Boys XC Preseason Rankings: #9

<p> <span style="font-size: 13.63636302947998px;">NCRunners is counting down the top 25 boys 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>

Hoggard has already made the leap into the top 10 with an impressive 2013-2014 school year, but it gets harder to make the next jump.

 

	Hoggard (NC)
	1) Ben Schmidt		15:46.25	16
	2) Graham Parker		16:07.94	35
	3) Nathan Sudduth		16:19.81	59
	4) Robinson Snider		16:40.94	120
	5) Sydney Wiegman		17:15.74	246
	Average Time: 16:26.14 Total Time: 1:22:10.68 1-5 Split: 1:29.49
	6) Gunner Philipp		17:57.00	461
	7) Carson Edwards		18:50.00	770

Talk about a meteoric rise!  In 2012, Hoggard was 7th in the 4A East regional (not considered one of the toughest regions in the state); one year later, the team finished 3rd in the regional and followed that up with a 9th-place finish at the 4A state meet.  The Vikings lost two graduates from that squad, but the experience gained by the rising seniors (the top 3 returners on the team) will be one key for the upcoming season.  The improvement continued during track season, with Graham Parker showing signs that he could challenge returning #1 Ben Schmidt, with both having 15:30's potential (Parker will be the #8 returner in the state in the 1600).  The only hitch: depth is a huge concern, with large gaps between the returning 5th, 6th, and 7th runners; if that issue is not resolved, then a single injury or poorly-timed illness could destroy Hoggard's season.  In many ways, it is harder to improve from a top-10 team to a top-5 team than it is to get into the top 10 in the first place, which is why the Improvement Rating doesn't reward big gains by teams with low rankings.  If the Vikings have the motivation to make the next step, this front five is projected as 4th-best among returning 4A teams, and 3rd place is not out of the question.

Important Data:

• 2013 XC Returning Ranking: 6th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 6th

• 2014 Outdoor Returning Team: 8th

• 5-Year Improvement Rating: 5.745 (20th)

• 3-Year Improvement Rating: 5.310 (19th)