CdM boys’ cross-country comes into focus with small schools Orange County title

The playoffs for fall sports are around the corner, and with that in mind, the CIF Southern Section has increased the depth of its cross-country rankings.

For the first time ever, the section has expanded its polls to 16 teams per division. Teams that appear within those rankings that do not obtain one of their league’s automatic qualifying spots can now receive an at-large entry by appearing twice in the final four sets of rankings.

Corona del Mar High’s boys are among the list of local teams currently sitting inside the rankings, thanks to their strong showing in the Orange County Championships last Friday.

The Sea Kings won the small schools varsity race 76-78 over Servite, a spirited bout that saw both teams push five runners across the finish line among the first 30 competitors.

Normally, a program with the reputation of CdM would be competing in the sweepstakes race on Saturday, but three of the starters would have been unavailable. With respect to their high SAT scores, Joey Cianfrani, Josh Means and Ian Turner were invited to take the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“They’re a little bit too bright,” Sea Kings coach Bill Sumner said jokingly of his boys. “You don’t want to argue with them because they’re going to win the argument.”

Cianfrani paced the Sea Kings, placing sixth in 15 minutes, 59 seconds on the meet’s new course at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado. The Orange County Championships had previously been held at Irvine Regional Park.

Duncan Taylor (10^th, 16:07), Turner (12^th, 16:17), Means (19^th, 16:27) and Nico Pence (30^th, 16:53) rounded out the scoring quintet. There is time for growth, too, as none of the competitors for CdM’s varsity team were seniors. The Sea Kings ran five juniors, a sophomore and a freshman.

Orange County Championships served its purpose to CdM. The Sea Kings found out just how close the race is for the final state-qualifying spot in section Division 3.

CdM is ranked 10^th in its division, with Servite right behind at No. 11. The top seven teams in each division at the section finals advance to the state meet. Ocean View, which ran in Saturday’s sweepstakes race, currently holds down the seventh spot in Division 3.

Team times ran on the same course show that the margin between the would-be state qualifier in Ocean View (1:20:46) and Servite (1:21:53) is just over a minute. CdM’s time was 1:21:45.

Sumner went so far as to say that the margin is manageable up to the No. 4 spot, which is occupied by Bellflower St. John Bosco.

“All of those teams, including mine, are beatable,” Sumner said. “When I think of it that way, it kind of bothers me a little bit. I have to pick a team that I’m going to go after.

“There are a lot of things that can happen between No. 4 and No. 11 in CIF right now. There’s not a lot of wiggle room between those eight teams.”

Myles Aguilar headed a strong pack-running effort by Costa Mesa. The senior placed 15^th in 16:22, and the Mustangs took sixth as a team.

The girls’ small schools race saw a pair of outstanding times posted by local individuals. Diane Molina ran 18:12 to take second, finishing behind only All-County selection Lucina Vincent (17:56) of El Dorado.

Sage Hill senior Brooklyn Button finished third with a time of 18:33.

A healthy dose of Sunset League individuals made their mark in the Division 2 varsity races on Saturday. There were five that placed in the top 11 in the boys’ race, including the top three finishers.

Fountain Valley’s Esteban Prado won the heat in 15:40, and teammate Marc Tadros took seventh in 16:11. They helped spur the Barons (117 points) to a third-place showing. Woodbridge defeated Beckman for the title 51-108.

Huntington Beach junior Lars Mitchel was the runner-up in 15:46. Marina’s Luke Sutherland took third in 15:51, and Edison junior Cody Groom came across the line in 16:20 to claim 11^th.

Edison senior Avery Dorff (eighth, 19:06), Marina freshman Marikay Scwab (12^th, 19:17), Huntington Beach freshman Lindsay Rule (17^th, 19:24), and Newport Harbor freshman Isa Glassen (27^th, 19:54) were the top runners for local girls’ teams in Division 2.

This weekend presents a dilemma for cross-country teams. They must choose between the tradition of the Mt. SAC Invitational and the practice run offered by the Riverside Invitational. The section postseason moved to the Riverside City Cross-Country Course from Mt. San Antonio College two years ago when the renovation project for Hilmer Lodge Stadium began.

CdM and Sage Hill will compete on the famed hills of Mt. SAC on Friday.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner