The 34th Annual Stanford Invitational kicks-off Saturday afternoon at the Stanford Golf Course. Each year, many of the top high school from around the west coast travel to Palo Alto, CA looking to showcase their talents. This year's boys field matches up three of the top teams in Oregon with one of the top teams in California, while a big-time individual battle rages on. The girl's race displays similar talent, with teams coming from as far away as Texas, seeing how they match up to some top California squads.
Stanford Invitational - Meet Preview
Stanford Invitational MileSplit.us Meet Page
Boys Race
The race of the day takes place in the boys varsity race. While the team race highlights the cross country course, the individual match up proves to be the winner. A clash of champions happens, when MileSplit.us #1 ranked German Fernandez (Sr., Riverbank, CA) goes head-to-head with FL West ranked Mohamed Abdalla (Sr., Willow Glen, CA) and Taylor Morgan (Sr., Central Catholic, OR). While tearing up the courses all around California, Fernandez is the obvious race favorite. However, Abdalla and Morgan compete seldom early in the season, and given they can stay with Fernandez through what promises to be a blazing first mile and half, both should have a shot to win as well. Fernandez is the king until proven otherwise however.
In the team race, Central Catholic (OR), Crater (OR), Jesuit (OR) and Arcadia (CA) hold the top four spots as pre-race favorites. Crater, coming off a big win at the Bob Firman Invitational, races with a burning desire to win. Central Catholic's experience plays a vital role for team success here as well. While Crater and Central Catholic battle at the top, Jesuit and Arcadia fly under the radar a bit, but having their perfect race plans executed properly, either team challenges for the win as well.
Girls Race
While the college races and boys varsity race overshadow the girls main race, the teams here are plenty strong to make it an exciting race. The top three girls teams, The Woodlands (TX), Mountain Ridge (AZ) and Torrey Pines (CA), make the race a deep one. Mountain Ridge comes off a big win last weekend, while senior sisters Nadya and Nastia Bishton could potentially finish 1-2 on Saturday. The Woodlands lost to two other Texas teams last weekend, but look to bounce back big, and prove to them that they are a great team. The California favorite, Torrey Pines, lead by example, and if their front runners can stay a stride behind the Bishton twins, TP may win.