Ella Gibbs is always a strong runner at state
Cross Country seasons officially started and the first meets are about to get underway. So now we want to take a look at the upcoming season. In case you missed it, we ran a rankings for the top returners in each classification. Keep in mind that no ranking system is perfect and no season preview is perfect. Nobody can account for injuries, big jumps, transfers, breakthrough runners that we haven't seen yet or anything else that can affect a season. But one of the great things about Georgia MileSplit is that we do have a great ranking database and it allows us to quickly and easily take a look at rankings like this. So check out that ranking for a more in depth look of each classification heading into the season.
1A Team & Individual Returner Rankings
1A Division 1 girls
Class 1A gets a makeover this year with the removal of the private schools in classes 1-3A to their own division. But what's that old saying? "The more things change, the more they stay the same." Ok, maybe it doesn't quite apply to this situation, but it feels like it does. Bleckley County girls look fantastic as always and are the clear favorites for the team title this year. Not only do they have the best runner in the state with Ella Gibbs, they've got some serious depth too. Depth that probably can't be matched by anybody else. Fannin County on the other hand just keeps getting better in recent years. They keep inching closer and closer to that podium, will this be the year they break through? They will be led by Lindsey Holloway and Karli Sams who will provide a nice 1-2 punch. And if they can find a couple of freshmen or something, they'll be in the mix here. Jeff Davis and Bremen look to round out the podium, but don't count out Armuchee who has performed well at state in recent years. Oglethorpe County is also in the mix, so can their track success start bleeding over into cross country?
Individually this race is Gibbs' race to lose. If she's healthy then I'm not sure I see anybody stopping her. She's one of the best ever in Georgia already and has 6 individual state titles already. She also seems to save her best for Carrollton every year as well. She will be tough to beat and her teammates Lily Farrell and Ellen Arnold should also mix it up in the top 10 or even top 5 individually. Holloway and Sams will certainly contend as well, but this classification has a couple of potential dark horses that add something interesting to the mix. Alishia Cook from Coosa is the younger sister from one of the top individuals last year, if she makes a jumps and beats big sister, then she could be further up front than she's projected to be. And Sydnie Henderson is an absolute stud as a mid distance runner with a killer kick because of it. If she was working on her strength this summer I wouldn't be surprised to see her mix it up with the leaders.
1A Division 1 Boys
On the boys side things are much tighter as there's no telling who is the favorite between Bleckley County and Armuchee. And the best part is that both teams have a history of having their best race of the season at state. This is one of those duels that's probably going to come down to just who feels better on the day. I'm definitely not ready to make a prediction on who will win this one and don't know if I'll have one ready in November either. Bleckley is led by returning state champion Caleb Darsey while Armuchee is led by returning top individual seed Ben Owens. And on top of that these two teams both match up very well man to man as they're very similar. This is way too close to call at this point. Jeff Davis looks like a strong bet for the podium as they don't have any front runners, but their pack is very tight with only 16 seconds separating them. We've seen that before and it usually bodes well for a team to have that many guys all training together. If they work hard they can certainly achieve more together than by themselves and could all of a sudden become a threat for the win if they make jumps as a group. Vidalia is the favorite for the final podium spot, but Washington County, Berrien County, or Bremen could all knock them off.
Individually this does look like a duel between Darsey and Owens. And while technically there are team points at play here, it probably won't come down to which one wins this race. Probably. But either way I'm guessing these boys will just be freed up from the stress of needing team points and will be able to run free and for themselves. It should be a good one. Timothy Skipper looks like the next man up and is technically closer to closing the gap on Darsey and Owens than he is of getting caught from behind. But you never know, and if he finds himself in no mans land that could be tough to hold on for 3rd. Behind him are a whole slew of guys from several teams who could be out to prove themselves and we won't know until the racing starts who worked the hardest this offseason. Keith Siek, Luke Moody, Koen Verner, and Sam Lindley are all sub 17 already and will be looking to do even better this year.
1A Division 2
Flora Tyler leads defending champion Atlanta Classical again this year as the favorites coming into the season. They have front runners they need and enough depth to pull off back to back titles. It's hard at this time to see a scenario where they don't come out on top. But that's why we don't run the races on paper, you gotta go out there and do it. Kenzie Dykes and Lake Oconee Academy will try to knock them off this year as they return a solid squad after sneaking onto the final podium spot last fall. They're back and return enough to make a run at something bigger. Furlow Charter is also in the mix again this year as they're led by Elizabeth Arizmendi. They were runner up last year and have no reason to think they can't be on the podium again this year. And Wilcox County will look to ensure the same four teams are on the podium against this year as well. They're led by top seed and last year's 3rd place finisher Isidora Catron. Avery Lowen is back to try to defend her individual title this year as well while Ms. consistent Geisha Smith is back as well to make it three straight years in the top 5 at state as an individual.
On the boys side, Atkinson County got upset last year by Atlanta Classical Academy in yet another thrilling team race that had some drama at the end. But Atco comes in as the slight favorites this year and will try to hold off Furlow Charter and Lake Oconee Academy. Georgia Military College will look to round out the podium as they continue to be the most consistent team in this classification. Individually nobody will be surprised if Julian Council wins it again this year, but he will have his hands full with Jack Kalmanowicz. Those two look capable of running away from the rest of the field but you never know. Clegg Cousar, Ibis and Dennis Gonzalez, Anthony Escalante, and Rigoberto Sanchez could be tough to beat.