For three consecutive seasons, the Royal High distance program has produced one section track champion.

With four members of the school's nationally ranked boys' cross country team qualified, Royal has four chances to extend that streak today in the CIF-Southern Section Divisional Finals at Cerritos College.

Michael Cybulski, recovering from a hip stress fracture, returns as the two-time Division I champion in the 3,200-meter run. Teammate Alex Routh was third at last week's Prelims with a personal-best time of 9 minutes, 18.94 seconds.

State-ranked Hudson Andrews and Jun Reichl are among the nine finalists for the 1,600.

Cybulski is one of five defending section champions, joining Westlake's Cory Primm, Division II boys' 800; Anna Sperry, Simi Valley, Division II girls' 1,600 record holder; Rosanne Fleming, Oaks Christian, Division IV girls' 1,600; and Lauren Radke, Oaks Christian, Division IV girls' pole vault.

A campaign for an unprecedented third consecutive boys' 3,200 state championship for Cybulski was interrupted by the hip injury this winter that halted his training. He missed nearly two months of competitive racing, returning for the Marmonte League finals. At last week's Prelims, Cybulski had a season-best time of 9:19.91, far off his 2006 best of 8:52.54.

"It has been day by day with Michael," said Royal distance coach Ryan Luce. "Our approach is that he has nothing to lose. He is starting to get his racing legs back. His rythmn looks good. Will it be enough? I wish that we had a few more weeks."

Andrews' time of 4:11.33 at the Arcadia Invitational last month ranks as one of the state's season bests for the 1,600.

"Hudson has the opportnity to be up there if he plays his cards well," said Luce. "He could run a 4:08, but he has to get out there and commit."

Like Routh, Reichl had a personal-best of 4:19.87 in the 1,600 last week.

"Jun finally had a race where he could go out and run," Luce said. "He's dialed in for the mile. Jun definitely has a 4:15 in him."

What Royal and other section runners are looking forward to today is the refurbished track facility at Cerritos College.

Cerritos replaced its battered and beaten track with a new top-of-the-line mondo surface.

A fast track and good weather could be ideal for some record-setting performances.

One record that appears in danger is the Division II boys' 800 time of 1:51.60. Primm has bettered that mark several times this season, including a national best of 1:49.50.

Sperry set a Division II record for the girls' 1,600 last year with a 4:46.77, beating eventual state champion Christine Babcock of Woodbridge. The two will likely have rematches in the 1,600 and 3,200 finals.

Rio Mesa and J.W. North could approach the 24-year-old Division II record for the boys' 4x100 relay (40.90).

That event could be the springboard for either team toward the Division II team championship. J.W. North, Loyola and Rio Mesa are ranked among the top three teams.

Josh Harrison, Quentin Greenlaw, Sean Alfino and Steven Richards carry Rio Mesa's hopes. Harrison will be one of the favorites in three individual events long jump, 100 and 200. Greenlaw qualified in the 200 and 400.

Another possible record breaker is Agoura discus thrower Derek Johnson.

Johnson ranks No. 2 in the nation with a best of 205 feet, 5 inches, which ranks 10th on the all-time state list. The Division II record is 202-0.

In winning her Division IV girls' 1,600 title last year, Fleming ran 5:13.14.

The top nine overall performers today will qualify for the Masters May 25