(photo by Dan McCauley)
It is going to be another competitive field in both the boy's races and the girl's races. There are 1385 athletes from 40 high school teams and 17 middle school teams coming; we have lots of top teams and several teams just sending their top individual to race. The course is ready for these top teams and individuals to go head to head. MileSplit Georgia will also be onsite shooting race videos and photos.
We have 3 goals for this year's race:
•Provide a great meet for athletes, coaches, and fans
•Provide a safe running environment making adjustments given the COVID pandemic
•Modify the meet format for safety and so we make it to November.
•split the big races up into smaller heats.
•create a separate area for athletes/coaches and a separate area for the fans.
•eliminate time spent in big crowds with no shoe chips removal in the chute.
•no awards ceremony.
•reduce time spent in big crowds by minimizing time at the starting line.
•spreading the teams out in the woods.
•These are the big things you will notice, but there 10 others actions taken as well.
•create a separate area for athletes/coaches and a separate area for the fans.
•eliminate time spent in big crowds with no shoe chips removal in the chute.
•no awards ceremony.
•reduce time spent in big crowds by minimizing time at the starting line.
•spreading the teams out in the woods.
•These are the big things you will notice, but there 10 others actions taken as well.
I appreciate all the work that the high school coaches are doing to comply with these extra safety precautions so that the athletes get a chance to race on Saturday and in November.
The outlook of the races:
Predicting who are the top individuals and top teams is always a bit of a challenge given about 1/3 of the teams are opening with their first race of the season. With that caveat, here are the predictions.
Boys Race Individuals:
6 boys stand out as top runners to watch.
Zack Truitt, Landmark Christian (photo by Dan McCauley)
Collin Jones, Carrollton (photo by Marc Logan)
Andrew McGinnis, Calvary Christian (photo by Marc Logan)
Patrick Motes, Rome (photo by Marc Logan)
Adam Wade, Blessed Trinity (photo by Marc Logan)
Andrew Todd, Parkview. (photo by Marc Logan)
In the Chase pack are another 14 boys running really well right now: Mac Howie, Wesleyan, Ethan Nordman, Mill Creek, Evan Prince, Tallulah Falls, Jonathan Greene, Evans, Blessed Trinity teammates: Alex Garrot and Ron Miller; Auburn, AL teammates Stewart Brown and Mark Foster, Woodrow Dean, Tallassee (AL), Will Jennings, Carrollton, Matthew Fernando, Westminster and the Starr's Mill trio of Colton Olvey, Joseph Muzzillo, and Kolby Smith
Boys Team Competition:
There are 7 teams battling for the top 4 trophies and a spot on the virtual podium:
1- Blessed Trinity 2- Auburn 3-Parkview 4-Wesleyan 5- Westminster 6-Starr's Mill 7-Mill Creek
Girls Race Individuals:
5 girls stand as the top runners to watch
Hannah Miniutti, Blessed Trinity
Cara Joyce, Atlanta International (photo by Dan McCauley)
Laney Doster, Jones County
Kelly Ann Sutterfield (128), Katie Hamfelt (r), Blessed Trinity
There are a lot of girls who have trained over the summer and look good early and will challenge the top 5 Nicole Chastain, Blessed Trinity, Parkview duo of Emma Geaney, and Abi Debebe. Auburn's top returnee is Sangie Lincoln-Velez; we will key an eye out for her teammates; Evans High school duo of Madison Kennedy and Simone Rojas and Union Grove's sensational sisters: Gabby Parsons and Bianca Parsons. Ella Bailey, Woodstock, Mylah Land, Carrollton, and Darby Olive of Starr's Mill are running strong.
Girls Team Competition:
Blessed Trinity will dominate with 7 other teams battling for the next 3 spots on the virtual podium:
Blessed Trinity will dominate with 7 other teams battling for the next 3 spots on the virtual podium:
1- Blessed Trinity 2- McIntosh 3-Parkview 4-Starr's Mill 5- Woodstock 6- Mill Creek 7- Union Grove 8 -- Auburn (2019 Champ)
Schedule of races
7:20 am Course Closes for Warm-ups
7:30 am Varsity Girls - Heat 1 (10 runners)
7:50 am Varsity Girls - Heat 2 (10 runners)
8:10 am Varsity Boys - Heat 1 (10 runners)
8:25 am Varsity Boys - Heat 2 (10 runners)
8:40 am JV Girls - Heat 1 (unlimited- please run your JV freshman girls in the freshman race)
9:05 am JV Girls - Heat 2 (unlimited- please run your JV freshman girls in the freshman race)
9:30 am JV Boys - Heat 1 (unlimited - please run your JV freshman boys in the freshman race)
9:50 am JV Boys - Heat 2 (unlimited - please run your JV freshman boys in the freshman race)
10:10 am Freshman Girls (use mile split to enter your non-varsity girls into this race)
10:55 am Middle School Girls -3000m
11:10 am Middle School Boys -3000m
11:35 am All Races are completed
Schedule of races
7:20 am Course Closes for Warm-ups
7:30 am Varsity Girls - Heat 1 (10 runners)
7:50 am Varsity Girls - Heat 2 (10 runners)
8:10 am Varsity Boys - Heat 1 (10 runners)
8:25 am Varsity Boys - Heat 2 (10 runners)
8:40 am JV Girls - Heat 1 (unlimited- please run your JV freshman girls in the freshman race)
9:05 am JV Girls - Heat 2 (unlimited- please run your JV freshman girls in the freshman race)
9:30 am JV Boys - Heat 1 (unlimited - please run your JV freshman boys in the freshman race)
9:50 am JV Boys - Heat 2 (unlimited - please run your JV freshman boys in the freshman race)
10:10 am Freshman Girls (use mile split to enter your non-varsity girls into this race)
10:55 am Middle School Girls -3000m
11:10 am Middle School Boys -3000m
11:35 am All Races are completed