AAA State Preview
Girls:
All year Marist has shown they are the team to beat as they look to make it back to back State Titles. Marist did win their Region (27 pts, 20:54 avg.), but Lakeside-DeKalb found a full lineup and created a challenge (32 pts, 21:03 avg.). Lakeside-Evans (17 pts, 20:50 avg.) and Winder (17 pts, 21:11) dominated their Regions and are looking to see if they can push into the top spot. Woodland won the tough Region 7 followed by Allatoona, Dalton, and Hillgrove all of which are looking for a top ten finish. Challenging Region 7 for the toughest Region race is Region 5 with Whitewater (30 pts, 20:23) finishing first followed by McIntosh placing second, Starrs Mill and Alexander. Other teams looking to grab a top ten spot include Loganville (2nd – Region 8) and Evans (2nd – Region 3).
Outlook:
If the season results hold true to form Marist should win the title. They are going to be followed by a combination of Lakeside-Evans, Winder, Whitewater, and Lakeside-DeKalb. If Marist stumbles just a bit any of these teams could grab the top spot, (look at Peachtree Ridge last year). The 6-10 spots are wide open. Woodland, Allatoona, McIntosh, or Dalton are going to finish in the top ten, but the order will determine on who shows up Saturday. Loganville, Southwest DeKalb, and Evans have a chance to claim the last top ten spot.
Individual:
Lakeside-Evans’s Bowles is the front runner for the individual title. She has the best time this year and ran the fastest time at Region. Following Bowles is her teammate Townsend who ran 19:35 at Region, but Lakeside-DeKalb has several runners that could challenge Bowles and Townsend. Wetterhall (19:33 at Region) and Kelly (19:39) should be in the mix along with Harkins (19:57) or Mavity from Marist. Whitewater’s pair of Mangan (19:53) and Hunt (19:58), Alexander’s Truitt (19:50), McIntosh’s Gray (19:47), and Glenn Academy’s Robinson (19:04) should round out the top ten. It is going to be a great race and the top 4 spots could very easily belong to runners with the word Lakeside in their school name.
Boys:
As the girls side has shown Marist is once again in the top spot all year long. They (20 pts, 17:28 avg.) showed their strength at Region with a solid win over Lakeside-DeKalb (47 pts, 18:04). Although Lakeside-DeKalb got beat they put together a solid performance and are sure to make a statement come Saturday. Lakeside-Evans (20 pts, 17:52) could challenge Marist for the top spot as they showed at Region what kind of team they are when they run at full strength. Other teams in hunt for the podium include McIntosh (1st, 16:52), Alexander (2nd, 17:09), and Dalton (1st). Other teams that can finish in the top ten include Allatoona, Woodland, Northgate, Starrs Mill, and Hillgrove (all of the teams from Region 5 and 7 have a chance).
Outlook:
If history is on their side Marist should win the team title, but Lakeside-Evans can push and might have something to say about the title. The top five look set with Lakeside-DeKalb, Dalton, and McIntosh round it out. Do not be surprised if Alexander, Allatoona, Woodland, and Northgate sneak into the top 5, but all should stay in the top ten. If they run well a number of teams could challenge in 9-12 spots including Hillgrove, Starrs Mill, Southwest DeKalb, or even Winder.
Individual:
This race has a chance to be the most exciting one in 4A this year (we can not take away from the 3A boy’s battle or Erassa). The race appears on paper to be wide open. There is no clear favorite and depending on how the race unfolds several different runners can grab the individual title. Lakeside-DeKalb's Ewing (17:13 at Region) has looked great, but was pushed to the brink by Marist’s Moore (17:14) in a very close Region race. Alexander’s Smallwood has the best overall time (16:01, 16:24 Region), but lost at Region to Starrs Mill’s Enriquez (16:16). In the same race Northgate’s Eady clocked a 16:27. On the other side you have Allatoona’s Stevens-Carty and Corbin Williams, Hillgrove’s Payne, Marist’s Weber and Fetter, and McIntosh’s Reeves that could also challenge in the top group. Following this group is Westside’s Smalley, Lakeside-Evans combination of Wilson, Valerio, and Crowly, and Heritage’s Worthy, Any of these runners can grab the individual title and the rest should claim the top spots. It is shaping up to be a solid race and represent the class of 4A well.