State cross country

With the core of last year’s team in place and the experience of having competed in a state cross country meet, expectations are higher this time around for Pacific Grove.

A Central Coast Section Division IV championship has only heightened that as the Breakers will look for a top 10 finish Saturday at the State cross country divisional finals at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Last fall Pacific Grove finished 15th as a team. Three of its top four runners from last fall are back in Jake Alt, Henry Loh and Will Stefanou.

Alt, who has been bothered by a sore ankle, came back for the section meet to help the program to a section title. Stefanou and Loh have dropped significant time from last year, as Loh was fifth at the section finals and Stefanou seventh.

Joining them in Division IV for the first time in school history is Marina, who is anchored by Coastal Athletic League champion Christopher Plascencia and Robert Valencia.

Palma distance ace Sam Lavorato is going back to the Division IV state finals for the second straight year after finishing third overall at the section finals.

Overcoming a virus two weeks ago, Lavorato has dipped under 16 minutes over three miles this fall, capturing the Gabilan Division title.

Greenfield, which finished 12th last year at the state championships in Division IV, is in Division III this year after finishing second at the CCS finals.

Rigo Garcia was a part of last years state qualifying team, as was Julian Arias, Mauricio Arias and Luis Meza.

Peter Maciel, who led Alisal to a Gabilan Division team title, will be competing in the State Division I championships.

Sophomore Angela Leavitt is returning to the State Division V championships for Notre Dame for the second straight year after finishing second at the section finals.

Last season Leavitt finished 36th at the state finals. The distance ace won the Gabilan Division title this year, going undefeated in league competition.

Stevenson freshman Anna Watson will join Leavitt in the state finals, finishing eighth overall at the CCS Division V finals two weeks ago.

Carmel’s Colleen Lang and Rachel Suess both qualified for the Division IV championships. The pair went 1-2 earlier this month to help their team to a Mission Trail Athletic League title.