Key Losses
Key Returners
End of 2015 Rank - 2nd
Preseason Rank based on 2015 times - 2nd
2015 State Meet Finish - 2nd
In a year where the top 3 girls teams are separated by just 25 points in out return rankings, it's hard to accurately rank the three squads. Last year Green Hope's state title streak came to an end where they were dethroned by Cardinal Gibbons. They graduated their top 2 girls in Elly Henes and Morgan Adams, and also their 5/6 Shannon Kelly and Katie Tomasi. Last year they narrowly missed out on having their entire top 7 under 19 minutes, and when you see someone lose so much you'd think they'd be up for a rebuilding year, but that isn't the Green Hope way. They have an incredibly large girls program that produces tremendous talent year in and year out. This year they will be lead by Alessandrea Rodriguez who will be going into her sophomore year. Rodriquez ran 5:03 and 10:56 on the track and was 5th in the 1600 at outdoor states. Will she be the one to fill Elly Henes' roll this year?
Sarah Taylor is a rising senior and is coming off of a strong junior track season. Taylor ran 5:14 for 1600 and 11:22 for 3200. Taylor narrowly missed out on the outdoor state meet as she finished 5th in the 3200 at regionals. Taylor holds state XC finishes of 60th and 35th and has been right around that 19 minute barrier since her freshman year. She will hope to finally go sub 19 this season. Samantha Kolor is also a rising senior who is coming off a break out season on the XC course. Kolor dropped her PR by a minute last season and made the top 7 for the first time in her career for Green Hope. Kolor capped off the season with a 19th place finish at states a week after finished 17th at the regional meet.
Emma Benson is coming off a good freshman season, but has a lot of room for improvement this XC season. Benson didn't run outdoor track and had a limited indoor season. It'll be questionable where Benson's fitness is as she heads into the fall XC season. Emily Jordan is heading into her senior season and has been a sub 20 runner in her previous 3 years at Green Hope. I believe Jordan has struggled with injuries recently as she didn't race a bunch outdoors and was limited on the XC course as well last fall. Jordan coming back and staying healthy throughout the season is a must for Green Hope this fall. They also have a talented group of girls that'll be fighting to get into that top 7 this fall. Lauren McLaughlin, Morgan Peele, Meg Penaganti and Bailey Fowler head that group. Penaganti and Fowler were just freshman last year and didn't run XC last fall. Despite the huge loss Green Hope suffered from graduation it would not surprise me one bit if they were just as good, or better, than they were last season.