2026 XC South SJS Distance PreSeason Rankings

Given that the South SJS region is so vast, XC runners in different leagues only rarely compete head to head against each other. Add to it being pre-season so no one has even run yet, thus you can see why ranking individuals at this time of the year is so difficult. So what did I go off of?...well I used their track times from last spring. I prioritized their 3200m times, then 1600, then 800. As in past years if you believe that I have mis-ranked you or your team...well you are welcome to tell me all about it. But I would suggest that you use it as fuel. SHOW ME how wrong I am by running faster. I love being shown just how wrong I am.

  

BOYS INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS 

FIRST TEAM 

LANDON WILSON 11th (Sonora)--His times of 9:18 and 4:29 put him a notch above the rest of the field. He should roll through the TVL and could win the D4 section title. Made 1st team all South SJS last season

 

DOMINIC URTEAGA 11th (Golden Valley)--Dom met all three of the All South SJS Distance marks last season while being an absolute work-horse for the Cougars. His impressive marks were 9:25, 4:23, and 1:59.

YAIR GONZALEZ 11th (Atwater)--Like Dom Yair also met all three All South SJS Distance marks. However unlike Dom, Yair improved in leaps and bounds and was really finding his true potential at the end of track.His best times were 9:27, 4:24, and 1:59. Made 2nd team all South SJS last season

 

WESTON MCGHEE 12th (Oakdale)--Weston also hit all three marks in track. He has a easier season in the VOL compared to having to race Dom, Yair, James, and Isaac (and others) at every league meet. . Weston achieved marks of 9:26, 4:28, and 1:59. Made 2nd team all South SJS last season.

 

ALEX MEJIA HIDALGO 12th (Beyer)--maybe Alex should be at the top of this list. Certainly no local male left a larger imprint on last Spring's track season than Alex. His marks of 1:53.32 and 4:10.39 were historic. But will that success translate to cross-country? Will Alex stay interested and motivated in the weakened WAC?

IVAN RODRIGUEZ 12th (Modesto)--Ivan will likely be the top runner in the CCAL although several Turlock runners will make him work for that honor. In track he produced times of 9:36 and 4:26.

 

JAMES BARAJAS 12th (Golden Valley)--James like his teammate Dom ran a huge number of races last track season. He has the potential to emerge on top in the CCC. In track his best times were 9:40 and 4:29.

 

QUINN BACA 12th (Oakdale)--Quinn's track season was a bit inconsistent. The Mustangs will need his best game to hold off Patterson in VOL competition. He ran 9:44 and 4:35 in track.

 

ISAAC BARRAGAN 12th (Merced)--Isaac was injured/recovering for all of the track season, but in XC he was beaten only once in CCC competition (by Yair). I fully expect that he will be racing during XC at that level. Made 1st team all South SJS last season

ETHAN SAMULSKI 11th (Beyer)--I could have put anyone from the second team into this slot and justified the selection. It was Ethan's 3200 mark of 9:50 (and 4:33 in the 1600) that grab him the honor. He also has the most untapped potential and thus room to grow. I think he will be Robin to Alex's Batman and have a huge XC season.

 

SECOND TEAM 

ARMANDO GARCIA 12th (Riverbank)-- Was 2nd team all South SJS last season--4:34, 1:58

MAX PEREZ 12th (Sierra)--4:33

RICKY BARRON 11th (Atwater)--missed the entire track season but was 2nd team all South SJS Distance last season

GAVIN MARTIN 12th (Turlock)--9:52

ISAIAN VARGAS 12th (Atwater)--4:36, 9:56

ELI PIMENTEL 12th (Pitman)--4:35, 10:04

ELI SCOTT 12th (Pitman)--4:32, 1:59

PORTER PETTY 10th (Turlock)--10:19, 4:35, 2:02

AIDAN DENIZ 11th (Merced)--10:00

ZAYN HAMILTON 12th (Turlock)-- was 2nd team all South SJS last season. If he had not been relegated solely to the 800 during track he may have been and probably deserves to be considered for the 1st team. 2:00

 

BOYS TEAM RANKINGS

1. Atwater

2. Oakdale 

3. Turlock

4. Hughson

5. Beyer

6. Patterson

7. Golden Valley 

 

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS 

FIRST TEAM 

ANAHI RUIZ VELASCO 9th (Beyer)--she had arguably the best frosh track season ever by a local female runner with times of 10:48, 5:09, 2:26. Her biggest WAC competition may come from within her own team.

ELEANOR HAMPTON 11th (Merced)--was 1st team all South SJS last season. Does she ever have a bad race..the answer is no. She will be tough to beat in the CCC. 10:49, 5:10

 

JAYLYN CARRILLO 10th (Patterson)--was 2nd team all South SJS last season. Jaylyn was literally just a step behind Anahi on the greatest frosh season meter. My only question is with out the top senior Patterson girls (now graduates) will Jaylyn stay hungry and keep pushing? 10:50

 

FERNANDA CORTES 12th (Golden Valley)--Fernanda was good in XC last year but developed even further in tack. I expect her to run step for step with Hampton in CCC races. 10:50, 5:01, 2:21

 

ANNA DITTMAN 11th (Sierra)--was 1st team all South SJS last season. Anna got injured part way through track last season. She rebounded toward the end of the season but not quite to the level she was during XC. She and Jaylyn and Addison could really go at it in VOL competition. 11:19. 5:08, 2:25

 

ROSELYNN DOMINGUEZ 10th (Modesto)--with times of 11:21 and 5:08 Roselynn is the top returner in the CCAL even as a soph.

 

ADDISON WYLIE 11th (Oakdale)--was 2nd team all South SJS last season. Addison is the anchor of the Oakdale team that is surely hoping to qualify for State. Her best times are 11:22 and 5:13.

 

GISELA HERNANDEZ 10th (Turlock)--in track Gisela never ran the 3200 although I think that could be her best event. A coaching change my be to her benefit. Time will tell if she can stay with Roselynn in CCAL competition. 5:19, 2:25

 

 

TYLEAH BADEA 12th (Beyer)--was 2nd team all South SJS last season. It appears that Tyleah has bounced back to Beyer. That is good news for a loaded but young Patriot squad. In half of a track season at Sierra, Tyleah produced times of 12:00, 5:03, and 2:12.

 

GABRIELA HICKS 12th (Golden Valley)--like with the last boy on the first team, this spot on the girls' first team could have gone to almost any of the girls on the second team, but I focused on the 3200m results and Gabby had a faster 3200 than any of the remaining girls. It was her 11:40 that grabbed her this spot.

 

SECOND TEAM 

MORGAN EMERY 11th (Lathrop)--12:31, 5:14, 2:20

MAGGIE BECCHETTI 11th (Hughson)--11:46

ANNIE SERVIN 10th (Beyer)--11:46, 5:20, 2:22

MYLIE OLSON 12th (Turlock)--5:20, 2:18

EMMA LYNN HOGAN 12th (Central Catholic)--11:48, 5:27, 2:20

SADIE THOMPSON 12th (Sonora)--11:51

TENLEY WYLIE 10th (Oakdale)--11:55

AUBRI VILLA 12th (Golden Valley)--11:56

KYLIE FAST 12th (Oakdale)--12:00, 5:23, 2:25

GRACE BENITEZ 12th (Hughson)-- 11:59, 5:26, 2:24

  

GIRLS TEAM RANKINGS 

1. Beyer

2. Golden Valley

3. Oakdale

4. Hughson

5. Turlock

6. Atwater

7. Calaveras/Riverbank