2A Girls
Talk about saving the best for last! This might be the best individual race of the day, as 2013 2A winner Ralene Kwiatkowski (Carolina Day) takes on defending 2014 champion Jennifer Stephenson (Village Christian). As if that wasn't enough, Melissa Zammitti (Davidson Day) returns to the NCISAA after two years in public school, and SHE took the title in 2012! That's right - the last 3 individual champions in this classification will square off one more time in cross country before Stephenson graduates. The three met once already this season, at the Hare & Hounds Invitational on this very course, and Stephenson won that battle narrowly over Kwiatkowsky. Since then, Zammitti has posted the best result, breaking 19 at McAlpine (and Kwiatkowski ran 19:09 on a tough Furman course). There should be a HUGE chase pack filled with girls looking to break 20 for the first time, but that group will be well back from the three contenders up front.
This could also be the best team battle of the meet, as two Asheville rivals separated by only 11 miles will go head-to-head 130 miles from home. Our database favors Asheville Christian, who won in 2012 and 2013; however, Carolina Day is the defending champion, and they will not go down without a fight. The Lions and Wildcats have meet in 5 major meets this season, and in all 5 Asheville Christian has outscored Carolina Day - but in all 5 races, Carolina Day has been close, including a 2-point loss in the CAA Championship last week. Both teams are capable of winning on Friday, and they know each other very well, which only makes the strategy even more interesting! The wild card is St. Thomas More Academy, whose Olivia Lackner should be near the front of the chase group.