Seeded Boys
Teams to Watch
Holy Trinity (FL) looks like the clear favorite in this race, as they have a legitimate chance to have 3 in the top 10 and 5 in the top 20. Mill Creek (GA) looks like the team with the best chance to close the gap, while Good Counsel (MD) may find themselves battling for third with local school Broughton (minus their #1 runner, who is in the RoC). Jefferson (WV), Cary (NC), and Tatnall will be the next in line for a top 5 spot if any of the first five falter. Keep an eye on the Brookwood (GA) B team, as their school displayed incredible depth at the Gwinnett County Meet, and St. Xavier's second seven is pretty strong, too.
Individuals to Watch
Gil Walton (McCallie School TN) has the best time this year among runners in this race, with Daniel Moore (Holy Trinity FL) hard on his heels. Sam Parsons (Tatnall DE) has a PR of 15:17, which would put him in the driver's seat, but he hasn't had much chance to show his fitness yet this year. Bakri Abushouk (Cary NC) ran 15:36 last year and went 15:50 on this course two weekends ago. Eric Graf (Jefferson WV) has almost equaled his PR of 15:49 this year. Joining him in the under-16 category are Nicholas Waltman (Sayre KY), teammates Thomas Moore and Nicholas Carlsen (Danbury CT), Eric Westog (Mill Creek GA), and Jack Riely (Good Counsel). They may pull three more guys under the 16-minute barrier: Will Roberson (Broughton NC), Gray Lindley (First Presbyterian Day GA), and Tristan Kattenburg (Holy Trinity FL) have all been under 16:10 so far this year.
(Notes: Sam Roberson of Broughton is in the RoC, no B teams included)
Seeded Girls
Teams to Watch
This looks like a very competitive race, with no team projected to score below 100 in the virtual meet (below). Christiansburg (VA) gets the nod with a narrow advantage coming into the meet, but Oak Hall (FL) and Farragut (TN) are very strong and could take the win. Another Florida squad, Holy Trinity, looks like a sure bet for the top 5 with a chance to reach the podium, and the same can be said of Virginia's Briar Woods. On paper, Hidden Valley (VA), Albemarle (VA), and Mill Creek (GA) appear almost identical, and they could have a very intense battle as they try to reach the top 5.
Individuals to Watch
While the team battle looks close, the individual race might be a runaway win for Julie Wollrath (Holy Trinity FL), who comes in with a best time of 18:08 this year. Fellow Sunshine State product Brittney Ohlinger (Oak Hall) has a PR of 18:07 but hasn't gotten close to that this year. Allison Huschke (Albemarle) hasn't approached last year's 18:31, but this environment is perfect for a breakout race. Carolyn Bethel (Hidden Valley VA) may be able to stay near the leader for a while, and MacKenzie Drummer (Holy Trinity) and Avery Franklin (Maryville TN) have PR's in the 18:40's that put them squarely in the hunt for a top 5 finish. After them the times drop off a bit, but there should be quite a race for the remaining spots in the top 10: Kayla Gibbons (Warren County VA), Eliza Eaton (Christiansburg VA), Leanna Eisenman (Warren County VA), Ashton Lord (Chapel Hill GA), and Natalie Richie (Webb School TN) all have the potential to break 19 on a fast course in cool weather.
Seeded Boys
Teams to Watch
Holy Trinity (FL) looks like the clear favorite in this race, as they have a legitimate chance to have 3 in the top 10 and 5 in the top 20. Mill Creek (GA) looks like the team with the best chance to close the gap, while Good Counsel (MD) may find themselves battling for third with local school Broughton (minus their #1 runner, who is in the RoC). Jefferson (WV), Cary (NC), and Tatnall will be the next in line for a top 5 spot if any of the first five falter. Keep an eye on the Brookwood (GA) B team, as their school displayed incredible depth at the Gwinnett County Meet, and St. Xavier's second seven is pretty strong, too.
