Great Outdoor Provision Co. Preview: Greensboro Invitational

When it is dry and the weather is cool, grassy Hagan Stone can produce very fast times; guess what the forecast says for Saturday?

 

Girls Championship

Teams to Watch

This could be a great race, as there is not a single team that grades out with less than 120 points in the virtual meet.  Chapel Hill, Reagan, and Carrboro all score within 10 points of each other based on times so far this year, and therefore any of the three could win.  Not far behind, we see a much-improved Grimsley squad as the last of the top-tier teams in this event.  Bishop McGuinness looks like a top-5 team here, but will have a hard time getting higher than fifth.  Behind the Villains, there will be a massive scrum for the remaining spots in the top 10.

 

Individuals to Watch

Anna McBride (Davie) is definitely the class of the field, and under the great racing conditions that are forecast (a far cry from last years deluge) she should dominate this race.  Malia Ellington (Community School of Davidson) is running in Raleigh, though her teammates will be here, and so the next-best time this season belongs to freshman Blair Ramsey (Grimsley).  She will have to battle Emily Grimes (Reagan), Gabby Merritt (Greensboro Day), and Grimsley teammate Gabby Maudiere for spots in the top 5.  Expect Jennifer Stephenson (Village Christian) to stick with that group, as well, and Indy Reid-Shaw (Orange) is a very strong runner in her own right.  Don't let Chapel Hill's Tristin Van Ord fool you with her times so far this season; she has an 18:33 PR and will be right in the thick of the action Saturday.  Emily Dunn (Allatoona GA) is the only other runner to have broken 19:30 so far this fall.

 

Virtual Meet

(Including all HS teams signed up for the meet)

 

 

Boys Championship

Teams to Watch

Chapel Hill appears to be the team to beat in this race, as they continue to improve toward what could be another NCHSAA 3A state title this year.  Reagan ranks second but scores nearly 80 points more than the Tigers, although there doesn't appear to be much of a threat to move the Raiders out of second place.  Unless something strange happens, those two are pretty much set in stone.  After that, however, the team race could get interesting.  East Rowan, Grimsley, Pine Forest, Bishop McGuinness, Panther Creek, and Terry Sanford all grade out within 40 points of each other, so the competition for the third-place trophy should be hot.

 

Individuals to Watch

Philp Hall (Terry Sanford) continues to impress during his sophomore season  by running aggressively; this could be his race to break away and show that he can pace himself well when alone at the end of a race.  If anyone is going to push him, it will be Clayton Wilson (Greensboro Day) or Tima Karginov (Chapel Hill), the only other runners in the field that have broken 16 this fall.  Matthew Farmer (Rural Retreat VA) and Collin Loy (Southern Alamance) have broken 16:20, and they are projected to round out the top 5 in a field that doesn't really show any large groups until you're in the high 16:20's.  Keep an eye on Chris Reeder (Chapel Hill), who has a PR of 15:51 bit has struggled a bit this fall, perhaps fighting (or recovering from) a trianing injury.

 

 

Virtual Meet 

(Including all HS teams signed up for the meet)