Madera Threatens South’s Cross-Country Dominance

Madera High of the Central Section will try to become the first non-Southern Section boys’ team to win the state Division I cross-country championship today at Fresno’s Woodward Park, and the Agoura girls’ team will try to break its streak of three consecutive runner-up finishes.

Madera and Agoura, the state’s top-ranked boys’ and girls’ teams and ranked third and second, respectively, in the nation by The Harrier magazine, won their section Division I titles last Saturday.

Newhall Hart, the state’s No. 2 boys’ team, will race Madera for the third time this season after finishing second to Madera in the Stanford and Mt. San Antonio College invitationals.

“I think we can beat Madera,” Hart Coach Gene Blankenship said.

L.A. City Section champion Belmont and runner-up Woodland Hills Taft could contend with Oxnard Channel Islands for a top-five finish.

The Agoura girls will be looking to unseat three-time champion Palos Verdes.

Seniors Louie Quintana of Arroyo Grande and Agoura’s Deena Drossin are the individual favorites for the Division I titles.