Girls XC Preseason Rankings: #17

<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>

Millbrook, a consistently strong team over the last three years, will try to move out of the shadows of the other Mideast 4A powers.

 

	Millbrook (NC)
	1) Emily Pettis		18:19.00	16
	2) Parker Burns		19:41.35	104
	3) Maya Celetti		19:41.39	105
	4) Kaylie Hinckley		20:10.60	159
	5) Gabby Sturla		21:14.00	361
	Average Time: 19:49.27 Total Time: 1:39:06.34 1-5 Split: 2:55.00
	6) Halle Lutz		21:53.40	489
	7) Anna DePollo		22:04.80	527

Over the past three years, Millbrook's girls have quietly been one of the strongest programs in the state, regardless of classification.  I say "quietly" because they have been overshadowed by some other programs in their area; nonetheless, the Wildcats have an average final rank of 12th (for all classes) over that span, and they grade out as the 8th-best year-to-year improver during that time frame as well.  With a budding star in Emily Pettis to score low points up front, if this squad continues its 3-year trend you can expect them to advance out of that buzz-saw they call the Mideast 4A, and that in turn would make Millbrook a strong candidate for a top-8 finish at the 4A state meet (they finished 7th last year).  Depth is the big concern; after the loss of their #2, 5, and 7 runners to graduation, the Wildcats need to cultivate their bottom 3 runners and close the huge gap between their returning 4th and 5th.  They can take a patient approach, as there is only 1 senior in the team's projected returning 7, and that means we should all look out for this "quiet" program to make some noise in 2015.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 14th (tied)

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 23rd (ranking 4 runners per team)

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 6.602 (21st)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 12.149 (8th)