Getting close to the top now!  Last year's 4A boys champs are here, plus a girls' team with a good shot to win this year's 3A title.

 

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 #3 Team: Broughton

The teams ranked 3rd through 6th in this series are so close to each other, really any of them could have fallen into any spot.  What makes Broughton stick out as potentially the 3rd-best team in the state this year, then?  How about four returning runners who ran under 9:50 for the 3200, the top fleet of two-milers in the state during the spring season?  You could also consider the five returning runners under 4:33 in the 1600, also the best group in the state.  Although the Caps took the biggest hit from graduation of any team in our top 4 (they lost their first and third runners from the fall season), that kind of incredible improvement shows that they are ready to reload.  In particular, the arrival of John Dalton Rohr (4:22 for 1600), who will be running cross country for the first time this fall, should have a big impact on the top 5.  Depth seems like it might be a bit of an issue behind their front five, but that can be solved with a strong summer, and this is a program whose tradition and attitude supports hard work and success.  Call Broughton the early, slight favorites to repeat as 4A state champions, but it's really too early to anoint anyone just yet.

 

	Broughton
	1) William Roberson		15:56.50	9
	2) Allen Lawrence		16:28.70	48
	3) Asher Smith-Rose		16:29.00	49
	4) Peter Millsaps		16:59.62	128
	5) Will Sandin		17:09.40	165
	Average Time: 16:36.64 -- Total Time: 1:23:03.22 -- 1-5 Split: 1:12.90
	6) Rollings Freeman		17:51.00	380
	7) Max Hardin		17:59.60	430

 

Girls' Preseason #3 Team: Chapel Hill

If you have looked at the raw returning 5K rankings using 2011 times (link above), then you have seen that there is actually a three-way tie for second place, and Chapel Hill is one of those teams.  In order to try to split them for these rankings, I had to look at a lot of factors.  First, the measurables: the Tigers only lost their #7 runner from last fall's squad, and they had strong spring seasons from top runner Tristin Van Ord and depth runner Kathleen Cannon (12:21 for 3200).  They also return four sub-20 runners and a group of three solid candidates to improve toward that mark this fall, plus Van Ord is a strong front-runner.  Then, there are the intangibles: a reputation for one of the strongest summer programs in the state, a culture of hard work and success, and arguably the richest tradition in this sport of any North Carolina school.  Cross country is the featured season for Chapel Hill runners, and that type of approach helps them develop as well as (or better than) any other team over the summer.  One other unmeasurable characteristic commonly associated with Chapel Hill: they have a knack for finding talented freshmen, and even one this fall could put the Tigers over the top and into the 3A championship.

 

	Chapel Hill
	1) Tristin Van Ord		18:33.00	10
	2) Emily Williams		19:03.00	37
	3) Camille Gossett		19:21.00	54
	4) Alexa Young		19:31.00	67
	5) Shannon Mumper		20:05.00	137
	Average Time: 19:18.60 -- Total Time: 1:36:33.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:32.00
	6) Rosie Kerwin		20:21.00	172
	7) Kathleen Cannon		20:43.00	231