Milton Boys Primed to Dominate AAAAAAA, Can South Forsyth Repeat as Girls Champs?

Milton, again.. showed they are primed to grab their first state title on November 3rd. Predictions for their team score are low, can they match or exceed the 2015 Marietta 6A (highest class at the time) score of 27? In the battle for 2nd, things look interesting between Walton and Lambert, with a plethora of teams just behind them ready to pounce on any poor performances from the top 5 on each team. This is going to be quite a battle for the next 3 Podium spots including: Lakeside DeKalb, who has ran very well in October, Mill Creek has proven to be dangerous at State, and South Forsyth & Hillgrove have the talent to bust onto the Podium. 

Milton should not feel any stress to score as low as predicted, simply because the of pressure and number of times, other super squads have gotten snakebit at State. It should not surprise anyone if Milton wins easily, but not as low as predicted. But, they don't need to overlook State, looking ahead to NXN..

RANK	TIME	ATHLETE/TEAM	GRADE	MEET DATEPLACE
1	14:53.90	KYLE HARKABUS East Coweta	2020	Alexander / Asics Invitational1st Oct 7, 2017
2	15:04.60	CHASE CONDRA Peachtree Ridge High School	2019	Alexander / Asics Invitational4th Oct 7, 2017
3	15:10.08	SAM BOWERS Milton High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships1st Oct 21, 2017
4	15:15.38	NICHOLAS YANEK Milton High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships2nd Oct 21, 2017
5	15:29.25	TYLER FOX Lambert HS	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships3rd Oct 21, 2017
6	15:30.08	MICHAEL MALKOWSKI Milton High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships4th Oct 21, 2017
7	15:35.00	JAMES CRAGIN Archer HS	2018	Area 1 Championship AAAAAAA1st Oct 21, 2017
8	15:37.15	CALAN GIZELBACH Forsyth Central	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships5th Oct 21, 2017
9	15:42.68	LEE KEIL Lambert HS	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships6th Oct 21, 2017
10	15:51.34	SAMUEL MILTON Milton High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships7th Oct 21, 2017
11	15:53.80	ALEX HAGGARD Peachtree Ridge High School	2018	Alexander / Asics Invitational18th Oct 7, 2017
12	16:02.37	RYAN BEITZELL Milton High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships8th Oct 21, 2017
13	16:03.71	PER ELLINGSON Etowah	2018	Cherokee County XC Championship1st Oct 14, 2017
14	16:04.45	MYKAL HOGUE Cherokee	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships9th Oct 21, 2017
15	16:04.92	WILL BULLOCK Kennesaw Mountain	2018	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship2nd Oct 25, 2017

South Forsyth and Marietta solidified their #1 and #2 positions with strong Area victories. Milton, still seems to be a clear #3, after that, the forth state trophy is up for grabs. South Forsyth is 3-0 against Marietta. However, just like Olympic Hockey in 1980 Winter Olympics (The Miracle on Ice) you only have to win once.. Marietta had a :46 improvement from Cobb to Area, South Forsyth had a :13 improvement from Warpath to Area. The virtual meet now has the two in a nail biter. South Forsyth has run fast all season, is Marietta just starting to get fast? Neither squad has raced head to head on a hilly course like Carrollton though.. Fun Facts: Marietta Girls have never won a state title and both teams only have one senior, SF #1, and Marietta #7..Look for these 2 schools continuing to build strong programs and compete for State titles for a few years..

Milton and Walton are strong Podium contenders and should be a close matchup. Milton is no stranger to hard hills with their tough XC course, but expect Walton to push hard and challenge them. North Gwinnett has been in and out of the 7A rankings all Fall, which NG team will show up at Carrollton Friday is the question. Hillgrove and Lambert have the potential to make a run at the final team Podium spot as well. 

Since winning the 7A Girls 3200m 2017 Outdoor Track season, Elizabeth Funderburk's (from way down south Moultrie) confidence in her talent, has grown leaps and bounds. She is undefeated this Fall, including huge wins at Wingfoot XC and the FSU meet. Funderburk, will be looking to wipe away the memory of 2016 State, where she finished 93rd due to some kind of setback. Chasing her, should be a hungry pack waiting for any mistake, including Area Champs: Mary Kathryn Knott of Peachtree Ridge, Anna Burnett of Woodstock and Ellie Hall from Marietta. 

RANK	TIME	ATHLETE/TEAM	GRADE	MEET DATEPLACE
1	17:10.00	ELIZABETH FUNDERBURK Colquitt County	2018	Area 1 Championship AAAAAAA1st Oct 21, 2017
2	18:06.74	ELLIE HALL Marietta High School	2019	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship1st Oct 25, 2017
3	18:11.40	MARY KATHRYN KNOTT Peachtree Ridge High School	2018	Alexander / Asics Invitational6th Oct 7, 2017
4	18:27.57	ANNA BURNETT Woodstock High School	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships1st Oct 21, 2017
5	18:35.15	KAYLEE DUPONT South Forsyth High School	2018	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships2nd Oct 21, 2017
6	18:39.27	ELIZABETH RICE Kennesaw Mountain	2018	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship2nd Oct 25, 2017
7	18:42.54	ABIGAIL ROBERTSON Walton High School	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships3rd Oct 21, 2017
8	18:43.49	ALEESA DE CASTRO South Forsyth High School	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships4th Oct 21, 2017
9	18:50.37	MADELYNNE CADEAU South Forsyth High School	2020	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships5th Oct 21, 2017
10	18:52.13	SOPHIA BAKER South Forsyth High School	2020	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships6th Oct 21, 2017
11	18:52.25	HATTIE RYDINSKY Marietta High School	2021	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship3rd Oct 25, 2017
12	18:53.86	BETSY GORDON Marietta High School	2021	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship4th Oct 25, 2017
13	18:56.66	TAYLOR CUSHMAN Milton High School	2019	Area 3 Region 4 and 5 -7A CC Championships7th Oct 21, 2017
14	18:57.65	GRACE ELLSWORTH Hillgrove	2020	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship5th Oct 25, 2017
15	19:00.22	ANI HENDERSON Marietta High School	2019	GHSA Area 2-AAAAAAA XC Championship6th Oct 25, 2017