Girls Meet of Champions race from 2020
2021 GA Meet of Champions Preview
By Coach Andy Carr/GA MOC Committee
Saturday at ONE Church in Fayetteville, GA, many of the top-programs and individuals in the state will come together for the 2021 Georgia Cross Country Meet of Champions and with a very strong field, both the girls & boys races look to be exciting and will start a day of races that include both Open & USATF Youth races.
GIRLS TEAM
Blessed Trinity & North Atlanta appear ready to duke it out for the win on Saturday. These teams will have a big presence upfront in the race and along with seasoned veterans in their packs could make this a very close team affair. Other teams look to make it close, and they include 5A Decatur, 7A schools Lambert & North Gwinnett & 6A schools Cambridge & Pope. Even though a few state championship teams will pass over this meet, the schools competing are going to make it a fun team race to watch!
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL
Recent-Yale signee Cara Joyce of Atlanta International appears to be the favorite coming in. Katie Hamfeldt of Blessed Trinity will figure predominantly in that front pack for the Titans as will Dunwoody's Claire Shelton & Katherine Law of Jefferson. 6A state champion Simone Rojas from Evans will look to go back-to-back wins and will have to contend with GISA state champ Susannah Heinz of Augusta Prep. Recent UGA signee Ashley Thompson will also be in the hunt along with North Atlanta's Heidi and Clara Heppner & Catherine Townsend. A good and close race looks to be on tap!
BOYS TEAM
The Bulldogs of Decatur (5A State Champs) look to be the favorite with many of states strongest & deepest teams bypassing this meet. Westminster (3A State Champs) & Harrison (7A 5th-place) along with 7A's West Forsyth (4th at state) are the probable challengers. 23 teams will line up for this race and include Chestatee (4A state champs), Richmond Hill (6A state champs) & Whitefield Academy (1A-Private state champs). So, there will be a good state representation at the meet and can one of these team's challenge Decatur? You might have to be there to see for yourself. It promises to be a good battle!
BOYS INDIVIDUAL
Close to 40 boys have broken 16 minutes are in the field with another 15 under 15:45! Christian Gonzalez will lead his Decatur Bulldogs as the individual favorite but will be challenged for the win by Johnson Ferry Christian's Joey Sandel in what could be an epic battle of two of the fastest in the state this season. State 6A champion Nathan Solomon of Shiloh will be in the mix along with Andrew McGinnis of Calvary Christian, Miles Ferguson of Archer & Ben Rothering of Blessed Trinity. Many will be hoping to run a lot faster after racing the previous weekend on the tough Carrollton course used for the state meet which could make this race a much larger affair up front. Wouldn't be surprised if this race comes down to a kick on the quick ONE Church course.