Today's spot in the rankings reveals a boys' program on the way back to past glory, plus a girls' team with real power up front.

 

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 #6 Team: Watauga

Watauga's boys return the best 1-2 combination of anybody in the state in Peter Vandenberg and Josh Anderson, although Peter is recovering from a rough track season in which he was hardly able to race.  On the other hand, all but one of the teams ranked ahead of the Pioneers have five returners who have broken 17 minutes; Watauga only has three.  Their returning 4 and 5 were very close, however, and reports from Boone say that Michael Holland is also on track to drop under.  It's a bit hard to measure their improvement over the spring, as several of their runners concentrated on the 1600 and/or the 800, but Bryan Brackney (4:35) and Dustin Hickernell (4:39) had solid outdoor seasons.  This program enjoys a double geographic advantage: they have some of the best weather in the state over the summer, and also some of the best running locations close by.  Don't discount the effect that lower temperatures have on summer training; one day last week, when the high was 87 in Winston-Salem and 84 in Asheville, it was 77 in Boone.  The Pioneers are proud participants in a program with one of the deepest and proudest traditions in our sport, and this looks like the best Watauga boys' team in years.

 

	Watauga
	1) Peter Vandenberg		15:49.00	7
	2) Josh Anderson		16:00.00	14
	3) Bryan Brackney		16:23.00	35
	4) Avery Pitts		17:03.00	145
	5) Dustin Hickernell		17:06.00	153
	Average Time: 16:28.20 -- Total Time: 1:22:21.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:17.00
	6) Luke Johnson		17:31.00	274
	7) Michael Holland		17:32.00	278

 

 

Girls' Preseason #6 Team: Broughton

Few teams have the potential firepower up front that Broughton could bring this fall.  In addition to returning #1 runner Mattie Blue, the continued development of basketball player Megan Sullivan gives the Caps a 1-2 punch that will be hard to top.  The team did lose their 3rd and 5th runners from last fall's squad, but if runners like Ayla Gizlice (11:59 for 3200 this spring) and Allison Berger (5:31 for 1600) continue to develop, they should be able to fill in the gaps.  Keep an eye on Kristen Gardner, whose 12:30 in the 3200 indicates she might be ready to break 20 minutes this fall.  Broughton will need all of them to improve, because if this team has an achilles heel among its returners, it will be in the depth department.  This is the highest-ranked team that does not return at least four sub-20 runners, and that could cancel out the benefit of their top two if not corrected.

 

	Broughton
	1) Mattie Blue		18:42.00	15
	2) Megan Sullivan		18:46.10	20
	3) Kelsey Moore		19:22.00	56
	4) Alison Berger		20:06.57	142
	5) Ayla Gizlice		20:25.48	182
	Average Time: 19:28.43 -- Total Time: 1:37:22.15 -- 1-5 Split: 1:43.48
	6) Jackeitha Baker		20:26.00	184
	7) Lee Anna Mcmillan		20:50.00	255