Just about everyone who follows girls' distance running knows about the individual stars that North Carolina is currently producing, the lastest crop in a long string of great young women to come from the Tar Heel State. We have not been known, however, for depth among female runners, and our girls' teams have never been able to do more than hang out on the fringes of the national debate. While still a way off from the true giants out there, this year our teams may turn a few heads in the fall. Let's take a few statistical angles to see just how far the girls' teams have come.
National Top 15 Returning Teams:
(based on MileSplit database only, no consideration for difficulty of course)
| 1 | Fayetteville-Manlius | 32 | ||
| 1) Jillian Fanning | 17:04.80 | 1 | ||
| 2) Christie Rutledge | 17:07.90 | 3 | ||
| 3) Katie Sischo | 17:42.60 | 6 | ||
| 4) Heather Martin | 17:48.80 | 10 | ||
| 5) Katie Brislin | 17:51.40 | 12 | ||
| Average Time: 17:31.10 -- Total Time: 1:27:35.50 -- 1-5 Split: 46.60 | ||||
| 2 | Saratoga Springs | 181 | ||
| 1) Margaret Macdonald | 17:50.60 | 11 | ||
| 2) Keelin Hollowood | 17:51.90 | 13 | ||
| 3) Madison Carr | 18:13.10 | 23 | ||
| 4) Estela Smith | 18:31.20 | 55 | ||
| 5) Katie Treichel | 18:42.20 | 79 | ||
| Average Time: 18:13.80 -- Total Time: 1:31:09.00 -- 1-5 Split: 51.60 | ||||
| 3 | Tatnall | 189 | ||
| 1) Haley Pierce | 17:05.03 | 2 | ||
| 2) Reagan Anderson | 17:39.88 | 5 | ||
| 3) Kate Hastings | 18:13.49 | 25 | ||
| 4) Kieran Hanrahan | 18:29.20 | 50 | ||
| 5) Julie Williams | 18:49.64 | 107 | ||
| Average Time: 18:03.45 -- Total Time: 1:30:17.24 -- 1-5 Split: 1:44.61 | ||||
| 4 | Carmel High School | 270 | ||
| 1) Renee Wellman | 18:04.70 | 17 | ||
| 2) Sarah Bennett | 18:09.10 | 21 | ||
| 3) Allison Jacobsen | 18:32.30 | 57 | ||
| 4) Kelcy Welch | 18:42.90 | 81 | ||
| 5) Lauren Kahre | 18:47.00 | 94 | ||
| Average Time: 18:27.20 -- Total Time: 1:32:16.00 -- 1-5 Split: 42.30 | ||||
| 5 | Green Hope | 284 | ||
| 1) Erica Amatori | 18:26.57 | 43 | ||
| 2) Maura McDonnell | 18:28.86 | 49 | ||
| 3) Jessica Rossabi | 18:31.62 | 56 | ||
| 4) Lauren Colberg | 18:34.05 | 59 | ||
| 5) Sarah Alexander | 18:41.62 | 77 | ||
| Average Time: 18:32.54 -- Total Time: 1:32:42.72 -- 1-5 Split: 15.05 | ||||
| 6 | Kingwood | 510 | ||
| 1) Catie Daigre | 18:23.41 | 38 | ||
| 2) Sandie Raines | 18:39.43 | 72 | ||
| 3) Ashley Mills | 18:54.99 | 130 | ||
| 4) Laura Craig | 18:55.63 | 134 | ||
| 5) Adrianna Suarez | 18:56.15 | 136 | ||
| Average Time: 18:45.92 -- Total Time: 1:33:49.61 -- 1-5 Split: 32.74 | ||||
| 7 | North Shore | 540 | ||
| 1) Samantha Nadel | 18:22.60 | 37 | ||
| 2) Elizabeth Caldwell | 18:41.30 | 74 | ||
| 3) Jessica Donohue | 18:44.10 | 89 | ||
| 4) Brianna Nerud | 18:53.80 | 127 | ||
| 5) Elizabeth Caldw | 19:18.70 | 213 | ||
| Average Time: 18:48.10 -- Total Time: 1:34:00.50 -- 1-5 Split: 56.10 | ||||
| 8 | Lakewood Ranch HS | 553 | ||
| 1) Olivia Ortiz | 18:15.97 | 29 | ||
| 2) Kristin Zarrella | 18:27.65 | 46 | ||
| 3) Devin McDermott | 18:47.12 | 96 | ||
| 4) Natalie Novak | 18:48.59 | 103 | ||
| 5) Ashley Platt | 19:34.71 | 279 | ||
| Average Time: 18:46.81 -- Total Time: 1:33:54.04 -- 1-5 Split: 1:18.74 | ||||
| 9 | Great Oak High School | 559 | ||
| 1) Pauline Mandel | 18:22.00 | 35 | ||
| 2) Ashley Helbig | 18:36.00 | 62 | ||
| 3) Rachel Seymour | 18:44.00 | 87 | ||
| 4) Alexis Morabe | 19:01.00 | 147 | ||
| 5) Madison Baugh | 19:22.00 | 228 | ||
| Average Time: 18:49.00 -- Total Time: 1:34:05.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:00.00 | ||||
| 10 | Estero HS | 574 | ||
| 1) Kacy Smith | 17:47.10 | 9 | ||
| 2) Maria Frank | 18:48.89 | 105 | ||
| 3) Katy G Solis | 18:50.00 | 109 | ||
| 4) Bethany Jenkins | 19:02.90 | 155 | ||
| 5) Katie Slater | 19:14.54 | 196 | ||
| Average Time: 18:44.69 -- Total Time: 1:33:43.43 -- 1-5 Split: 1:27.44 | ||||
| 11 | Northville HS | 595 | ||
| 1) Nicole Mosteller | 18:41.60 | 76 | ||
| 2) Rachel Coleman | 18:43.30 | 82 | ||
| 3) Erin Zimmer | 18:53.70 | 126 | ||
| 4) Gina Mcnamara | 18:57.10 | 138 | ||
| 5) Alex Rodriguez | 19:07.20 | 173 | ||
| Average Time: 18:52.58 -- Total Time: 1:34:22.90 -- 1-5 Split: 25.60 | ||||
| 12 | Ardrey Kell HS | 647 | ||
| 1) Kaitlyn Kramer | 17:59.00 | 16 | ||
| 2) Sydney Foreman | 18:38.00 | 69 | ||
| 3) Caitlin Bucksbaum | 18:52.00 | 116 | ||
| 4) Samantha Teague | 18:55.00 | 131 | ||
| 5) Sydney Teague | 19:43.00 | 315 | ||
| Average Time: 18:49.40 -- Total Time: 1:34:07.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:44.00 | ||||
| 13 | Ayala High School (SS) | 648 | ||
| 1) Taylor Khan | 18:25.00 | 40 | ||
| 2) Jaclyn Gonzalez | 18:35.00 | 61 | ||
| 3) Chandler Colquitt | 19:02.00 | 153 | ||
| 4) Breanne Baughman | 19:10.00 | 178 | ||
| 5) Karina Velasco | 19:19.00 | 216 | ||
| Average Time: 18:54.20 -- Total Time: 1:34:31.00 -- 1-5 Split: 54.00 | ||||
| 14 | Xavier College Preparatory | 651 | ||
| 1) Sarah Fakler | 17:47.10 | 8 | ||
| 2) Breanna Perrone | 18:34.10 | 60 | ||
| 3) McKenna Gaffney | 19:06.60 | 170 | ||
| 4) Shelby Brown | 19:14.60 | 198 | ||
| 5) Julianne Vice | 19:18.90 | 215 | ||
| Average Time: 18:48.26 -- Total Time: 1:34:01.30 -- 1-5 Split: 1:31.80 | ||||
| 15 | Mason | 656 | ||
| 1) Monica Lake | 18:16.80 | 30 | ||
| 2) Tori Martin | 18:50.00 | 108 | ||
| 3) Jessica Harrison | 19:03.70 | 158 | ||
| 4) Bridget McElhenny | 19:06.50 | 169 | ||
| 5) Mackenzie Jensen | 19:13.10 | 191 | ||
| Average Time: 18:54.02 -- Total Time: 1:34:30.10 -- 1-5 Split: 56.30 | ||||
Note: I cannot vouch for the completeness of every state's database, and of course the idea of fairly comparing times on courses that could be radically different is ludicrous. Also, some states don't use full 5K at their biggest meets. Still, I think this is pretty cool.
Given those limitations, how about a year-to-year comparison over the past 5 years here in North Carolina? I used average time of the top 5 runners (relying on PR times) to rank the top 10 girls teams of the past 5 years.
| 2010 Green Hope | |||
| 1) Olivia Enright | 18:24.29 | ||
| 2) Erica Amatori | 18:26.57 | ||
| 3) Maura McDonnell | 18:28.86 | ||
| 4) Jessica Rossabi | 18:31.62 | ||
| 5) Lauren Colberg | 18:34.05 | ||
| Average Time: 18:29.08 -- Total Time: 1:32:25.39 -- 1-5 Split: 09.76 | |||
| 2009 T.C. Roberson | ||
| 1) Laura Hoer | 17:49.81 | |
| 2) Brooke Gordon | 18:23.60 | |
| 3) Sarah Hope | 18:35.00 | |
| 4) Zoe Dubin | 18:44.74 | |
| 5) Marie Mauhar | 19:21.00 | |
| Average Time: 18:34.83 -- Total Time: 1:32:54.15 -- 1-5 Split: 1:31.19 | ||
| 2009 Green Hope | ||
| 1) Maura McDonnell | 18:32.34 | |
| 2) Olivia Enright | 18:35.56 | |
| 3) Erica Amatori | 18:40.40 | |
| 4) Jessica Rossabi | 18:43.90 | |
| 5) Lauren Colberg | 19:04.50 | |
| Average Time: 18:43.34 -- Total Time: 1:33:36.70 -- 1-5 Split: 32.16 | ||
| 2010 Ardrey Kell HS | ||
| 1) Kaitlyn Kramer | 17:59.00 | |
| 2) Sydney Foreman | 18:38.00 | |
| 3) Caitlin Bucksbaum | 18:52.00 | |
| 4) Samantha Teague | 18:55.00 | |
| 5) Sydney Teague | 19:43.00 | |
| Average Time: 18:49.40 -- Total Time: 1:34:07.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:44.00 | ||
| 2010 Cardinal Gibbons High School | ||
| 1) Sarah Rapp | 17:55.00 | |
| 2) Mary Grace Doggett | 18:46.10 | |
| 3) Samiiah Wilson | 19:09.60 | |
| 4) Megan Cuomo | 19:11.10 | |
| 5) Krista Rosenquest | 19:14.60 | |
| Average Time: 18:51.28 -- Total Time: 1:34:16.40 -- 1-5 Split: 1:19.60 | ||
| 2010 Watauga | ||
| 1) Darby Middlebrook | 17:47.00 | |
| 2) Hannah Barbour | 18:37.00 | |
| 3) Madison Harman | 18:47.00 | |
| 4) Hailey Middlebrook | 19:23.00 | |
| 5) Julia Roberts | 20:04.43 | |
| Average Time: 18:55.69 -- Total Time: 1:34:38.43 -- 1-5 Split: 2:17.43 | ||
| 2010 Charlotte Latin | ||
| 1) Haylee Dawe | 18:01.00 | |
| 2) Ally Finical | 18:34.00 | |
| 3) Kameron Spence | 18:52.00 | |
| 4) Tricia Murphy | 19:40.00 | |
| 5) Katie Mcdowell | 19:52.00 | |
| Average Time: 18:59.80 -- Total Time: 1:34:59.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:51.00 | ||
| 2008 T.C. Roberson | ||
| 1) Sarah Hope | 18:29.00 | |
| 2) Marie Mauhar | 18:40.00 | |
| 3) Laura Hoer | 18:48.00 | |
| 4) Zoe Dubin | 19:27.00 | |
| 5) Kylie Smith | 19:48.00 | |
| Average Time: 19:02.40 -- Total Time: 1:35:12.00 -- 1-5 Split: 1:19.00 | ||
| 2010 T.C. Roberson | ||
| 1) Brooke Gordon | 17:55.63 | |
| 2) Marie Mauhar | 18:38.00 | |
| 3) Alexa Harvey | 19:02.00 | |
| 4) Alyson Arrington | 19:23.00 | |
| 5) Ella Bozeman | 20:14.00 | |
| Average Time: 19:02.53 -- Total Time: 1:35:12.63 -- 1-5 Split: 2:18.37 | ||
| 2007 Cardinal Gibbons High School | ||
| 1) Heather Beichner | 18:16.00 | |
| 2) Molly Baker | 18:52.00 | |
| 3) Sarah Rapp | 19:23.90 | |
| 4) Halsey Merritt | 19:28.00 | |
| 5) Leah Vaughn | 19:43.00 | |
| Average Time: 19:08.58 -- Total Time: 1:35:42.90 -- 1-5 Split: 1:27.00 | ||
Following in the same vein, here is a summary:
2010: 5 teams with sub-19 average, best team averaged 18:29 (Green Hope)
33 MileSplit US First Team Elite Runners (standard 18:45.00)
2009: 2 teams with sub-19 average, best team averaged 18:34 (TC Roberson)
24 MileSplit US First Team Elite Runners
2008: no teams with sub-19 average, best team averaged 19:02 (TC Roberson)
15 MileSplit US First Team Elite Runners
2007: no teams with sub-19 average, best team averaged 19:08 (Cardinal Gibbons, TCR 2nd)
10 MileSplit US First Team Elite Runners
2006: no teams with sub-19 average, best team averaged 19:13 (Chapel Hill, ,TCR 2nd)
8 MileSplit US First Team Elite Runners
(Side note: anyone want to bet against TC Roberson being top 5 in 4A by the end of the season?)
Anyone with some time on their hands want to extend that beyond 2006? I suggest NC Prep Track as a reference. Or perhaps someone with a historical mind might like to nominate great teams from the past that might stack up based on average time? Feel free to add your comments!
