'GHSA Girls AAAA State Preview' 'contributions by Claude Spinks'
Team Race
The Marist girls are undoubtedly the best team in the state of Georgia. They displayed their depth at Region as their 6-12 girls perfect scored the field. However, the ladies from Heritage-Catoosa have done their best to close the gap this past 3 weeks. The gap is still probably too large, but give them credit for making it closer than anyone expected. After Marist and Heritage-Catoosa, Pickens has seemingly, (based on their region race) staked a claim to one podium spot with places 4-10 wide open. River Ridge, Eagle's Landing, Chestatee (who raced on a brutal region course), Alexander, Veterans and Perry are all capable of making the Podium.
Individual Race
Morgan Ilse of Marist is in a class of her own being one of the top 5 girls consistently statewide this Fall. She has a 18:01 pr from Darlington almost running down #1 Tayler Tuttle of Providence Christian. There should be a group of up to 6-8 girls watching her disapear after the first mile. Teamates Annie Renou and Catie Faust could possibly be in that chase pack. Caitlin Craft, Sarah Buckler and Alex Gass of Heritage-Catoosa will be pushing hard to close the gap on Marist. Abby Booth of Perry, 'Granger' Sarah Bearden, Allysa Weaver from Pickens County and Anna Leigh Nix from Mary Persons will all be in the mix for All-State honors as well as Chloe Camp from Alexander and Bethanie Bailey of Veterans.