With the recent race assignments released, this preview will be a bit different than the boy’s. I will actually look at each race instead of the bulk of teams attending. I will begin by breaking down the teams racing this weekend using the NCRUNNERS.com Cross Country Coaches Poll. Take a closer look at the teams who will be racing Saturday.
4A Girls: 8 of the top 13, #2, #4, #5, #7, #9, #10, #12, #13
3A Girls: 5 of the top 10, #4, #6, #7, #8, #10
2A Girls: 4 of the top 10, #4, #5, #8, #10
1A Girls: 4 of the top 11, #1, #3, #8, #11
1A/2A/3A NCISAA Girls: 4 of the top 11, #1, #2, #4, #11
Race Assignments: Championship | Varsity
The favorite has to be Providence High School in this race. Providence is ranked #2 in the NCRUNNERS.com Coaches Poll and also received votes in the Preseason NTN poll. Providence is led by “sprinter turned distance runner”, Jamie Van Tassell. Jamie bumped up to the 800 during the track season and then has put in a solid summer. She was pulled from the Providence Invitational, but not because she was struggling. Coach Zu had a plan for her. Look for them to run well as they begin their hunt of Chapel Hill’s girls.
Terry Sanford will use this race to continue to surprise teams in the 4A classification. They ran very well at last weekend’s Jungle Run, only losing to Pinecrest on their 6th runner. They have a very solid front 4 and could be dangerous should a 5th runner pop a good one.
The Pinecrest girls won the Jungle Run and are currently ranked #5 in the 4A Coaches Poll. Rumor is they were without their #1, Rebecca Dupre. Not sure if she is running this weekend, but you can still count on them to be at the top. Lauren Bishop is a talented runner and will do her best to hang near the front.
Forsyth Country Day was 2nd in the Varsity Race last year and then went on to win the 3A NCISAA state title. They have plenty of talent and experience despite being a young team. Emily Branch is their #1 but not far behind her are their next three. Look for this team to finish well and prove they can run with the big schools.
East Chapel Hill will use this meet to prove themselves on the larger stage. They defeated Walter Williams, one of the better 3A schools, with ease recently. They had a number of girl’s break 21:00 last year, but for some reason are only ranked #7 in the Coaches Poll.
Jacksonville’s girls are ranked #4 in the 3A Coaches Poll. They have a lot of talent are led by sophomore Kaitlyn Davis. Davis is coming off her victory and new course record at the Campbell Invitational last weekend. Ryanna Henderson will also help her near the front of the pack.
Durham School of the Arts has been making some noise early. They have beaten Cardinal Gibbons who is ranked #1 in the 2A Coaches Poll. Yesterday, they had 3 girls run around 20:30, and their next two in the 21:00s. One problem for them is that look to only have 5, as they have about a 5:00 gap back to #6.
Green Hope is ranked #4 in the 4A Coaches Poll. The only result seen from them this year was the Providence Invitational where it was extremely humid and hot. Morgan Youd led them and what helped was the 42-second gap from 1 to 5.
Other teams to watch in the Championship race: Cary HS who is ranked #10 in the 4A poll, Leesville Rd. who is receiving votes in the 4A Poll, Mt. Tabor has history on their side and a great #1, Williams in ranked #7 in the 3A Coaches Poll, South View’s girls were very competitive at the Jungle Run as they finished right behind Pinecrest and Terry Sanford
4A Girls: 8 of the top 13, #2, #4, #5, #7, #9, #10, #12, #13
3A Girls: 5 of the top 10, #4, #6, #7, #8, #10
2A Girls: 4 of the top 10, #4, #5, #8, #10
1A Girls: 4 of the top 11, #1, #3, #8, #11
1A/2A/3A NCISAA Girls: 4 of the top 11, #1, #2, #4, #11
Race Assignments: Championship | Varsity
Championship Girls Race – Teams
The favorite has to be Providence High School in this race. Providence is ranked #2 in the NCRUNNERS.com Coaches Poll and also received votes in the Preseason NTN poll. Providence is led by “sprinter turned distance runner”, Jamie Van Tassell. Jamie bumped up to the 800 during the track season and then has put in a solid summer. She was pulled from the Providence Invitational, but not because she was struggling. Coach Zu had a plan for her. Look for them to run well as they begin their hunt of Chapel Hill’s girls.
Terry Sanford will use this race to continue to surprise teams in the 4A classification. They ran very well at last weekend’s Jungle Run, only losing to Pinecrest on their 6th runner. They have a very solid front 4 and could be dangerous should a 5th runner pop a good one.
The Pinecrest girls won the Jungle Run and are currently ranked #5 in the 4A Coaches Poll. Rumor is they were without their #1, Rebecca Dupre. Not sure if she is running this weekend, but you can still count on them to be at the top. Lauren Bishop is a talented runner and will do her best to hang near the front.
Forsyth Country Day was 2nd in the Varsity Race last year and then went on to win the 3A NCISAA state title. They have plenty of talent and experience despite being a young team. Emily Branch is their #1 but not far behind her are their next three. Look for this team to finish well and prove they can run with the big schools.
East Chapel Hill will use this meet to prove themselves on the larger stage. They defeated Walter Williams, one of the better 3A schools, with ease recently. They had a number of girl’s break 21:00 last year, but for some reason are only ranked #7 in the Coaches Poll.
Jacksonville’s girls are ranked #4 in the 3A Coaches Poll. They have a lot of talent are led by sophomore Kaitlyn Davis. Davis is coming off her victory and new course record at the Campbell Invitational last weekend. Ryanna Henderson will also help her near the front of the pack.
Durham School of the Arts has been making some noise early. They have beaten Cardinal Gibbons who is ranked #1 in the 2A Coaches Poll. Yesterday, they had 3 girls run around 20:30, and their next two in the 21:00s. One problem for them is that look to only have 5, as they have about a 5:00 gap back to #6.
Green Hope is ranked #4 in the 4A Coaches Poll. The only result seen from them this year was the Providence Invitational where it was extremely humid and hot. Morgan Youd led them and what helped was the 42-second gap from 1 to 5.
Other teams to watch in the Championship race: Cary HS who is ranked #10 in the 4A poll, Leesville Rd. who is receiving votes in the 4A Poll, Mt. Tabor has history on their side and a great #1, Williams in ranked #7 in the 3A Coaches Poll, South View’s girls were very competitive at the Jungle Run as they finished right behind Pinecrest and Terry Sanford
Championship Girls – Invididuals
Apex – Cozzarelli, Hamilton
Cary – Azarelo, Christensen, Estermyer
Sanderson – Cook (individual)
Leesville Rd. – Strapp, Vasquez
Broughton – Williams
North Raleigh Christian School - Whiting
Enloe – Magee, Wetzel
SE Raleigh – Lapp
South Mecklenburg - Allen
Terry Sanford – Catlett, Rider, Christianson, Gilbert
Athens Drive – Love
Triton – Godwin
Cary Academy – Park (individual)
West Carteret – A. Talob, B. Talob
White Oak – Johnston
East Chapel Hill – Grant, Calderon-Guthe
Jacksonville – Davis, Henderson
Mount Tabor – Whittington
NW Guilford – Gillespie
Durham School of the Arts – Andrews, Marion
Forsyth Country Day – Branch
Weddington - Kapheim
Green Hope – Cox, Youd
Pinecrest – Bishop, Schustrom
Providence – Van Tassell, Costa, Paley
South View – Smith, Johnson
Williams – Ester