Preview: San Diego athletes will run in the rain at Saturday’s cross country championships

CIF San Diego Section Cross Country Championships

When: Saturday

Where: Morley Field, Balboa Park (2.96 miles)

Tickets The event is free to the public, but parking is limited.

Schedule: Boys: Division 2 at 8:30 a.m., Division 3 at 9 a.m., Division 4 at 10:40 a.m., Division 1 at 11:45 a.m., Division 5 at 12:50 p.m. Girls: Division 2 at 9:30 a.m., Division 3 at 10:05 a.m., Division 5 at 11:10 a.m., Division 4 at 12:15 p.m., Division 1 at 1:20 p.m. The rain that is forecast for Saturday will not stop the races. However, CIF lightning policies will be in place.

Boys to watch: Poway’s Cooper Castleberry captured the Division 1 race a year ago and has had a breakout season. But at the Palomar League championships last weekend, Del Norte’s Cam Yarbrough and Poway sophomore teammate Blake Littrell beat him to the finish line. Mt. Carmel’s Jaxon Northcutt has been the Division 2 front-runner, but Scripps Ranch’s Brandon Sun was third here a year ago. In Division 3, Cathedral Catholic’s Nathan Wilber led the team to a Western League title, where the top five Dons runners were separated by only 45 seconds. Crawford’s Leo Lorenzano captured the Division 4 crown a year ago, but runner-up Miles Peak of Canyon Hills and La Jolla’s Jett Dailey were right behind him. Sage Creek is the team to beat. Division 5 is wide open this year, with Liberty Charter the defending team champion.

Girls to watch: La Jolla’s Chiara Dailey is going for her fourth consecutive title, and is expected to cruise to the Division 4 championship. The race of the day could be in Division 5, where defending champion Ayanna Hickey of Bishop’s will have her hands full with Francis Parker’s Ari Llorens, who beat her in the Coastal League championships last week, and Christian’s Elliana Patterson, who ran away with the City League title. Eastlake senior Jaelyn Williams, who like Dailey will attend Stanford, will be going for her third consecutive Division 1 crown after winning the Metro League title. Look for Division 2 returning champ Olivia Campos and Scripps Ranch’s Olivia Liu to battle it out while Santana’s Harper Diaz is back to defend her Division 3 crown. Cathedral Catholic, La Costa Canyon and Point Loma will battle it out for the Division 3 team title.

STEVE BRAND