1A Boys Preview
Teams to Watch
Science & Math is in the driver's seat for this race, especially since Lake Norman Charter will be missing one of their top 3 runners. LNCS is still deep enough to challenge, though, so this is far from a predetermined outcome. Bishop McGuinness looks like the third-best team in the race, and should be strong enough to hold off Elkin for that spot. As many as four more teams have a chance to slip into the top 5 depending on how the race shakes out.
(Based on AVERAGE times from the MileSplit database, advancing teams only)
(Based on BEST times from the MileSplit database, advancing teams only)
Individuals to Watch
Steve Mulherin (Science & Math) is the clear favorite, with a best time almost 30 seconds faster than the nearest competitor. He should be joined in the top 10 by teammates Robert Baraldi and Levi Rolles. Dylan Johnson (Hayesville) has the best chance to unseat Mulherin, and he is a safe bet for the top 5, as is Zach Millsaps of Elkin. Lake Norman Charter has the potential to match NCSSM with three runners in the top 10, with Chris Hack, Michael Westbay, and Matthew Panza. Sam Williams (Bishop McGuinness) and Chris Jaeger (Chatham Central) both have a strong case to be top-10 runners, as well. Watch out for freshman Frank Cline (Robbinsville), whose only times in our database have come from challenging mountain courses.
(From 2011 results in the MileSplit database)
1A Girls Preview
Teams to Watch
Lake Norman Charter is the favorite in this race, but again the advantage is not so large that they can be crowned in advance. Bishop McGuinness and Gray Stone Day are the next best teams, and depending on how you view the rankings both teams have the potential to finish second; give Bishop the advantage after winning the regional last weekend. After those three teams there is a logjam of schools competing to get into the top 5, and the field is fairly wide-open for any team that has a good race on Saturday,
(Based on AVERAGE times from the MileSplit database, advancing teams only)
(Based on BEST times from the MileSplit database, advancing teams only)
Individuals to Watch
Kirsten Parries (Mount Airy) has been dominant in 1A competition all year, and should bring home the individual title. Her teammate, Jordan Hiatt, might be standing right next to her on the stage when all is said and done: the two have been racing together all year and could do it again Saturday. Sarah Hardin (Lake Norman Charter) and Carly Kreber (Bishop McGuinness) have the best chances to upset one or both of the Mount Airy runners, and both should be solidly in the top 5, along with Hardin's teammate Stephanie Zaino. It should be noted that Kreber defeated Hiatt at the midwest regional last weekend. Erin Brooks (Hendersonville), Keri Celeste (Franklin Academy), and Holly Gaines (Chatham Central) look like surefire top-10 runners, but after them there are several girls who could claim a spot on the stage. If you are looking for dark-horse candidates to surprise everyone with a big race, look to the freshmen from the west region: Rebecca Rudisiall (Highland Tech), Katie Bowen (Hayesville), and Kendall Toineeta (Cherokee).
(From 2011 results in the MileSplit database)