Girls XC Preseason Rankings: #6

<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>

Mary Prouty leads a Mustang team that has en extremely high ceiling, but some depth issues to address over the summer.

 

	Myers Park (NC)
	1) Mary Prouty		18:02.00	9
	2) Kate Eiselt		18:41.38	23
	3) Story Gourley		18:46.00	29
	4) Rachel DeMay		19:31.00	85
	5) Anna Albright		20:17.31	166
	Average Time: 19:03.54 Total Time: 1:35:17.69 1-5 Split: 2:15.31
	6) Olga Shokurova		21:07.57	333
	7) Abby Cmiel		21:42.53	456

How close is the 4A West going into this season?  In statewide, all-classes rankings, Myers Park is the top team by a wide margin; in projecting just this region, however, the Mustangs slip to 3rd according to the database.  There's a lot to like about the 2014 edition of this perennial power; they are one of only two schools in the state to return 3 sub-19 runners, for example.  They have some vulnerabilities, however, such as the big gaps between the returning 3, 4, 5, and 6 runners.  Depth is a major concern, as an injury to one of the projected top 5 could leave the team without a close replacement unless more sub-20:30 runners are cultivated over the summer.  Track results were somewhat thin, likely because the team's focus was on the 800 and 1600 rather than the 3200.  Myers Park has a solid track record when it comes to improving year-round, and there could be as many as 4 seniors in the top 7 this fall, so leadership should not be a problem.  The Mustangs have a knack for running well in big meets, perhaps due to the experience with pressure situations that comes from racing top-flight teams in the 4A West (not to mention some very strong 3A squads and everyone that comes to the invitationals at McAlpine...).  This team finished third in the state meet to go with second at the regional in 2013.  The ceiling for this team is very high, as the database predicts them as the 2nd-best 4A team, so don't be surpised if Myers Park ends up in the top 3 again this year.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 3rd

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 13th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: NR (not enough returning runners)

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 10.659 (7th)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 9.118 (13th)