State Meet -- 5 Can't Miss Matchups Before the Main Event

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

The best race of the 28th state cross country championships at Woodward Park could be the final event of the day, the Division I girls final at 1:20 p.m., when Davis junior Fiona O'Keeffe, Palisades senior Marissa Williams and Great Oak junior Destiny Collins -- the top three finishers in last year's championship -- square off in a battle of national talents.
Before the marquee matchup, there are several compelling clashes that will decide state individual supremacy in other divisions. Here are five to keep an eye on:

1. Caroline Pietrzyk vs. Lizzie Lacy, Division IV girls final, 12:15 p.m.

The first showdown this season involving two of the state's elite seniors finally materializes, with both talents peaking at the right time after winning their respective section titles. Malibu's Caroline Pietrzyk, second last season at Woodward Park, and Menlo's Lizzie Lacy -- sixth in last year's final -- are not only seeking their program's first championships, but are in contention for individual berths to Nike Cross Nationals. Pietrzyk ran 17:52 last season and Lacy clocked 18:31, but they are both coming off impressive performances in their section finals. Pietrzyk repeated as Southern Section champion in 16:57 at Mt. SAC, with Lacy clocking 17:21 at the Central Coast Section final at Toro Park.

2. Kasey Knevelbaard vs. Trevor Reinhart vs. Jack Van Scoter, Division V boys final, 12:50 p.m.

The local standout, a former state winner and the leader of the potential state team champions will battle in the final boys race of the day. Immanuel's Kasey Knevelbaard, Marin Academy's Trevor Reinhart and Flintridge Prep's Jack Van Scoter make this a star-studded small-school showdown. Reinhart, the 2012 champion, took second last season behind Flintridge Prep's Alan Yoho, who set the division finals record of 15:11, and Van Scoter placed third. Knevelbaard has the most to prove after finishing 49th as a sophomore and 52nd last season, but demonstrated he is ready to erase past disappointments by running 15:09 at Woodward Park his league final.

3. North Coast Section's terrific trio vs. Southern Section's dynamic duo, Division III girls final, 10:05 a.m.

Although Las Lomas' Chloe Hansel, fourth at last year's state final, appears to be the favorite, there are five legitimate challengers for the Division III title. Campolindo's Brighie Leach took second last year and posted the fastest time Oct. 17 at the Roughrider Invitational at Woodward Park, with teammate Toni Finnane taking second. At the North Coast Section final Nov. 22 at Hayward, Hansel defeated Finnane and Leach, atoning for a third-place finish behind Leach and Finnane at the Diablo Foothill Athletic League final Nov. 8. Laguna Hills' Brianna Bartello, who captured the Southern Section title Nov. 22, has been as consistent as any runner in the state since winning the Mt. SAC Invitational sweepstakes Oct. 24. South Torrance's Kimberly Coscia, runner-up to Bartello -- 12th at last year's state final -- in the section, is the sleeper after placing 17th in the Division II state championship last season.

4. Chris Foster vs. Michael Teran vs. Brian Zabilski vs. Trevor Siniscalchi, Division II boys final, 8:30 a.m.

One of the most intriguing showdowns occurs in the first race with stars from three sections looking to take advantage of favorable morning conditions on the Woodward Park course in pursuit of their first state title. Los Gatos' Chris Foster is the Central Coast Section champion and Westview's Trevor Siniscalchi captured the San Diego Section crown, with Jurupa Hills' Michael Teran and Saugus' Brian Zabilski taking the top two spots at the Southern Section final. Foster defeated Teran and Siniscalchi at the Mt. SAC Invitational, which Zabilski didn't attend. Foster only trailed Arcadia's Phillip Rocha -- the Division I favorite -- among Southern Section athletes at the Stanford Invitational.

5. Megan McCandless vs. Southern Section stars, Division II girls final, 9:30 a.m.

Following a 30th-place finish in last year's Division I state championship, Granada's Megan McCandless has taken advantage of the new division to win the North Coast Section title and arrive at Woodward Park as the favorite after also winning her Clovis Invitational race at the Oct. 11 by a half-second over Citrus Valley's Claire Graves. Redondo Union's Amber Gore edged Graves by a four-second margin in a thrilling battle in the Southern Section final, which also included Saugus' Samantha Ortega, Tesoro's Amanda Gehrich and Murrieta Mesa's Taylor Taite. Ortega was third last season in the state final, Gore placed fifth, Gehrich finished seventh, Graves took eighth and Taite was also an all-state honoree in ninth, making this the deepest of the five girls championship races.