Girls XC Preseason Rankings: #11

<p> <span style="font-size:14px;">NCRunners is counting down the top 25 girls teams heading into the fall season. &nbsp;The full rankings will be released on the first day of official practice: Friday, August 1st. &nbsp;These are subjective rankings (not computer generated); they take into account returning team rankings, returning team averages, team rankings in the 1600 and 3200 from indoor and outdoor track, and a school&#39;s &quot;Improvement Rating.&quot; &nbsp;Improvement Rating is a custom metric developed by researching the improvement in a team&#39;s 5-person average from year to year, in comparison to that same team&#39;s ranking. &nbsp;Improvement Rating numbers and methodology will be released on the weekend of August 2nd.</span></p>

The Leesville Road Pride are a rising team that hit a peak during indoor season and has the potential to make noise this fall.

 

	Leesville Road (NC)
	1) Nevada Mareno		18:23.47	16
	2) Taylor Hemming		19:16.80	65
	3) G'jasmyne Butler		19:49.40	116
	4) Jordan Mareno		20:20.05	177
	5) Sydney Winchel		20:23.67	194
	Average Time: 19:38.68 Total Time: 1:38:13.39 1-5 Split: 2:00.20
	6) Phoebe Clawson		21:42.30	455
	7) Leah Behrends		22:19.80	597

Talk about a perplexing team to rank!  The Pride has a huge amount of talent up front, although we're guessing at least a few are soccer players judging by how they disappeared in the spring.  Nevada Mareno became a legitimate star during indoor track, and a consistent coaching staff helps after some turmoil a few years back.  On the other hand, there is little depth after the #5 returner, leaving the team vulnerable to injury or illness.  Track results were thin (except for the 800, where Leesville Road would rank 10th in the state on team average), and the team's Improvement Rating is not high (probably as a consequence of the coaching turnover).  The Pride finished 4th in the tough Mideast 4A last year with two seniors in the line-up; the team will have only one senior in the projected top 7 for 2014, and the database projects Leesville Road as 3rd in the regional and 6th in the 4A state meet.  If this team can cultivate depth this season, they will be legitimate contenders for the top 5 at the 4A state meet, and could be on the verge of the top 3 in 2015.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 10th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 19th (ranking only 4 runners)

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: NR (less than 4 runners with times)

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 7.268 (17th)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 5.966 (24th)