Class 5A Girls State Meet Preview
Team Race
This is why we run the races, yeah, there's MileSplit's database rankings, our great 5A ranker's 'subjective' outlook and then there's Saturday....On paper, well the monitor actually, lol, Dunwoody and Starrs Mill are very evenly matched. The Panthers of Starrs had a tight 1-5 Split of 34 seconds and team average of 20:09 in blustery conditions gapping any challenge McIntosh had on that day. Dunwoody had so much depth as a squad they sat their top 4 at region and should be very fresh (sometimes this backfires) These 2 squads teed it up at Asics Alexander a little over 3 weeks ago and get this...were separated by 1 place, 3 points, :02 seconds in 1-5 Split and :09 seconds in team average with Starrs Mill getting the nod...We should anticipate a free for all between these squads sprinting down the final hill and it could get chippy..There's going to be race within the race for the next 2 Podium spots. Its going to be a scrum between the next 4 ranked squads including 3rd ranked McIntosh, Creekview, Flowery Branch, Northgate and Columbus and may the best teams earn a coveted Podium spot.
Individual Race
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Anna Hayden Alyssa Hooker Liz Graves Allyssa Sheffield Olivia Terwilliger
The race for the Individual title is up for grabs with many girls in the mix who have went sub 19:00 and a few who haven't had the fortune to compete on 'speedways'. Alyssa Hooker from Lakeside Evans sports the top pr of 18:29 achieved at Asics on the fast Fox Hall course. The Riverwood duo of Elizabeth Graves and Anna Hayden have wrecked havoc on many frontrunners as Graves took the region title at Boling Park in 18:35 and Hayden has a season best early at Bob Blastow in 18:38. Kell has a trio or gals who should be contenders including Reagan Poteet who has improved greatly (Logan's sis' perhaps?) Olivia Terwilliger and Marielle Lewis. Allyssa Sheffield from East Paulding is a contender w/ a pr of 18:50 at Asics. Starrs Mill frosh Mary Valli won the region 4 title 2 weeks back and has a pr of 19:00 from Asics..Don't be surprised if Dunwoody's gals press hard for points up front including Ansley Heavern, Samantha Cameron and Kelly May Sheehan.