CIF State XC Championships Preview - Girls Division 4

Girls Division 4

State Rankings (by Finished Results Media)

1. JSerra

2. Placer

3. Harvard-Westlake

4. La Jolla

5. Scotts Valley

6. Archie Williams

7. Oaks Christian

8. La Canada

9. Palos Verdes

10. High Tech High

JSerra is attempting to become the seventh girls program in California prep cross country history to win at least seven state championships at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The Lions also have the potential to become the fourth school to win all seven girls state titles in the same division, along with San Francisco University’s 11 championships in Division 5, Great Oak’s eight Division 1 crowns and Campolindo’s seven Division 3 titles.

JSerra is also the only lineup in any division pursuing a fourth consecutive crown Saturday, which would be the longest streak for the Lions following their three straight championships from 2010-12. 

La Jolla junior Chiara Dailey has an opportunity to become the sixth female athlete in division history to win back-to-back titles, including the first since Malibu’s Claudia Lane in 2016-17.

Chiara Dailey (La Jolla, 11/16/2024)

Dailey was unable to compete Oct. 12 at the 45th ASICS Clovis Invitational, so Saturday’s race will be her first this season at Woodward Park.

Dailey secured victory last year in 17:09.2 on the 5-kilometer course in Fresno. She boasts a personal-best effort of 17:07.3 at Woodward Park from last year’s ASICS Clovis Invitational.

Dailey has the potential to become the fourth athlete in the division to eclipse the 17-minute barrier at Woodward Park, joining Albany’s Sophia Nordenholz, Olivia Williams of Acalanes and Lane.

Dailey captured her third consecutive San Diego Section championship Nov. 16 at Balboa Park’s Morley Field, leading La Jolla to a three-peat as well with a 48-78 triumph against High Tech High.

With South Pasadena elevating to Division 3 this season, most of the potential challengers for Dailey will come from the JSerra lineup, which is led by senior Sophie Polay.

Sophie Polay (JSerra, 11/23/2024)

Following an unfortunate fall by La Canada senior Maya de Brouwer in the final 10 meters during the Southern Section final Nov. 23 at Mt. San Antonio College, Polay was able to rally to win the championship.

The Lions had six athletes in the top 20 to prevail against Harvard-Westlake by a 29-102 margin, including Chloe Elbaz and Reese Holley taking third and fifth, respectively, in addition to freshman Kaia Streadbeck finishing seventh. Kaylah Tasser, who earned eighth for JSerra in last year’s state final, is also expected to compete Saturday.

Chloe Elbaz (#672, JSerra, 11/23/2024)

JSerra achieved the lowest score in division history last season with 40 points and has the potential to eclipse that total, in addition to challenging its own all-time mark of 89:41 at Woodward Park.

Placer, which placed 12th in the Division 3 state final last year, but has emerged as a potential podium contender competing in a new division after placing five athletes in the top 15 – including senior Olivia Passafiume capturing the individual crown – to win the Sac-Joaquin Section championship Nov. 16 with a 31-79 triumph against Christian Brothers at the Willow Hills Course in Folsom.

Olivia Passafiume (Placer, 10/11/2024)

Frannie Perry, a senior at Templeton, won her third straight Central Section crown, including her first in the division following back-to-back Division 3 titles.

Frannie Perry (Templeton, 10/11/2024)

Perry placed 23rd in the Division 3 state final last year, but has the potential to challenge for all-state honors in Saturday’s championship race.

Anna Villavicencio, a junior at Woodlake, was runner-up behind Perry at the Central Section final, but has the potential to elevate significantly following a 33rd-place finish last season at Woodward Park.

Ava Decleve of Scotts Valley won the Central Coast Section title, also leading five scorers in the top 20 for the Falcons, who produced a 49-76 victory Nov. 16 against Mills at Crystal Springs.

Decleve placed 15th at last year’s state meet, helping Scotts Valley earn eighth as a team.

Ani Stieg won the North Coast Section individual championship and also led Archie Williams to the team title, as five athletes finished in the top 30 in a 58-75 win against Acalanes.

Ani Stieg (#124, Archie Williams, 10/11/2024)

Stieg could achieve one of the biggest improvements in the division after placing 60th in last year’s state final, in addition to helping Archie Williams challenge for a podium finish.

Taryn Warren of Del Lago Academy, who finished second behind Dailey at the San Diego Section championship, is also motivated to improve on her 51st-place effort last season.

Riverbank’s Giselle Fernandez, Morro Bay’s Shelby Taylor, Sacred Heart Prep’s Sophie Cheung, Casa Roble’s Brooklyn Rozumowicz, Marlborough’s Maddie Giorgio, Oaks Christian’s Delaney Napierala, Rosary Academy’s Belen Santiago, Harvard-Westlake’s Jia Rhee, Bishop Amat’s Madeline Nilo, Hannah Nourse of Laguna Hills, Micah Redding from Colfax and Coastal Academy freshman Lindsey Billotte are also capable of earning all-state recognition.

By Erik Boal