack have rebounded in inspiring fashion this season, winning the Sundown Showdown title Sept. 2 at the ASICS Cool Breeze Invitational and taking third Sept. 16 in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, trailing only Herriman of Utah and Southlake Carroll from Texas.

Westin Brown, Gabriel Rodriguez, Jacob Brown, Kai Marotta, Jack Paradise, Jeffrey Keeney and Michael Rodriguez are all scheduled to compete Saturday for the Wolfpack.

The top five boys programs in the state – Great Oak, Ventura, San Clemente, Beckman and Dana Hills – are all expected to compete at 9:30 a.m. PDT Saturday in the Rob Brenner championship race, along with two-time champion Newbury Park.

Ventura, San Clemente and Beckman were fourth, fifth and sixth behind Great Oak in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race at Woodbridge, with Dana Hills placing eighth. In addition to the Dolphins boasting Doug Speck boys sweepstakes winner Evan Noonan, they are also expecting to add Godinez transfer Jayden Hernandez to their lineup for the first time this season.

Perfect Ten

The Bill Buettner girls championship race has the potential to be one of the deepest in meet history, with the top nine athletes from last year’s event all scheduled to return.

One of those competitors was not Ventura junior Sadie Engelhardt, who attended the meet last season, but did not race as a result of illness.

With Engelhardt joining a field that includes defending champion Hanne Thomsen of Santa Rosa Montgomery, Gioana Lopizzo from La Costa Canyon, Elle Lomeli and Kynzlee Buckley of Buchanan, Cameron Macias from Clovis West, JSerra’s Sophie Polay, Ashlyn Boothby from Scotts Valley, Mia Torrecillas of Bakersfield Highland and La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey, there is a strong possibility of a sub-17 performance on the 5-kilometer layout at the ASICS Clovis Invitational for the first time since 2019.

There have only been six sub-17 efforts in meet history, including a pair in 2019 when former Buchanan standout Corie Smith prevailed in 16:53.9, holding off Alexandra Klos from Vista del Lago in 16:57.0.

It still marks the only time the Bill Buettner girls championship race has produced multiple sub-17 marks in the same year.

Engelhardt clocked 16:57.9 last year to win the Division 2 state title at Woodward Park.

Payton Godsey of Oaks Christian, who battled illness to finish an uncharacteristic 25th in the Bill Buettner championship race last season, captured the Division 4 state title in 17:00.1.

Thomsen, a two-time Division 3 state champion, won last year’s Bill Buettner championship race in 17:04.2.

There has never been a high school girls race at Woodward Park that has showcased three sub-17 performances, including the ASICS Clovis Invitational, California state meet and the Kinney and Foot Locker West Regional events.

Rylee Blade of Corona Santiago, who took third in the Division 1 state final last season in 17:36.5, could bolster those chances after winning the Sundown Showdown 3-mile race Sept. 2 at Cool Breeze in 16:30.0 and finishing fourth Sept. 16 in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at Woodbridge by covering the 3-mile layout at Orange County Great Park in 15:42.0.

Engelhardt was third in 15:37.4, Thomsen placed fifth in 15:48.0, with Dailey earning eighth in 15:58.6. Dailey clocked 17:27.3 to place runner-up to Godsey in last year’s Division 4 state final, the fastest performance by a freshman at Woodward Park in San Diego Section history.

The search for the next Sub-15

Following the graduation of Aaron Sahlman, Leo Young and Lex Young from Newbury Park, there are no athletes scheduled to compete in the Rob Brenner boys championship race who have eclipsed the 15-minute barrier during their career on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park.

Grant Morgenfeld of Palo Alto, who placed ninth in last year’s Rob Brenner championship race in 15:15.8, is the only athlete returning from last season’s top 10 competitors.

Evan Noonan, the reigning California Division 3 state champion, ran 15:04.3 to secure last year’s title, improving from his 15:43.2 performance to take 33rd in the Rob Brenner championship race.

Emmanuel Perez of Cathedral, the defending California Division 4 state champion, clocked 15:05.4 to secure the crown.

Perez and teammate Emmanuel Hernandez both competed last season in the boys varsity small school race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational, but they are entered in the Rob Brenner championship race Saturday. Hernandez won the small school race last year in 15:13.7, with Templeton’s Joshua Bell placing second in 15:15.1 and Perez finishing fourth in 15:30.6.

Anthony Fast Horse of Ventura ran 15:08.5 to place fourth behind the Young twins and Sahlman in last year’s California Division 2 state final.

Sonora’s Broen Holman took third in the Division 4 state championship race last season in 15:12.4, with Long Beach Millikan’s Jason Parra securing sixth in the Division 1 state final in 15:13.7.

They are all expected to compete in the Rob Brenner championship race, looking to extend the streak to five consecutive seasons – not including 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – that the meet has produced at least one sub-15 performer.

Noonan won the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race Sept. 16 at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America in 13:41.3 on the 3-mile layout at Orange County Great Park in Irvine.

Fast Horse finished second in 13:48.1, Perez took third in 13:50.7 and Bell secured sixth in 13:59.6.

Welcome to the big show

Immanuel finished 16th in the girls small school race at last year’s ASICS Clovis Invitational.

The Eagles went on to win the Central Section Division 5 girls championship and place seventh in the state championship race.

It will be 316 days from the Division 5 state final until the ASICS Clovis Invitational, but Immanuel has continued to demonstrate its improvement, development and maturity, so much so the Eagles will be competing in the Bill Buettner girls championship race in their return to Woodward Park.

Clara Riddle, a sophomore who earned Division 5 all-state honors last season by finishing 10th in 18:44.9, leads Immanuel, which finished second Sept. 22 behind Buchanan at the 50th Douglas P. Rudolf Invitational at Mooney Grove Park in Visalia.

The Eagles also took 10th in the girls rated race Sept. 16 at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, with Riddle covering the 3-mile layout at Orange County Great Park in 17:51.5 to finish 28th.

Gaby Ramirez, Lexi Schartmann, Macie Riddle, Ainsley Jackson, Sarah Larger, Bailey Robb and Megan Johnson are also scheduled to compete for Immanuel, which is the first Division 5 program to compete in the Bill Buettner girls championship race since Flintridge Prep secured 16th place in 2015.

St. Francis embracing another golden opportunity

The Rob Brenner boys championship race is expected to showcase a battle involving the top two Division 4 boys programs in California in reigning state champion St. Francis and JSerra.

The Golden Knights prevailed Sept. 30 at the 50th Bell-Jeff/Sacred Heart Invitational against Palisades by a 35-41 margin to capture the sweepstakes title at Griffith Park.

St. Francis also prevailed Sept. 20 in its Mission League opener with a 26-32 victory against Loyola at Pierce College, which followed a 10th-place performance Sept. 16 in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America.

Samuel Franco took 10th at Woodbridge by covering the 3-mile layout at Orange County Great Park in 14:09.9. Franco also triumphed on the 2.94-mile course at Griffith Park in 15:42.5 to lead five Golden Knights in the top 16, including Luke Metcalf, Aidan Guzman, Axel Gonzalez and Auge Martin, at the Bell-Jeff/Sacred Heart Invitational.

JSerra finished fourth in the rated race at Woodbridge, but the Lions did so without Segerstrom transfer Saul Orozco, who is expected to make his debut Saturday for the program at Woodward Park.

Bradley Arrey, Luke Friedl and Alden Morales all produced sub-15 performances for JSerra at Woodbridge and are looking to gain more valuable experience for the Lions, who have elevated significantly since finishing 10th in the boys small school race last season at the ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Although Cathedral is only expected to have Emmanuel Perez and Emmanuel Hernandez competing in the Rob Brenner championship race Saturday, it will be another valuable experience for St. Francis and JSerra to compete against both state championship contenders.

Sonora’s Broen Holman and Albany’s Lucas Cohen are also scheduled to represent Division 4 in the Rob Brenner championship race.

Central Section showcase on display

The first meaningful opportunity of what could be four or five potential races for Central Section athletes at Woodward Park this season happens Saturday, with the Rob Brenner boys championship race including Buchanan, Clovis East, Clovis West, Matilda Torres and San Luis Obispo, along with Clovis North senior Teg Pandher and Templeton senior Joshua Bell.

Clovis East senior Carter Spradling finished 11th in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race Sept. 16 at the 42nd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, covering the 3-mile course in 14:10.8 at Orange County Great Park.

Spradling boasts a personal-best 15:16.3 at Woodward Park from the Central Section Division 1 final last season, after clocking 15:16.6 to place 14th in the Rob Brenner championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational. He has also raced the 5-kilometer layout once already this season, winning the title Sept. 22 at the Golden Eagle Invitational in 15:46.6.

Pandher finished 15th in 14:13.7 in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes at Woodbridge, but is still looking to eclipse the 16-minute barrier for the first time at Woodward Park.

Bell clocked 13:59.6 to secure sixth in the Doug Speck boys sweepstakes competition at Woodbridge. He ran 15:15.1 at Woodward Park at last year’s ASICS Clovis Invitational.

The Bill Buettner girls championship race is highlighted by Buchanan, Clovis North and Immanuel, in addition to Bakersfield Highland senior Mia Torrecillas and Clovis West sophomore Cameron Macias.

Torrecillas, who was 17th in 16:30.5 in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at Woodbridge, has run 17:46.8 at Woodward Park last season to earn eighth in the Bill Buettner championship competition.

Macias clocked 17:28.5 to finish fourth in the Bill Buettner championship race last season, becoming the second-fastest freshman competitor in Central Section history at Woodward Park.

Elle Lomeli of Buchanan ran 17:28.1 to take third in the Bill Buettner championship race, with Kynzlee Buckley clocking 17:36.1 to become the fourth-fastest ninth-grader all-time in the Central Section at Woodward Park.

Silver State stars taking on California’s finest

Led by two-time 5A state cross country champion Eleanor Raker of Galena High, several top athletes and teams from Nevada are scheduled to compete Saturday at Woodward Park.

Raker, a junior, is entered in the Bill Buettner girls championship race, looking to challenge the all-time Nevada girls performance on the 5-kilometer layout of 17:08, shared by Abby Miller of Green Valley in 1996 and Mel Lawrence from Reno in 2004.

Lawrence also boasts the top mark by a Nevada junior at Woodward Park with her 17:19 performance from 2005.

Raker, who is seeking her first career sub-18 effort in a 5-kilometer race, placed 11th last year at the CHAMPS Sports (now Foot Locker) West Regional meet last year at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. She also finished 16th in the championship race at NXR Southwest in Arizona.

Competitors from Bishop Manogue, Carson, Douglas, Fernley, Reno and Spanish Springs are also expected to compete.

Amaya Aramini of Bishop Manogue secured second in the girls small school varsity race in 18:16.2 at last year’s ASICS Clovis Invitational. She is scheduled to compete in the same field again Saturday, looking to eclipse the 18-minute barrier on the 5-kilometer layout for the first time in her career.

Bishop Manogue and Fernley aren’t the only out-of-state programs scheduled to compete in the girls small school varsity race, as Central Catholic High of Oregon is also expected to participate.

Tahoe Truckee, which competes in the Nevada postseason schedule, is also part of the girls small school varsity lineup.

Supporting Cast

There are several strong competitors that might not enjoy the same spotlight Saturday as the championship races, but are still capable of producing significant performances at Woodward Park.

Evie Marheineke of Archbishop Mitty returns in pursuit of a repeat in the girls medium school varsity race after prevailing last season in 18:16.6. Kylie Hoornaert, who was second in the race last year in 18:16.7, is also expected to compete.

Amaya Aramini and Ava Luczkow from Bishop Manogue in Nevada secured second and third in the girls small school varsity race last year in 18:16.2 and 19:06.6, respectively, and are both scheduled to race.

Kaitlyn Carmichael, who finished fifth in the girls large school varsity race last season in 18:58.3, is returning to the same section Saturday.

Aiden Aldana of St. John Bosco placed second in the boys medium school varsity competition last year in 15:34.9, contributing to a team victory. St. John Bosco will look to repeat in the same race Saturday.

Yosemite took third in the boys small school varsity race last season, led by Ben Olney and Jack Olney. They return for the Badgers, along with Lyle Phillips from Bishop O’Dowd, as all three athletes placed in the top 12 in the race last year.

Daniel Galvez of Sanger is the only returning top 10 competitor in the boys extra large school varsity competition from last year, helping the Apaches place third in the race. Galvez ran 16:15.2 to finish 10th.

Jaden Goetz and Taye Newman from Anaheim Canyon, who were ninth and 10th in the boys large school varsity race last season, are looking to help the Comanches improve significantly from their 10th-place performance in the section.

Making a fast first impression

The ASICS Clovis Invitational has a history of impressive performances by impactful freshmen and Saturday is expected to be no different, following four ninth-graders producing sub-18 efforts last year in the Bill Buettner girls championship race.

Molly Sundgren from Buchanan and Reese Holley of JSerra are both looking to achieve a sub-18 mark in their respective debuts in the Bill Buettner championship race.

Julia Salamacha of St. Francis Mountain View is another promising freshman looking to gain important experience at Woodward Park, in addition to Giselle Renney from Clovis North, Anna Hill of Corona Santiago, Sunny Schranz from St. Francis Sacramento and Ainsley Jackson of Immanuel.

Adrian Cantu and Ajay Saravanan of West Ranch are impactful boys freshmen athletes that are scheduled to compete Saturday, in addition to Noah Lay from Corona Santiago, Rafael Jopson of Carmichael Jesuit and Jose “Rico” Rodriguez-Mejia from Buchanan.