6A Girls- Northview's Squad Rolls Right In Behind Lindsay Billing's 18:29 Sweeping Top Honors
(all pics and caps by Dan McCauley)
The 6A Girls start was filled with excitement as the 213 runners representing 31 teams dashed down the opening straightaway. (pic by Dan McCauley)
Team Race
Lindsay Billings of Northview and Mary Jeanne Assinzo of Marietta charge up the first hill on the challenging Carrollton State course.
Northview took over the #1 spot in 6A several weeks ago and flirted with being in the same conservation as the best team All-Classes as powerful 4A Marist who proved their dominance 3 races earlier. South Forsyth has been on the radar all season turning in some fast team averages and pulled off what some would consider an upset at Region besting Northview by 4 points. It was all on the line now and only one race mattered ultimately and it was now or never. It was a tight race between these strong teams as positional matchups of 1-5s were won by both.
The sky was the limit as Lindsay Billings of Northview sped to the Girls 6A win in 18:29.73.
Right from the gun South Forsyth got out quick in an attempt to control the race. Billings and 4 other girls separated from the pack early gapping groups of Milton, Harrison, South and Northview girls. Billings was soon running on her island striking first with a point. Carnahan countered for South roughly :45 later followed by teammate Kaylee Dupont. Northview junior Anna Barefield and freshman Sarika Temme-Bapat ran tremendous races packing it in within :19 apart next. This gave the Titans some much needed breathing room propelling them to a 2nd consecutive state title (though now in tougher 6A) Milton was in hailing distance and took advantage of some solid pack running with a 1-5 Split of :46 giving the Eagles enough ammo to protect their 3rd place Podium finish as jr Riley Burr was on point for their flock placing 18th. West Forsyth displayed their higher rank at times during the season was no fluke as the Wolverines captured 4th making a Podium appearance sparked by an outstanding race by Liz Galarza and their 2-5 runners Split all of 8 Seconds!! That defines a pack folks. Harrison ran up to their ranking as the Hoyas brawled for 5th with Marietta taking 6th 2 points lower than Mill Creek who put 3 Girls on the All-State squad.
Individual Race
Avery Bussjager of Walton was cheered on by the tremendous crowd as she earned 2nd place with her time of 18.56.88
There are some fast gals in 6A, but did anyone have a shot at defeating Northview's Billings at Carrollton? Those doubts were confirmed shortly as she took command of the race early separating from all but 2013 6A champ Avery Bussjager of Walton, Carnahan, Dupont and Mary Jeanne Assinzo of Marietta at the double street crossing in the team tent area. By the Band Field at the 7:00 mark Billings had gapped Bussjager by 15 meters and the group of 5 had began to string out. Lindsay had a commanding lead heading into loop 2 as runners behind her tried to not lose touch of each other and hold their positions. Liz Galarza made a big move on the 2nd loop and heading into the back of the course into the playground had moved into 4th creeping up steadily a few meters behind Carnahan. Billings 18:29 would end up being the 2nd fastest of the day behind Marist's Ilse (18:24) in the 4A race earlier under slightly better conditions (it had warmed at least 15 degrees) Bussjager stayed tough in 2nd clocking a 18:56, Galarza kept pushing it placing 3rd at 19:07, Carnahan was 4th in 19:12, Melehan finished strong in 5th at 19:17. Video will be up Monday (just reviewed it)
6A Girls All-State Squad
1- Lindsay Billings of Northview (18:29)
2- Avery Bussjager of Walton (18:56)
3- Liz Galarza of West Forsyth (19:07)
4- Savannah Carnahan of South Forsyth (19:12)
5- Alexandra Melehan of Woodstock (19:17)
6- Kaylee Dupont of South Forsyth (19:27)
7- Hannah Petit of Mill Creek (19:37)
8- Anna Barefield of Northview (19:40)
9- Camryn Petit of Mill Creek (19:46)
10- Sarah Scales of Mill Creek (19:51)
VIDEO (coming Monday!)