Saturday Girls Championship Preview:
Like on the boys' side we will go through the top wave alphabetically and highlight some of the featured athletes! First up is Cary Christian's Ryann Aycock who is the top NCISAA returner this season. She holds an 18:01 personal best from Great American and is ready to push for the sub 18:00 time. Likely to be side-by-side for a lot of this race with Aycock is Angie Allen (North Lincoln). Allen dipped under 18:00 for the first time last weekend on a revised McAlpine course (not what Hare & Hounds will be ran on). Allen has to be the favorite going into the meet. Riley Basinger (Marvin Ridge) ran 19:05 as last season's Hare & Hounds and looks to break 19:00 for the first time in her career. Isabella Borelli (Laney) ran 18:48 at the NCHSAA 4A East Regional last season. Marissa Bosland (Cuthbertson) ran 18:54 at the NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional last season. Freshman Allison Hall (Durham Academy) makes her much anticipated debut of the season. She holds a personal best from 8th grade of 18:25! It will be interesting to see how much she has progressed in the last year. She took home 10th place in last year's Hare & Hounds. 2018 NCHSAA 3A XC State Champ Madeline Hill (Cuthbertson) was also victorious in the 2018 Hare & Hounds Invite and the now-senior looks to challenge for the victory yet again. She holds a 18:11 personal best from the 2018 state meet. Emma Jones (Weddington) ran 18:34 at the NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional last season. Lillian Nasta (Cuthbertson) was just behind Jones at their regional where Nasta ran 18:36. Anna Ritter (Weddington) was a second behind Hill at their regional last season where she ran a personal best of 18:23. Paige Starkie (Weddington) ran 18:47 as a freshman last season. Lastly, Lilly Walters (Hough) is very capable of winning this race. She holds a personal best of 18:08 and will be right with Allen and Aycock throughout this race. We have so many girls who have already gone under 19:00 in this race. With a small pack, a notoriously quick first mile, and nothing to lose the 2020 Hare & Hounds could be shaping up for the fastest in meet history!