CHAMPIONSHIP OVERVIEW

Some 1,600 runners from more than 200 teams will compete in the state cross-country championships today at Woodward Park in Fresno. The meet begins with the Division III boys’ race at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with the Division II girls’ race at 1:20 p.m.

BOYS

Division I

Team favorites: Long Beach Poly, the No. 2-ranked team in the nation by Harrier magazine, is favored to win its third title in four years and give the Southern Section 13 Division I boys’ championships since the state meet began in 1987. Rialto, second to Poly in the Southern Section championships, and Central Section champion Clovis are expected to battle for the runner-up spot.

Individual favorites: J.J. Duke of Clovis ran 14:56 to win the individual sweepstakes race of the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational on Oct. 21 and placed sixth in the state meet last year. Ozzie Pina of Long Beach Poly ran 15:09 to win the team sweepstakes at Mt. SAC and clocked 15:04 in winning the Southern Section title at Mt. SAC last Saturday.

Keep your eyes on: Senior Efrain Olivares of Hoover, who will try to become the fourth runner from that school to place among the top 10 finishers in a boys’ Division I final. Olivares was fifth in the Southern Section meet.

Division II

Team favorites: Canyon has been the top-ranked team in the state for most of the season and should win if healthy. The Cowboys defeated No. 5 Rubidoux, 80-111, for the Southern Section title even though No. 4 runner Ryan Morgan ran 29 seconds slower than his best at Mt. SAC after missing several days of school because of the flu. Carmichael Jesuit, Rubidoux, St. John Bosco, Sultana and Eureka all appear capable of winning should Canyon falter.

Individual favorites: Steven Murray of Santa Margarita won the Southern Section title by 10 seconds. Shaun Lyle of Eureka and Yong-Sung Leal of San Lorenzo Arroyo are other potential winners. Nick Zoetewey of Canyon could be in the title hunt if he’s recovered from a cold that slowed him the last two races.

Keep your eyes on: Sophomore Phillip Reid of Rio Mesa and a Burbank team led by senior Thomas Harley. Reid finished fourth in the Southern Section championships and improving Burbank placed fifth in the section final.

Division III

Team favorites: Defending champion Bosco Tech was the favorite a week ago, but No. 6 Norwalk upset the Tigers, 70-92, for the Southern Section title. Los Gatos and Corcoran, which finished first and second in the Division III sweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational, also appear capable of winning.

Individual favorites: Matt Sartor of Redding Enterprise is a clear favorite with his biggest challenges expected to come from Stuart Eastman of Placer, Southern Section champion Puneet Mahan of Norwalk, Russell Martin of Los Gatos and Hector Figueroa of Corcoran.

Keep your eyes on: The teams from Newbury Park and Nordhoff, which finished fourth and fifth in the Southern Section final, despite running subpar races. Two of Newbury Park’s top five runners were recovering from colds in the section meet and Nordhoff went out too quickly in the first mile and faded badly.

Division IV

Team favorites: Defending champion McFarland has been the top-ranked team in the state all season and should win an unprecedented eighth state title. Riverbank, Southern Section champion Oak Park and Estancia are expected to battle for the runner-up spot.

Individual favorite: Defending champion Ryan Hall of Big Bear is the heaviest favorite in the meet because his 14:28 clocking in the Southern Section championships broke the Mt. SAC record of 14:32 set by Jeff Nelson of Burbank in 1978. Billy Nelson of Taft, near Bakersfield, and Andres Gomez of McFarland appear to be the best of the rest.

Keep your eyes on: Senior Mark Nevers of Oak Park, who is trying to place among the top three finishers for the third consecutive year.

Division V

Team favorites: Santa Clara, top-ranked team in the state for most of the season, and two-time defending champion Flintridge Prep are expected to stage another close battle. Santa Clara defeated Flintridge Prep, 54-62, for the Southern Section title after finishing two points in front of the Rebels in the Division V sweepstakes race at Mt. SAC.

Individual favorites: Defending champion Tom Kubler of Viewpoint and 1999 runner-up Henry Hagenbach of Cate have split two races this season. Kubler defeated Hagenbach for the Southern Section title and their places were reversed in the Division V sweepstakes race at Mt. SAC.

Keep your eyes on: Seniors Bobby Hull and Michael Reed of Santa Clara, who could give the Saints a big boost toward their first state title if they can place among the top 10 finishers.

GIRLS

Division I

Team favorites: Buchanan, top-ranked team in the state, won the team sweepstakes race in the Mt. SAC Invitational, but No. 2 Peninsula is coming off a runaway victory in the Southern Section championships in which the cumulative time of its top five runners was the second-fastest ever run on the Mt. SAC course.

Individual favorites: Undefeated Anita Siraki of Hoover is heavily favored to win her second consecutive title after setting a slew of course records--including a 16:38 clocking at Mt. SAC--this season. Julie Allen of Fountain Valley, runner-up last year, freshman Liza Pasciuto of Murrieta Valley and Natalie Stein of North Hollywood could lead the pack chasing Siraki.

Keep your eyes on: Quartz Hill. The Rebels don’t have a standout front-runner, but they’ve been extremely consistent this season and placed second in the Southern Section meet.

Division II

Team favorites: Santa Rosa Montgomery is the No. 9-ranked team in the nation, but Sultana is coming off an impressive victory over Santa Ana Foothill, Canyon and Woodbridge in the Southern Section final.

Individual favorites: Sara Bei of Montgomery, who won Division III titles in 1997 and ‘98, and the Division II race last year, is trying to become the state’s first four-time champion. But it won’t be easy because Amber Trotter of Ukiah has beaten Bei twice this season.

Keep your eyes on: Laura Jakosky of Agoura, who placed sixth in the past two state finals but is having the best season of her career.

Division III

Team favorites: Defending champion Felton San Lorenzo Valley is the No. 10-ranked team in the nation, but Nordhoff’s 58-87 victory over La Canada in the Southern Section final has the Rangers looking like good longshot pick.

Individual favorites: Defending champion Alejandra Barrientos of San Lorenzo Valley won by 23 seconds last year, but she hasn’t been as dominant this season after sustaining a stress fracture in her right leg during track season. Jenny Aldridge of Santa Rosa Mario Carrillo and Kelly Ortieb of Redding Foothill placed third and sixth last year. Shannon Rowbury of San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral beat Barrientos for the Central Coast Section title.

Keep your eyes on: Freshman Lindsey Owen of Nordhoff, who won the Southern Section title by 45 seconds and appears to be peaking at the perfect time.

Division IV

Team favorites: Corona del Mar is heavily favored to win its second consecutive title with Oakland Bishop O’Dowd, Altaville Bret Harte and Maranatha battling for second.

Individual favorites: Laura Meyers of Maranatha and Bridget Duffy of Berkeley St. Mary’s are co-favorites.

Keep your eyes on: Freshman Lauren Morales of Oak Park, who placed second to Meyers in the Southern Section final.

Division V

Team favorites: Chadwick snapped San Francisco University’s title streak at three with a 56-59 victory last year and those two teams should fight it out again.

Individual favorites: Clara Horowitz of Oakland Head-Royce is heavily favored to win her second consecutive title with Kristin Cohoon of Chadwick leading the pack behind her.

Keep your eyes on: Lancaster Desert Christian, which finished fourth last year and third in 1998.