Can Any Top 5 Squad Stop Marist from Sweeping the AAAA Team Titles?

The Team Race

The 4A boys race will be extremely exciting, as Marist comes in as the favorite, but St. Pius, Blessed Trinity, Oconee, and North Oconee have to go all in into the race believing they can pull off the upset.  This looks like 5 schools for 4 elite podium spots and 4A is very tough at the top.  Rounding out our Pre-State top 10 list are Chestatee, who put together their best race of the season at 7AAAA meet, Columbus, LaGrange, White Co, and West Laurens.  Watch for Perry, Northside, Westover, Chapel Hill, and Jefferson to try to get into a top 10 spot on Saturday.

Pre-State Rankings

Top Individuals

The 4A Boys Individual race will also be hotly contested.  Justin Wachtel of Mary Persons is a talented frosh, who came out hot in August, but we will see how he fares against Alex Salgado of Columbus,  4A race favorite  William O'Rielly of Marist, and Rowan Wiley of St. Pius.  Tanner Reid (Perry), Leif Anderson (Marist), Wesley John (fast darkhorse fave) and Harrison Morris of Oconee have all posted times in the 15s this season.  (The 1-AAAA course is questionable)

(October Times Only)

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEET DATEPLACE
115:14.30
Columbus High School
2018
215:45.40
Marist
2018
315:51.74
Perry High School
2018
415:53.30
Marist
2019
515:54.70
Blessed Trinity
2018
616:00.30
St. Pius X
2019
716:02.60
Marist
2018
816:03.30
St. Pius X
2018
916:04.10
Blessed Trinity
2018
1016:07.60
Chestatee
2019
1116:07.80
North Oconee
2020
1216:11.00
Marist
2018
1316:12.73
Oconee County High School
2019
1416:15.78
Westover High School
2020
1516:15.90
Marist
2018
1616:15.94
Mary Persons
2021
1716:23.08
Oconee County High School
2018
1816:25.30
North Oconee
2019
1916:26.20
Sandy Creek
2018
2016:27.34
West Laurens High School
2020


GIRLS

The Team Race

Marist has thrown down the hammer all season long, as 4A's top girls squad and their eyes will be set on competing for an All Class ranking that will make 4A proud.  Blessed Trinity ran a full squad at region, including freshman Miniutti, who hadn't raced since KOSH at the beginning of the season.   White County, Oconee, and St. Pius look very close heading to the state meet, all 3 teams posting team averages in the 19s with elite packs of girls.  North Oconee also looks strong.  There are only 4 podium spots for these 6 elite teams.  Rounding out our top 10 in the pre-state rankings are Columbus, Chestatee, Westover, and Cartersville.  Look out for NW Whitifield, Pickens, West Laurens, Druid Hills, or Heritage to try to sneak into a top 10 spot as well.

Top Individuals

In the Girls indivitual race last year, Nicole Pachuta of Oconee took the mile out alone, but Josie Wirtz of Marist made up ground and ended up winning the race in dominant fashion But, this is not 2016 and Pachuta has been on fire as of late..  8 of last year's top 9 girls return for this race..  Kathleen Maley of Marist and Morgan Vaden of St. Pius are also solid contenders for the Overall title.  Jaelen Alexander of White County, Emma Rose Bagwell and Miniutti of Blessed Trinity, Caroline McArthur of Oconee County,  and Frosh Kelsey Morse of North Oconee,  are all canadites for the All State squad. 

(October Races Only)

RANKTIMEATHLETE/TEAMGRADEMEET DATEPLACE
118:12.40
Marist
2018
218:32.40
Marist
2019
318:36.99
Oconee County High School
2018
418:38.14
St. Pius X
2020
518:40.90
White County High School
2019
619:05.70
Blessed Trinity
2018
719:07.50
North Oconee
2021
819:10.00
Marist
2020
919:10.75
Oconee County High School
2019
1019:12.70
Marist
2018
1119:18.70
Blessed Trinity
2021
1219:23.20
Blessed Trinity
2018
1319:25.50
White County High School
2018
1419:29.19
Pickens County
2020
1519:30.00
North Oconee
2018
1619:32.60
Marist
2019
1719:34.94
Woodward Academy
2020
1819:42.10
White County High School
2020
1919:42.40
Marist
2019
2019:46.20
White County High School
2021