Girls Preseason Countdown: Complete from 1-30

NC 2015 XC Preseason Countdown
Jeff George

21. East Chapel Hill

The Wildcats have leadership in their corner: they have 4 rising seniors back among the five returners from last fall's state meet squad. One of them, Lily Price, is becoming a star after a spring season that saw her run 5:04 for the 160, and she has some unfinished business after she was unable to finish the state meet last fall. The team had good numbers participating in the distances during track, which should help them develop younger runners and improve depth. With a good summer, this team can repeat their state meet appearance and potentially move up toward the top ten.

  • Returning Ranking: 25th
  • 3-Year Improvement Rating: 24th
  • 5-Year Improvement Rating: 31st
  • Returning 3200 Team Ranking: 19th
  • Returning 1600 Team Ranking: 18th
1) Lilly Price 18:51.97 26
2) Maddie Fowler 20:28.90 183
3) Corey Pahel-Short 20:45.20 223
4) Anne Mcdonald 20:57.90 271
5) Emily Juel 21:17.00 342
Average Time: 20:28.19 Total Time: 1:42:20.97 1-5 Split: 2:25.03
6) Milena Wuerth 21:33.00 398
7) Ella Reifsnyder 21:48.00 446


22. A.C. Reynolds

This is a tough team to place. The Rockets lost a good bit of talent to graduation, but they do have solid returning track results (the first team in the countdown to rank in both the 3200 and 1600). They have been improving well over the last 3 summers, but don't rate well at all on the 5-year grade. This ranking is a bet that the 3-year pattern is the one likely to continue, and also a nod to the value of having one of the best runners in the state up front, allowing A. C. Reynolds to essentially go 4-on-5 against most opponents. This summer may be more critical for the Rockets than the last 3, however: if they are going to continue being a top 25 team, they need to cultivate depth.

  • Returning Ranking: 32nd
  • 3-Year Improvement Rating: 18th
  • 5-Year Improvement Rating: 35th
  • Returning 3200 Team Ranking: 15th
  • Returning 1600 Team Ranking: 26th
1) Anna Vess 18:18.70 9
2) Samantha Boeshore 19:40.40 86
3) Emma Himelein-Wachowiak 20:58.40 275
4) Olivia Pistor 21:43.00 428
5) Sophie Pruett 21:55.00 473
Average Time: 20:31.10 Total Time: 1:42:35.50 1-5 Split: 3:36.30
6) Sidney Perkinson 22:27.00 588
7) Christine Mirabal 22:29.00 601


23. Mount Tabor

Watch out for the Spartans in 2016 - behind their top two returning runners, who are both going to be seniors, the remaining members of the top 7 are all rising sophomores. Hopefully, Tabor will add Jenna Lineberry to that group - she didn't run cross country, but as a freshman she clocked 5:29 during the spring. Meredith Roberts looks like a potential #1 runner down the line after running 11:39, as well. Although the Spartan girls don't have quite the same improvement track record as their counterparts on the boys' team, they do have a solid history. This team will be good this year, and has the core to be a top-15 team in two years.

  • Returning Ranking: 23rd
  • 3-Year Improvement Rating: 14th
  • 5-Year Improvement Rating: 15th
1) Zia Wilson 19:40.55 88
2) Megan Elmore 19:48.10 101
3) Meredith Roberts 20:32.00 195
4) Brenna Kenney 20:45.10 223
5) Courtney Montgomery 21:31.48 394
Average Time: 20:27.45 Total Time: 1:42:17.23 1-5 Split: 1:50.93
6) Leah Messenkopf 21:48.00 445
7) Hannah Moore 22:03.00 495


24. Middle Creek

Small participation numbers in the spring season hurt the Mustangs. although the girls that did run had some good results (particularly Lauren Copperthwaite, who looks like she could contend for the team's #1 spot this fall). Depth is quite strong, as well - this is the first team in the rankings to have 5 returners under 21 minutes. This is a relatively young team, with only one senior in the returning top 7, and for that reason Middle Creek might not peak this year. The potential is certainly there for a top-20 finish by the end of the season, but to get there this squad will need a better summer than the team's improvement ratings indicate.

  • Returning Ranking: 16th
  • 3-Year Improvement Rating: 29th
  • 5-Year Improvement Rating: 27th
1) Elle Holliday 19:56.40 118
2) Katie Loughlin 20:13.90 148
3) Lauren Copperthwaite 20:22.60 166
4) Maggie Loughlin 20:28.70 182
5) Laura Perron 20:44.88 219
Average Time: 20:21.30 Total Time: 1:41:46.48 1-5 Split: 48.48
6) Allison Swagert 21:43.69 431
7) Jillian Carter 21:52.70 465


25. T.C. Roberson

Arguably the state's most storied girls' running program, the Rams have been hit hard by graduation over the last few years. The team still has depth, but it will lack the front-running firepower it has had in the past, and there are some warning signs that the team may be getting ready to experience a comparative lull. Participation in the distance events was down in the spring, with only one sub-6 minute miler returning. Year-to-year improvement over the last 3 years has also lagged behind Roberson's long-term record. If 5:30 miler Camryn Jansen joins the team for the fall (the rising junior has never run cross country) that will help a lot. Despite the indications of a down-turn, though, you cannot ever count out a program with this much history and this strong a culture of success.

  • Returning Ranking: 25th
  • 3-Year Improvement Rating: 25th
  • 5-Year Improvement Rating: 9th
1) Camille Long 19:47.00 98
2) Chesley Krug 19:48.00 100
3) Iris Howell 20:49.00 245
4) Abby Methvin 20:59.00 278
5) Sarah Lewis 21:10.00 317
Average Time: 20:30.60 Total Time: 1:42:33.00 1-5 Split: 1:23.00
6) Devin Hickman 21:36.00 409
7) Mary Motley 21:56.00 478