Tommy Latham is probably the biggest lock to win a state title
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.
4A Team & Individual Returner Rankings
Ok here we go. This class is absolutely loaded. There are so many teams in here who have won multiple state titles or have consistently been on the podium at state. There's just simply not room for all of them. This class might go 10 deep in terms of teams who could legitimately be on the podium. So I just want to put it out there that there's a good chance some teams and kids are going to get overlooked in this preview. Please don't hate me for it, but please do feel free to use it for motivation for the season. That caveat being said, here we go.
4A Girls
Pace Academy comes in as the defending champions in class 4A, but the competition got much harder this year. On paper, they're basically dead even with Marist, who won 6A last year. Both teams have 3 girls projected in the top ten so it'll come down to which trio performs the best but also which team has the bigger jump from 4-5. Hard to say who that will be as both teams looked pretty good in the spring. Marist was the stronger team last year, but they graduated their top 2 and 3/7 from state while Pace only graduated their top runner. There's a good chance it'll be one of these two teams who wins 4A this year, but it would be foolish to say they're the only two with a chance. On paper the next team to challenge is Northview. They were 3rd in 5a last year, but probably was stronger than that and didn't have their best day at state. They also return 6 out of their top 7 from state. They don't quite have the firepower up front that Pace and Marist have, but that could change, and if it does they have the supporting cast already in place to contend. In a similar boat to Northview is Starrs Mill, who was runner up in 4A last year. They also bring back almost everybody and will probably be stronger than they were last year. Is it enough to close the gap and contend for the win? We will see. but I definitely expect them to get stronger overall. And if they have a couple of girls who made a jump and are ready to contend for top 5, then that would be a game changer for them. Behind the top 4 on paper are two powerhouses in Blessed Trinity and St. Pius X. Neither of them look ready to contend for the win on paper, but it would be foolish to write either of them off given their history. Most likely they'll be aiming for a trophy, and will probably be in position to race for one. Harris Co. and Maynard Jackson are also strong teams who could make some noise, but don't forget about Westminster who is one of the most successful programs in state history. I'm not gonna write them off, and won't be surprised to see them in the mix for a podium spot.
Individually this one has a favorite with Zahara Bernal. She is the defending 4A champion and has shown no signs of weakness at any point in between winning last year and this fall. If she's healthy on race day, she will be tough to beat. Not impossible if somebody makes a jump, but she's definitely the favorite. After that it's kind of a cluster. And it's fairly wide open. There are two more Pace girls in the mix with Olivia Resnick and Harriet Blaha who could do some damage in Pace's attempt to repeat. But there are also two Marist girls with Caroline Rogers and Maeve Waddell. The team battle could be decided between those four runners. Effie Ward is maybe the best contender from a team who's not in the mix. She's had a very strong career and is probably the best bet to potentially challenge Bernal. London Ray has also had some brilliant races over the years, I could see her mixing it up. And Grace Danser has also performed very well at state over the years so you could see her up front too. Beyond those girls are a whole bunch of girls, any of them could have made a jump and be a contender this year. I guess we will find out soon.
4A Boys
The boys race is intriguing. Much like the girls you have several powerhouse teams all on a collision course for these next two xc seasons until GHSA decides to jumble things up again in 2026. But for now it should lead to some fantastic state meets for the next two seasons with such good programs in the mix. Technically Cambridge is the favorite on paper, but after track season I think Marist is the actual favorite. Cambridge has a good pack and is much stronger at 5, and that could certainly push them over the edge if it comes down to that in November. But Marist is very strong up front and that could just give them too much of a lead. There's still plenty to sort out and I'm not ready to crown either team yet, just going by what I saw this spring. And that's not to mention the fact that Pace and Blessed Trinity both look like they'll have pretty good teams too. Both have the front runners you need to contend and a solid returning core group and 3-5. Any sort of big jump from either team and they'll find themselves battling for the win too. It's gonna be a good one. And then on the boys side there are just so many programs who should not be counted out. Westminster, for example, was the best team all class last fall and is the defending champion. They graduated quite a bit of talent, but they're still Westminster and should not be counted out. Starrs Mill also ran well last year at state and could possibly find themselves in the mix. Jones County and Maynard Jackson both look stronger than ever and could be in the mix. And then there are other historically big names like North Oconee, Flowery Branch, and St. Pius X who don't look great on paper but have had success before. This class really is loaded this year.
Individually this is one of the easiest races to pick. Tommy Latham is the heavy favorite as the two time defending champion, Nike qualifier, and almost sub 4:00 miler. Unless something crazy happens, he's got this thing locked up. And his closest competitor is a teammate (or two). Liam Hanemann is already proven both on the track and in XC, and now teammate Andrew Stricklin has shown that he can be a stud. They very well could go 1-2-3, or more. The most likely runner to break up the Marist party up front is super stud Jacob Jacquot who has some pretty impressive times himself and whose older brother was the best runner at Carrollton last year. He'd be the favorite in almost any other class, but he's in 4A. Such is life sometimes. Loden Kohrman is also pretty special, but will probably be buried behind some stout runners this fall. It's just tough being in 4A this year. Other runners who could be a factor if they make some good jumps include Bankson Roach, Iliyan Hajiani, Cameron Collier, and Francisco Palacios-Rodriguez.