Sage Hill boys’ cross country preview

Sage Hill Lightning

League: Academy

Coach: Nate Miller (14th year)

Athletes to watch: Patrick Hines (Jr.); Edward Goul (Jr.); Alexis Machaca (Jr.); Cameron Knollenberg (So.); Brian Slaughter (Jr.).

You should know: The Lightning were eighth at CIF Southern Section Division 5 finals last year, missing advancing to state by one place ... Sage is ranked No. 7 in the Division 5 preseason poll this fall, though Miller believes that may be a bit generous with three of the team’s top five placers from CIF finals in 2012 off at college ... Knollenberg was 35th at CIF finals and Machaca was 73rd to score that day, though Miller considers Hines a clear team front-runner this season ... Slaughter, a baseball player, is new to the sport ... Other contributors include Parthiv Worah (Jr.) and Nick Andras (So.).

— Barry Faulkner