2A Boys Pre-Season Top 5 Teams
#1- Wesleyan- After a strong 2013 campaign finishing just 23 points behind Westmonster, the Wolves are primed to win the 2A State title and it will take a herculean effort for any school to best them. They return 5 of the top 7 including a trio of junior runners that ran well at State including All-Stater Henry Collins (5th), Benji Johnson (11th) and Mikey Olson.(12th) Their returning XC rank is scewed because Wesleyan typically runs no 'Speedways'
| Wesleyan School (GA) | 98 | |||
| 1) Henry Collins | 17:24.69 | 9 | ||
| 2) Benji Johnson | 17:36.20 | 14 | ||
| 3) Austin Leath | 17:42.00 | 17 | ||
| 4) William Lee | 17:53.24 | 25 | ||
| 5) Mikey Olson | 18:09.65 | 33 | ||
| Average Time: 17:45.16 Total Time: 1:28:45.78 1-5 Split: 44.96 | ||||
| 6) Joseph Gaddis | 18:24.00 | 42 | ||
| 7) Alex Turner | 18:27.85 | 45 | ||
Important Data:
2013 XC Returning Ranking: 3rd
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 3rd
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 4th
Returns 5 of top 7
#2 Bleckley County- The Royals are another top AA program that normally shuns fast courses ( I bet their runners would love Westover only 45 minutes away ) Last season at State Bleckley ran out of their minds or were very prepared placing 3rd finishing ahead of Lovett. The Royals return 6 of 7 and could be led by jr Logan Bridges who was 13th at State. Soph Dayton Cannon has the fastest returning pr in 17:43.
| Bleckley County High School (GA) | 134 | |||
| 1) Dayton Cannon | 17:34.73 | 13 | ||
| 2) Austin Cook | 17:47.94 | 24 | ||
| 3) Logan Bridges | 17:57.00 | 26 | ||
| 4) Anuj Patel | 18:12.00 | 34 | ||
| 5) Carl Ellis Corley | 18:16.09 | 37 | ||
| Average Time: 17:57.55 Total Time: 1:29:47.76 1-5 Split: 41.36 | ||||
| 6) Hayden Belflower | 19:03.46 | 60 | ||
| 7) Clay Blanton | 19:04.00 | 61 | ||
Important Data:
2013 XC Returning Ranking: 6th
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 1st
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 1st
Returns 6 of top 7
#3 Lovett- The Lions got spanked at State by Bleckley, but still made the Podium. Their prospects look promising for this Fall as 6 of 7 return to get some payback. On the negative side all their pr's came from their annual trip to Westover skewing their 2013 XC team average rating. Soph Peyton Bogard is their top returning finisher from State (33rd) while Mac Major has the fastest pr (17:12)
| Lovett (GA) | 107 | |||
| 1) Mac Major | 17:12.54 | 6 | ||
| 2) Peyton Bogard | 17:34.21 | 11 | ||
| 3) Nicholas Klavohn | 17:38.44 | 15 | ||
| 4) Josh Eiland | 18:15.81 | 36 | ||
| 5) Charlie Powers | 18:22.32 | 39 | ||
| Average Time: 17:48.66 Total Time: 1:29:03.32 1-5 Split: 1:09.78 | ||||
| 6) Daniel Whitaker | 18:30.29 | 46 | ||
| 7) Jason Martin | 18:31.84 | 47 | ||
Important Data:
2013 XC Returning Ranking: 4th
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 2nd
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 3rd
Returns 6 of top 7
#4- Darlington- Out with the old, in with the new as Alan Parrish is yodeling in Germany now and asst. coach Katie Ellis now holds the whip. The Tigers placed 2nd in tough 1A Private and should do well moving up to 2A. Only returning 4 sets them back a couple spots, but look for them to be tough in November. Spencer Fields is their top harrier with a pr of 16:12 at Asics.
| Darlington School (GA) | 126 | |||
| 1) Spencer Fields | 16:12.43 | 1 | ||
| 2) Chris Edwards | 16:59.64 | 5 | ||
| 3) Jared Deaton | 17:43.53 | 21 | ||
| 4) Drew Finley | 18:22.80 | 40 | ||
| 5) Ethan Delashmit | 19:02.10 | 59 | ||
| Average Time: 17:40.10 Total Time: 1:28:20.50 1-5 Split: 2:49.67 | ||||
| 6) Chandler Edge | 19:12.02 | 65 | ||
| 7) Noah Woford | 19:45.10 | 83 | ||
Important Data:
2013 XC Returning Ranking: 5th
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 4th
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 2nd
Returns 4 of top 7
#5 Pace Academy- These guys placed 7th in 1A Private, but return 6 of their top 7 giving them the nod over Holy Innocents. (Not that they'll keep it) Most of their top XC guys did not run Track in 2014, so they could start slowly. With outstanding runner Joshua Rogers having departed Mark Grenader is the top returner having placed 33rd at State.
| Pace Academy (GA) | 56 | |||
| 1) Mark Grenader | 16:45.51 | 3 | ||
| 2) Forest Schneider | 17:20.78 | 8 | ||
| 3) Max Irvine | 17:30.82 | 10 | ||
| 4) Connor LaMastra | 17:41.76 | 16 | ||
| 5) Rob Warren | 17:42.99 | 19 | ||
| Average Time: 17:24.37 Total Time: 1:27:01.86 1-5 Split: 57.48 | ||||
| 6) Xori Johnson | 18:17.25 | 38 | ||
| 7) Andy Bainton | 18:25.14 | 44 | ||
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Important Data:
2013 XC Returning Ranking: 1st
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 1600 Ranking: 8th
2014 Outdoor Returning Team 3200 Ranking: 8th
Returns 6 of top 7
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TOP 10
| Wesleyan |
| Bleckley Co |
| Lovett |
| Darlington |
| Pace |
| Holy Innocents |
| Thomasville |
| RMA |
| Union County |
| Oglethorpe Co |
| Vidalia |
| Lamar County |