Will Gipson will be trying to win his first state title this fall
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.
2A Team & Individual Returner Rankings
2A Girls
Class 2A is just public schools for the first time in GHSA history, I believe. So that opens the door to new teams having a chance to bring home a trophy or a state title. But of course even though some new teams have a chance here, the favorite is a team who has experience with winning. Savannah Arts Academy comes in as potential top dog after winning in 2022 and finishing 3rd in 2023 to two private schools. Their biggest challenger is another school with a little state title experience in Columbus, although it's been since 2010 that they last won a title. These are two different types of teams two. Savannah Arts has the top returner among them in Leah Nyce, but Columbus actually has more firepower up front and needs to find a stronger 4-5 in order to come away with the win. On the flip side Savannah has the depth but not as many front runners beside Nyce. This one could come down to who worked harder over the summer. Chasing these two teams are a few teams who haven't won a title. At some point either this year or next I suspect one of these programs will take advantage of the fact that they no longer have to compete against private schools and put together their best season ever. Union County is led by Lola Hunter and is a prime candidate for a situation like this. Did they work hard enough this summer to vault themselves into the front of the pack? Franklin County is led by Megan Hightower and will be more likely to use the momentum of a podium run to try to make a run at the whole thing next fall. Rockmart is another newcomer here who could play spoiler for one of these teams, or we could also see somebody like East Jackson be a top team again and get on the podium.
Individually Nyce is the top seed followed by Alyna Gilbert of Columbus. Nyce ran faster at state last year, but she didn't race Gilbert as Columbus was in 3A. It's a mild toss up between the two of them. But they're not along. Lola Hunter was right behind Nyce at state last year so it's at the very least a three girl battle for the win. Paxton Kirby could find herself in the mix or you could see Haley Heard and Gabby Ware finish high up to give Columbus a deadly 1-2-3 punch. Hightower rounds out the favorites, but there is plenty of space in this top ten for new names. It really is going to be all about who worked hard in the offseason and that will be what shapes this overall race the most.
2A Boys
The boys race is as wide open as cross country races get. The "favorite" on paper is technically East Jackson. But considering they're projected at 148 points, they are by no means a normal favorite. I can't remember the last time I saw a state champion score that high, let along project that high. Things will change on the boys side of 2A and they'll probably change very quickly. I have no idea who took advantage of this information and out worked their opponents over the summer. We should be seeing some newer faces on the podium in class 2A. I guess we will find out soon. The only actual advantage that East Jackson has is that they have front runner Hayden Hodges, but even that isn't a huge advantage in the team battle as Columbus has Mathew Lopez. Other teams who are contending include Crisp Co. led by Sawyer McGinnis, Butler who has a nice pack, Hart County who is led by Nate Harris, and Cook County who is led by Caden McDaniel. I really don't have a clue what order they'll finish and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see somebody not in the top 7 team seeds come away with a trophy or even the win.
Individually Will Gipson drops down from 3A where he had a very solid showing placing 5th at state last year and is the early favorite. Hodges, Lopez, Harris, McGinnis, and McDaniel are all in the mix for a top spot, but I'm not sure any of them can challenge Gipson. Although both Lopez and Hodges have some speed from the 800 this spring, so you never know. Besides those favorites you've also got guys like Evan Osias, Jermaine McMillan, and Jayden White.