Girls XC Preseason Rankings: #19

<p> <span style="font-size:14px;">NCRunners is counting down the top 25 girls teams heading into the fall season. &nbsp;The full rankings will be released on the first day of official practice: Friday, August 1st. &nbsp;These are subjective rankings (not computer generated); they take into account returning team rankings, returning team averages, team rankings in the 1600 and 3200 from indoor and outdoor track, and a school&#39;s &quot;Improvement Rating.&quot; &nbsp;Improvement Rating is a custom metric developed by researching the improvement in a team&#39;s 5-person average from year to year, in comparison to that same team&#39;s ranking. &nbsp;Improvement Rating numbers and methodology will be released on the weekend of August 2nd.</span></p>

A young but experienced West Forsyth team has the opportunity to seize power in the graduation-depleted Midwest 4A.

 

	West Forsyth (NC)
	1) Ellen Spencer		18:48.00	36
	2) Ashley Smith		18:51.30	39
	3) Mackenzie Newsome		19:55.59	129
	4) Savannah Goodin		20:36.39	249
	5) Jenna Cartwright		21:21.24	387
	Average Time: 19:54.50 Total Time: 1:39:32.52 1-5 Split: 2:33.24
	6) Lizzy Glontz		21:54.12	490
	7) Sarah Timberlake		21:54.50	491

Oh, how graduation can change things from year to year!  In 2013, West Forsyth's girls were the last Midwest 4A team in the state meet after advancing as the 3rd-place team from that region.  This year, the Titans are projected as potential regional champions, thanks to significant losses at Mount Tabor, Grimsley, and Reagan.  This team showed progress through their team 3200 ranking during outdoor track, and also has a strong record of year-to-year improvement.  If they can survive what looks like a very competitive regional, West Forsyth is positioned to be a top-10 team at the 4A state meet with another summer of their typical improvement.  Depth is the main concern; while the Titans have two sub-19 returners, they also only have 4 returners under 21.  It will be imperative for this team to develop at least one more girl that can go 20:30 or faster, and 3 would be excellent, but it doesn't have to happen this year; with only one senior on this squad, a run to the top 10 this year could be the springboard to something greater in 2015.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 19th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 27th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 17th

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 8.514 (13th)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 8.025 (17th)