The 2025 Cool Breeze Invitational: A Season Opener Preview

The 2025 Cool Breeze Invite, hosted by Claremont (Southern Section), will be the first major high school cross country event of the season in California. Held at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California on August 30th, this meet is a crucial early test for many of the state's top programs. As athletes and teams hit the line for the first time, here are the key squads to watch.

Key Boys Teams to Watch

Newbury Park (Southern Section)

Newbury Park has one of the most dominant high school cross country programs in the nation over the last several years. While their historic trio of Lex Young, Leo Young and Aaron Sahlman have moved on to the collegiate level, the Panther program is known for its incredible depth and a powerful system of developing talent. The Cool Breeze Invite will be an early opportunity to see who is stepping up to lead the next generation of this cross country dynasty. Expect to see them at the front of the pack, even with a new-look roster.

Great Oak (Southern Section)

Another program with a history of success, the Wolfpack will be toeing the line to compete for a Cool Breeze Invite title. Great Oak finished in a very strong sixth place last year at the California Division I State championships, showing their continued resilience and ability to compete at the highest level. This meet will be a chance for them to establish their dominance early and set the tone for the season. Look for them to run as a tight-knit pack, a classic hallmark of their program.

San Clemente (Southern Section)

San Clemente proved they are a team to be reckoned with by placing a respectable eighth in the Division I team battle at the 2024 CIF State Championships. The Tritons consistently field a deep and well-coached squad, and their performance at Cool Breeze will be an important indicator of their fitness and potential to challenge for a podium finish at the state level again this year. They are a team built for the long haul and this invite is a key stepping stone.

Key Girls Teams to Watch

Santiago Corona (Southern Section)

The Sharks enter the season having lost two of their elite runners, Rylee Blade and Braelyn Combe, who were a major part of their recent success. However, the strength of the Santiago program lies in its depth and coaching. The 2025 season is a chance for the next wave of talented runners to step up and prove their own mettle. The Cool Breeze Invite will be a true test of this youth and a great opportunity to see who is ready to lead the team into a new era.

JSerra Catholic (Southern Section)

The multi-time Division IV state champions are looking to open their season with a strong statement at the 2025 Cool Breeze Invite. JSerra is a powerhouse in their division, and this meet provides a chance to race against some of the top programs from larger divisions. Their performance here will be a key indicator of their ability to compete with the top teams in the state, regardless of school size.

Oak Park (Southern Section)

Oak Park had a very solid showing in the 2024 CIF State Championships, finishing fifth in Division III. The team is well-positioned to build on that success in 2025. Their performance at Cool Breeze will be a good measure of where they stand against other top Southern Section teams and could signal that they are ready to break into the state's top-ten rankings.

Martin Luther King (Southern Section)

Led by Elizabeth Jacklin, who finished 17th at the Division I California State meet last fall, the Martin Luther King squad took 10th overall on the team side. Their veteran leadership, combined with a core of returning runners, makes them a strong contender for a high finish at Cool Breeze. This is a program on the rise, and they will be looking to start the season with a strong showing.

– Jacey Farmer