2025 Boys Preveiw.

 It's Wide Open!

This year's boy's individual battle has no clear favorite. Instead, we have a whole gang of guys who've been running in the low 16 minute 5k range and have had some high finishes at invitationals, but none, so far have had a breakout moment.  Sounds like an opportunity for some competitive racing where the boys push themselves to the next level.  

On paper, the top 5k time coming into the race is owned by Beckett Aston of Templeton High.  Beckett ran 16:07 at the Waller Park "Goose Chase" Inviational earlier this year and has run 4:28 for 1600 on the track. .  However, as we all know, cross country courses can vary widely in their "speed rating" and there are a number of boys who have times close to Beckett.  

Alessandro Pimentel of Hughson has run 16:18 this year and has a 1600 best of 4:30.  Leandro Montoya of North Monterey County has run 16:17 at Clovis thisy year, and Isaac Barragan of Merced has a 5k best of 16:11 so far this season.

Perhaps the most intriguing candidate for the win is Jeyden Lemes of Del Campo.  Lemes comes into the meet with a 5k PR of 16:09 at the Kim Duyst Invitational, but also boasts a 400m track PR of 48.62, a mark that placed him 5th at the Sac Joaquin Section masters meet.  That is impressive range for the senior from Fair Oaks and he will certainly be dangerous if he's in contention when the race enters the stadium.  

Lemes of Del Campo boasts great finishing speed. 

Check out the boys' "Top 10 Contenders"

Boys Team Battle

For the boys teams, it looks like the battle for the champions' backpacks will be between: Merced, Pleasant Grove, and Hughson.  2 weeks ago, Merced placed 2nd in the championship division at the Amanda Garcia   Memorial Invitational.  Hughson has been the #1 team in the Trans Valley league all season and last weekend placed 7th at the Clovis Invitational, D6 race.  D4 Hughson has faced D3 Merced already at the "Screamin' Scott" Inviational.  In the unusual 4 x 1.5 mile relay format, Merced got the better of Hughson, with Barragan pulling away on the last leg.  Both teams are running without one of their top 5, but Hughson boasts impressive depth for a small school and may absorb the loss of a key runner a little better..

Meanwhile, Pleasant grove comes in with an impressive resume as well.  They have been the #1 team in the Division 1 Delta League.  They also recently won the open division at the Amanda Garcia Invitational.  PG is led by the duo of: Cruz Solis, and Dane DeMille, both of whom are featured among our top 10 contenders.  

Or....it could be someone completely different. 

The beauty of racing is that you never actually know who will win, who will PR and who will lay an egg until the gun actually goes off.  

We look forward to seeing you all out at Husky Memorial Stadium on Saturday.