As the rankings enter the top 10, we feature a girls team with depth and a boys' squad that has a strong front four.
As we approach the start of official NCHSAA cross country practices on July 30th, NCRunners will count down the top 15 teams in our Preseason All-Classes Team Rankings. The list began with the returning 5000 rankings from the 2011 cross country season, and then modifications were made based on improvements during the spring track season, runners lost, and recent program history. Bonus consideration was given to teams with tight packs (at least 3 of the top 5 within 30 seconds of each other) and front runners (under 16 minutes for boys, under 18:45 for girls). Subscribers can view the statistics that were used in the rankings process:
Returning 5000 Team Rankings
Boys | Girls
Returning 3200 Team Rankings
Boys | Girls
Returning 1600 Team Rankings
Boys | Girls
Boys Preseason #10 Team: Providence
Through four runners, the Providence boys are as strong as anyone we've ranked so far. Front-runner Wyatt Maxey, the #5 returner in the state, continues to show signs of improvement; this spring, he put up a PR of 4:25 in the 1600. The Panthers have three tightly-packed runners at 2-4, and both Joe Sullivan and Umang Damani ran well this spring. The big question will be at places 5 through 7, where the returning list shows a big drop-off. All it takes is for one young runner to step up and join the top 5, but even then an injury to the top 4 could be devastating to their season. If a few runners can develop into the 17:00 range to back up what they have back, then this could be a very good year for Providence.
| Providence | ||||
| 1) Wyatt Maxey | 15:45.00 | 4 | ||
| 2) Joe Sullivan | 16:41.00 | 77 | ||
| 3) Dylan Cohen | 16:41.00 | 79 | ||
| 4) Umang Damani | 17:02.00 | 140 | ||
| 5) Tyler Davis | 17:41.00 | 321 | ||
| Average Time: 16:46.00 -- Total Time: 1:23:50.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:56.00 | ||||
| 6) Mclean Burleson | 17:58.00 | 419 | ||
| 7) Mitchell Costa | 18:07.00 | 474 | ||
Girls Preseason #10 Team: Pinecrest
Word out of Southern Pines is that they have a very nice group of freshman girls; however, this ranking is based on returning runners, and the Patriots look good there, having lost only their #5 from last year's team. #1 gun Jennie Cunningham recently had surgery to repair a septum/sinus issue that had affected her breathing (and therefore her training) since January, so if she is fully recovered it could mean a step forward for her. This is a squad returning four sub-20 runners, and improvement during the spring by runners like Sarah Pressley (12:06 for 3200) and Zia Matti (12:37) will only bolster their strength. Unlike some of the other teams around them in the rankings, the Pincrest girls look to be extremely deep this fall and could easily overcome an injury anwhere from 2-5. This is shaping up to be a banner year for girls' cross country in our state, but if the Patriots can put it all together they have top-5 potential.
| Pinecrest | ||||
| 1) Jennie Cunningham | 18:42.00 | 16 | ||
| 2) Katie Hayes | 19:41.00 | 89 | ||
| 3) Jaleigh Jensen | 19:52.00 | 112 | ||
| 4) Sarah Pressley | 19:57.00 | 121 | ||
| 5) Sarah Klug | 20:48.70 | 248 | ||
| Average Time: 19:48.14 -- Total Time: 1:39:00.70 -- 1-5 Split: 2:06.70 | ||||
| 6) Hayden Rudd | 20:54.00 | 268 | ||
| 7) Mulloy Manning | 20:54.00 | 272 | ||