La Costa Canyon opens the 2026 CIF San Diego Section cross country season with both its boys and girls programs ranked in the preseason top 10, giving the Mavericks a legitimate shot at section hardware this fall.

The boys squad checks in at No. 8 and the girls at No. 6 in the San Diego Union-Tribune's preseason poll, published Tuesday, Aug. 18. The season's first meet was Aug. 10, and the next test comes Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Vaquero Stampede at Lindo Lakes.

Senior Kellan Fleck leads the boys side after earning 2025 All-CIF San Diego Section second-team honors at last year's section championships. He's joined on the runners-to-watch list by fellow senior Finn Reed, giving La Costa Canyon a veteran one-two punch at the front of the pack.

The girls are deeper. Junior Ellie Cooper returns after her own All-CIF second-team selection as a sophomore. Senior Hannah Gordon rounds out the Mavericks' watch-list contingent. Cooper and graduated senior Brianne Duynstee both made the 2025 All-CIF second team, meaning Cooper is now the program's top returning postseason performer.

Sage Creek, located in Carlsbad just north of Encinitas, also figures prominently. The Bobcats won both the Division 4 boys and girls section titles in 2025 and open 2026 ranked No. 1 among girls teams and No. 7 on the boys side.

The section's top individual threat is Mt. Carmel senior Jaxon Northcutt, the reigning Boys Runner of the Year who won the Division 2 crown by 11 seconds last fall and clocked 15:01.4 over 3.1 miles at the state meet. His Sundevils return five of the seven runners who placed 10th at state and sit atop the boys preseason poll.

For La Costa Canyon, the path to a section title runs through a deep field. Seven teams sit above the Mavericks in the boys poll, including No. 1 Mt. Carmel, defending Division 1 champion Poway at No. 3, and nearby rivals Del Norte, Westview and Torrey Pines. On the girls side, Sage Creek, Poway, Torrey Pines, Canyon Crest Academy and Westview all rank ahead of La Costa Canyon's No. 6 spot.

The section finals are set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at Morley Field, with the state championships following Saturday, Nov. 28, at Woodward Park in Fresno.

After Saturday's Vaquero Stampede, the invitational calendar picks up with the RB Bronco Invitational at Kit Carson Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, and the Ravens Invitational at Canyon Crest Academy on Saturday, Sept. 5.