1A Division II really is the "March Madness" of Georgia High School cross country. I want to emphasize the word "madness" because you NEVER know what is going to take place in this classification. Last year saw a rare sixth man tiebreaker to determine the boys team state champions. A girl who was never first for her team all season last year, won the individual state championship without spikes and only pink sneakers. I meant it when I said it, "madness." Anyhow, the "tiny yet mighty" classification is sure to bring the heat and the pandemonium this Friday in Carrollton at high noon in what should be some of the most interesting and completely unpredictable races of the weekend.

Boys Individual

Last year's 1A Division II individual state champion, Diego Pryor, returns to defend his championship. The Aquinas High senior had an upset victory last year where he took an early lead over the field and never looked back. I don't know if Pryor is going to be able to repeat that victory, because he has more competition this year. He has been running well though and won his region meet in 17:27.65. This was a new personal best and his first time ever going under the 18 minute barrier. Julian Council is going into the state meet with the fastest cross country time this season at 16:42.20 from the Brentwood Invitational. He is once again the fastest returner based off of 1600 and 3200 track times. Last track season, he won both distance events at the state meet and he has personal bests of 4:45.91 and 10:46.28. Council is a podium returner and finished 9th at the state cross country meet last year.  Not far off of Council is Guy Mastrion of Atlanta Classical Academy. Mastrion had a relatively conservative start to the season; however, he won his region meet in an awesome time of 16:43.60 at Allatoona Creek Park. He is going to want to help his team out as much as possible so watch out for him as he eyes the coveted "1 point." There is also a quick freshman, Jack Kalmanowicz. He has the third fastest time going into the state meet at 17:19.58 and was second at his region meet to defending state champion, Diego Pryor. Some other returning podium finishers and names to watch out for include Eli Walker (3rd last year), Zach Edge (5th last year), Kevin Perez (6th last year), Anthony Escalante (10th last year), Christian Baldridge, Clegg Cousar, Ethan Johnson,and Ibis Gonzalez.

GA MileSplit Prediction
1. Council
2. Pryor
3. Mastrion
4. Kalmanowicz
5. Walker

Boys Team

Atkinson County or ATCO as they call themselves are looking to repeat as team state champions once again! Last year, they won the championship off of a sixth man tie breaker and had one of the most emotional and moving celebrations of the state championship weekend. They surely are going to want to bring the same energy Friday and they might be wearing the matching Superman socks again to help them fly through the Carrollton hills with "Clark Kent swagger." They currently lead the virtual meet at an 18:27.57 average and they have a 41.87 1-5 split. This is especially remarkable considering most of the other teams in the top ten of this classification's virtual meet have 1-5 splits that are over two minutes. The team has the experience and they know what it is like to win. It is all a matter of making sure everyone has their best day. Next up is Aquinas. This team is especially interesting as I could see them having an individual champion and two other finishers earn podium spots. Freshman, Ethan Johnson, has been the team's second man this season, and he even finished in front of Pryor one time. If 1-3 all earn podium finishes, that is going to be a major advantage for them in the team race. Not far off Aquinas in the virtual meet is Atlanta Classical Academy. They are looking to follow in the footsteps of the girls team who won the school's first ever state championship. Based off of times, they actually have the fastest 1-3 of any of the teams in the classification. They also ran remarkably well at their region meet. Their 1-5 all set new personal bests. Other teams that could earn podium spots include Furlow Charter School, Lake Oconee Academy, Georgia Military College Prep School, and Baconton Charter. 

GA MileSplit Prediction
1. Atkinson
2. Aquinas
3. Atlanta Classical
4. GMC

Girls Individual 

Last year's state champion, Isidora Catron, returns and she has been racing her best so far this season.  As mentioned earlier, Catron's win was quite the upset last year. This year is a whole other story as the Wilcox County sophomore has finished first in every single race she has competed in except one. She also has the lead time going into the race with a personal best of 19:40.10. She does have her fair share of competition though. Flora Tyler of Atlanta Classical Academy leads the "Cavalier Charge" this season with a nice personal best of 19:44.01 from the quick ASICS Invitational. She ran close to her personal best at the region meet where she got first place, and seems to be gearing up well for the championship season. Tyler also has the best returning 1600 and 3200 track times in the classification with personal bests of 5:34.54 and 12:25.61. There is a freshman that everyone ought to keep an eye on. Averi Lowen of Bowdon has gotten either first or second place in every race she has run this season. Most recently, she got second to Tyler at their region meet. Small town Bowdon is in the same county as Carrollton so she definitely has the travel edge over some of her competitors. Her personal best is 20:05.20. Speaking of travel, Geisha Smith, who hails all the way from the southwestern corner of the state in Seminole County, did not seem to have let the long drive get to her last season. She finished with runner-up honors and is looking to repeat a similar result this year. Other returning podium finishers and athletes to watch out for include Sara Neil Kirkland (3rd place last year), Adeline Weinheimer (10th place last year), Kenzie Dykes, Maria Kilheffer, Meadow Roberts, Savannah Arnett, Vera Carter, and Mary Jane Knight. 

Girls Team

Atlanta Classical Academy's "Cavalier Charge" is looking to repeat as state champions again. Last year was the classical studies school's first ever state championship in any sport. It was a major honor for a relatively new school that opened its doors in 2014. They are hungry for more,  and thanks to front runners Flora Tyler and Sara Neil Kirkland, the Cavaliers could be looking at a repeat celebration this Friday. Not too far off in the virtual meet is Furlow Charter based out of Americus, Georgia. This team's 1-5 split is about a minute less than Atlanta Classical Academy's 1-5 split. The pack running is nice; however, it also helps to have a low-stick with Maria Kilheffer leading her team with a personal best of 21:23.14. The team won their region meet quite easily with a low score of 25 points. Finally, you cannot write off Lake Oconee Academy and Wilcox County. At Lake Oconee Academy's region meet, they put four in the top ten. Wilcox County put six in the top ten. Lake Oconee Academy has a slight lead over Wilcox County in the virtual meet. Wilcox County does have a faster 1-5 average mainly thanks to Isidora Catron. Other podium contending teams are Atkinson County, Georgia Military College Prep, Schley County, Chattahoochee County, Aquinas, and Echols County.