Bellarmine College Prep looks like an overwhelming favorite to win the boys team title at Central Coast Section track and field championships Friday.

But the competition for a girls team title looks to be extremely tight.

Valley Christian will get a lot of points in the throws. Elena Bruckner and Ronna Stone should go 1-2 in the shot put and discus and freshman Athiya Iese should score in the shot put.

But that will be all the Warriors will score after a hurdler and high jumper who were expected to advance did not qualify at last weekend's trials.

"We're going to need help," Valley Christian coach Josh Small said. "Los Gatos is the favorite."

Los Gatos won the girls team title two years ago but was nosed out by Gunn last year. The Wildcats' status as favorites this year is a bit tenuous. "Our dope sheet has us two points up on Valley Christian," Los Gatos coach Ernesto Salinas said.

Salinas made the decision to have multi-event standout Caice Lanovaz compete in only two individual events -- the 100 hurdles and triple jump -- in order to have her run on both relay teams. Los Gatos had the fastest qualifying time in both the 4x100 relay (48.07) and 4x400 (3:54.12) but will face stiff competition in each, primarily from St. Francis (48.11) and Piedmont Hills (3:54.80).

In terms of quality performers, the boys high jump field will include two of the state's top four jumpers -- Darius Thomas of St. Francis (7-0) and Darius Carbin of Mt. Pleasant (6-11).

But Carbin is also entered in the long jump, triple jump and 110 high hurdles, so this probably will not be his week to focus on the competition with Thomas or on clearing 7 feet for the first time.

Mt. Pleasant should also get points from defending champion Kurt Felicitas in the triple jump, as well as in the long jump, pole vault and sprints.

But Bellarmine has entrants in 11 events.

The Bells go in as the favorites to win the 4x100 relay, the 800 with sophomore Ben Micallef, the shot put and discus with Marshall Godsil and possibly the pole vault with Andrew Lind.

"It will be very difficult for anybody to beat Bellarmine," Mt. Pleasant coach Steve Nelson said. "I think we'll score 50 or 60 points, which is usually enough to win. But Bellarmine will score 80-plus points."