4A Preview: Gut Feeling

In this preview NCRunner's will list which 4 teams we see advancing to the state meet and offer our own unique analysis.  The top teams and individuals you say?  That will be next week.  Why you might ask?  We need all the web hits we can muster, seriously.  We will start off in the West and work our way to the East. 

4A Men’s Preview

4A West: @ McAlpine

Now when looking at the region, the Southwestern conference is going to dominate.  The top two spots will be taken by them, and then the third spot will be taken by Watauga.  Then places four through six will belong to the Southwestern. 

Now it comes down to who we think will win the region.  Popular belief and looking at the top returning runners will tell you its Ardrey Kell in a landslide.  We even have believed it ourselves.  There’s no way Myers Park is even going to be close to them in the team scores.  But what about last year at regionals?  We saw the conference meet last year, and AK dominated.  Our next principle to guide us on picking the top team: is to go with our gut.    So were picking AK for the top spot, MyersPark in second. 

Hold on. 

Wait a second.  If were going with our gut for these choices then we can’t be a hypocrite on the very first choice.  A little investigation digging reveals the JV race for the conference meet.  Does this hold any value for the upcoming season? No.  Is it important? Somewhat.  Why is that then?  Well we look at the JV runners as the future of the team, and when you put 1 through 10 in a race it’s impressive in that you don’t have to worry about depth issues.  Replacing Zizi and Deloache, will be hard but there’s someone who can do it.  So going with our gut and not our brain we pick MyersPark in a squeaker over Ardrey Kell. 

The last spot should be up for grabs from three teams: Weddington, South Mecklenburg, and Providence.  It’s should fairly close like it was last year.  Now what does my gut tell me?  I see Alex Taylor of Providence winning regionals, and then winning quite a lot in track.  But the one runner that I see as a hot stock is Cameron Wells of South Meck, and I’m going to say he is one of the underrated runners in the city of Charlotte (although he’s still behind Steven Bollinger and Kenyetta Iveyebele of Olympic.  Seriously if I ran a running website I would be pumping interviews and articles on them left and right…oh wait), the improvement he did in cross was ok, but what was impressive was the improvement in track.  That said it’s going to be close between Providence and South.  That’s why we at NCRunners we choose South Meck to get the last spot at Regionals.  We have a strong belief in Cameron and also believe that the number 2 runner Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco) will rise to the occasion. 

4A Midwest @ Tanglewood

The state championship course is where the Midwest is holding it’s regional meet.  Were going to go ahead and say that Northwest Guilford is going to run away with this region.  They return their top 5 and we don’t see any school with a Forsyth in it challenging them. 

That was easy.  Now for the rest of the region and it looks somewhat similar to last year’s results.  We like East Forsyth for second place, Mount Tabor for third place, and taking the last spot in a reverse of last year West Forsyth edging out RJ Reynolds. 

4A Mideast @ WakeMed Soccer Park

Were going to go out on a limb and say the eventual champion will come from this region.  Now we’ve heard and seen on message boards about a certain runner leaving his school for another one.  NCRunner's has been notified and wont get into the rumor mill.  When we look at last year’s regional results and then compare them to the state meet, we can’t believe the scores from one week to the other.  Broughton wins the state meet but finished a distance third in the region.  Green Hope had four runners in the top ten and yet they couldn’t pull it off one week later.  Of course were all to familiar with this, a team can rise up to the occasion for one meet and then have a letdown the following week. 

Now we have to say that this is probably the last year of the Triangle schools dominating 4A.  Mooresville and TC Roberson come into play, and it looks like the West or Midwest will again take control of this classification, as Chapel Hillmoves down to 3A.

For the teams were picking to advance:

• We have one question regarding Green Hope, why are their uniforms maroon?  I don’t see the connection at all, the school has Green in it’s name shouldn’t their uniforms be green?  This is the sort of thing that keeps me up at night.  Their mascot is the falcon.  I’ve never seen a maroon falcon, and for that case I’ve never seen a green falcon either.  We have to conclude that’s how they do it in Cary. 

• Chapel Hill.  While we don’t like Cary that much, we absolutely love the city of Chapel Hill (better yet Carrboro), but that’s not why we are picking them.  The program they have is outstanding, and with Taylor Gilland back and healthy, the rest of the team will come along.  Why?  Because they always do.

• Broughton.  Raleigh our four years in the city weren't the best, and we haven't been there in 3 years.  The state champions had an excellent race last year when it counted, and they showed that a team pack can with it all.  Put them down for the same thing, and look for them to peak when it counts.

• Enloe.  The team that finished second at states and regionals, but not at conference.  They were really close last year and our crystal ball is a little foggy right now.  Our judgment is unclear on what to do.  We might need some outside intervention in helping us out with this pick.

Picking the teams in order:

1. Green Hope (NCRunners has faith in you, don’t let us down…seriously)
2. Broughton
3. Chapel Hill
4. Enloe

4A East @ UNCW course 

Going East NCRunner's got some help from our Fayetteville Bureau Chief Herb Foochelmeister, since we haven't been to the East coast in a while.

NCRunner's was informed of some things that happened at the team camp in Boone, but we don't as the camp run was a glorified scrimmage, it can be taken for what it is.

 And our Bureau Chief told us what we needed to hear.  Pinecrest or West Johnston for the regional win. Pinecrest...West Johnston...Pinecrest....West Johnston.  NCRunner's declares our preseason pick: West Johnston and making it close Pinecrest.  Followed by South View (who we hope everything is working out in the best for the school) for third and then Hoggard.