State Meet Hub

This 6A season has been incredible. I don't think I've ever gone into the state meet with this much uncertainty in this classification.6A (or whatever the largest class is each year) is known for being the deepest classification in the state simply because of how massive some of these schools are, in some cases triple or quadruple the size of schools one classification smaller. There are years where other classes can certainly rival 6A in terms of top end talent or even be similar in terms of depth, like this year with 4A. But for the most part, this classification is consistently the top classification in the state. And after looking at the Coach Wood results, one coach told pointed out how close things were going to be at state this year and followed it up with "That's the way it should be." And I couldn't agree more. 

Note - The Following Meet Previews by Coach McMurray and predictions by GA MileSplit

One of the best individual stories and performers in Georgia this year has been Jackson Hogsed out of the great Lambert program. Hogsed has always been amongst the best in his class and in the state, but this year he has solidified himself as one of the best to ever do it in Georgia. The senior had a huge day in his season debut at Southern Showcase, running what would have been closer to 15:00 or faster had there not been mud. Hogsed followed that performance with his first cross country sub-15:00 to take second at Wingfoot in 14:59, an individual win at ASICS in his cross country personal best of 14:56, and a third consecutive sub-15 to take third at Coach Wood in 14:58. It is always great to see a senior clicking on all cylinders at the right time, and Hogsed will look to go out on a strong note in Carrollton. 

Two runners who will certainly be in the mix are Riley Comstock and Clint Huggins, a lethal 1-2 punch for the Harrison Hoyas. Comstock is one of the best sophomores in Georgia history, and out of the seven races he's run this season, he's finished top five in five of those races. His 10th and 13th place finishes at Wingfoot and Southern Showcase, respectively, are more reflective of additional southeast talent. Comstock's 15:07 at Jesse Owens and 15:05 at Coach Wood demonstrate he's ready to roll, so expect to see him up front. Huggins, a junior, has been a stalwart performer for the Hoyas, but following his performance at Coach Wood where he claimed sixth in 15:10, he positions himself amongst the podium favorites. Comstock and Huggins have certainly pushed each other in training, and they'll look to push each other on Saturday. 

Georgia's fastest freshman Dash Brackin hails from Carrollton High School, and the hometown kid will look to make a splash in his first GHSA State Championship. At Wingfoot, Brackin was the fifth Georgian (9th overall) and third runner from 6A behind Hogsed and Ben Winn - the 8:57, 4:10, 15:16 Furman commit - and two seconds ahead of tenth place Comstock. Brackin would go on to get the better of Winn and Pifer at ASICS in a personal best of 15:05, before notching an impressive eight place finish just behind Huggins and Winn, with Comstock, Hogsed, and Pifer pulling away a bit more over the last mile. This talented freshman should be running a bit looser than some of his upperclassmen competitors who enter their final state meet, so this could be as fun to watch as the next four years promises to be. 

As mentioned above, Ben Winn out of South Forsyth is another contender on Saturday. The senior had an exceptional spring, running times few in state history have achieved. He's battle tested on the hills (Milton), in the mud (Southern Showcase), and amongst top Georgia talent, he's improved steadily every week. His progression from the low 16:00s in the early part of the season to a 15:16 personal best at Coach Wood and fifth place finish at 6A Sectional 2 should leave cause for concern for his competition, and he'll surely continue to display his late season form this Saturday. 

In addition to the six runners mentioned above, Holden Cammarata, Ethan Bridge, Benjamin Hall, Alexander Thompson, Carter Dieterich, Haydn Hermansen, and many others are certified studs. Claiming a spot on the individual podium and All State honors will be a battle to the line, and cross country fans are in for a treat.

GA MileSplit Predictions
1. Hogsed
2. Pifer
3. Winn
4. Comstock
5. Brackin

Boys Team

As is the nature of all great championship races, the boys' team battle in 6A is going to leave coaches, family, and supporters anxiously refreshing live results. With several teams in contention to bring home the title this year, here is but a sample of what to expect.

Arguably the top performing team in Georgia this fall has been the Harrison Hoyas. They won at Starr's Mill, were the top Georgia team at Southern Showcase (6th), had an excellent showing at Jesse Owens, and took home the win at Coach Wood in a race featuring Georgia's all-classification best. With two runners up front looking to claim individual podium honors and one of the deepest 3-7s in the state, Harrison enters Saturday as one of the top contenders for the team title. 

The West Forsyth Wolverines have been the embodiment of depth with 12 runners breaking 17 minutes this fall. Notably, West's 13.72 second split between 1-5 (and 29 second split between 1-7) makes them formidable in all race formats. They were the second Georgia team at Southern Showcase (7th) in September, they were second at Alexander/ASICS, and they took home runner-up honors at Coach Wood (just 3 points behind Harrison). This junior-laden squad looks poised to make a run at the title, and the future looks bright for the men of West. 

Another program prepared to make a push on Saturday is Denmark High School. Significantly, the Danes were the top 6A team at Orthowest in September, they won Alexander/ASICS (17 points ahead of second place West Forsyth), they were the third 6A team at Coach Wood (4th overall and 22 points behind West), and they're coming off a big Sectional win. With the second tightest pack in 6A and the second fastest 5th man in Georgia, the Danes look to the weekend ready to be in the mix. 

Carrollton, Brookwood, and Mill Creek each look to climb the podium this weekend. While they've been right behind Harrison, West Forsyth, and Denmark throughout the fall, they've each demonstrated they truly are right there. At OrthoWest in September, they finished Brookwood, Mill Creek, Carrollton. The finish order at Gwinnett Champs: Brookwood, Mill Creek. At ASICS - Carrollton, Mill Creek. And at Coach Wood, they finished Brookwood, Carrollton, Mill Creek. I haven't done my historical due diligence, Carrollton features potentially the strongest trio of freshman Georgia has seen with a fourth freshman in their top-7. The home team certainly has great potential this weekend and the next four years. Brookwood is one of Georgia's historically great programs, and with a 59s spread between 1-5 and a strong 6-7, they'll be looking to have a great day. Mill Creek similarly looks the part, and with a tradition of showing up at Carrollton, the Hawks should also be excited about their potential. 

Lambert, Walton, North Gwinnett, Hillgrove, Etowah, and South Forsyth also have big finishes and big beats in major meets this fall, and we can expect each of these teams to be prepared to have a strong day. As it is November, and given they are Marietta, we can almost bank on the Blue Devils being in the mix as well.

GA MileSplit Predictions
1. West Forsyth
2. Harrison
3. Denmark
4. Mill Creek

Girls Individual

Continuing the trends of fast freshman and Comstocks in the mix in 6A, the fastest 6A time this fall belongs to Harrison ninth grader Paige Comstock who has been on a tear in her debut campaign. Comstock opened her 5k season with a win at Starr's Mill, and she was the second Georgian (and second freshman) at Southern Showcase. She came back and ran to an impressive fourth place at Wingfoot (top runner in 6A) before a monster performance at Jesse Owens where she clocked 17:36 for the individual win. Comstock was on the heels of top 6A finisher Mary Nesmith at Coach Wood (3rd overall), and took second at 6A Sectional 2, and spectators can be certain she'll be in contention up front as they ramp it up for home.

In her sophomore campaign, Marietta junior Mary Nesmith was about as dominant in 7A as it gets. She won individual titles in cross country, over 3200m and 1600m, and narrowly missed the mid-distance/distance sweep taking runner up honors in the 800m. If anyone in the race has shown they know how to win in big moments, it is Nesmith. Notably, the Marietta junior ran excellently at OrthoWest early in September, taking second place to 4A's Zahara Bernal. Nesmith then won Cobb County Championships, was the top Georgian in Charlotte at Hare & Hounds, claimed second at Coach Wood in 17:40 as the top runner in 6A, and is fresh off a 6A Sectional 2 victory. Nesmith seems to shine under the bright lights, and Saturday will be no exception. 

The top senior in 6A travels to Carrollton from Mill Creek, and Evelyn Schlitz looks determined to bring one home for the Lady Hawks and Gwinnett County. Schlitz ran strong at Carrollton earlier this fall at Orthowest, running 18:49 and finishing second amongst 6A runners. Recently, she had a strong performance at Coach Wood, claiming eight overall as the third runner in 6A. Though 25 and 22 seconds behind Nesmith and Comstock, respectively, her 6A Sectional 1 victory in a new personal best of 17:47 and steady progression this fall sends the message that this senior is timing this thing right. Look to see Schlitz with the leaders on Saturday. 

Brookwood heads to state with one of the best tandems up front of all classifications with sophomore Kennedy Wardle and senior Ava Layson. The pair placed second and third, respectively, behind Schlitz at 6A Sectional 1, running season's bests of 18:12 and 18:16, respectively. Wardle took second at Gwinnett County Championships, claimed the fifth 6A finish at Coach Wood (16th overall), and has an impressive 7th place finish at ASICS on her resume. While Layson's Sectional performance marks a significant personal best having previously run a season's best of 18:58, finishing on Wardle's hip at Sectional has to leave this senior confident in how she'll perform in Carrollton. 

Another dynamic duo out of West Forsyth is the senior pair of Tess Krogman and Savannah Meyer. Krogman placed fifth amongst 6A runners at Coach Wood in a personal best of 18:33, and Meyer was third amongst 6A runners at ASICS (14th overall) and tenth amongst 6A runners at Coach Wood. West's top two girls have exchanged the lead throughout the fall, and both girls should be excited about their potential to climb the leaderboard together. 

In addition to the seven ladies referenced, Maddie Jones, Jasmine Jones, Mallory Old, Emily Autry, Lidia Lo Faro, Kenley Adams, and Alyssa Trevino all have put together strong seasons and careers. Marietta's Maddie Jones would without a doubt be individually highlighted on this list, but without results from Coach Wood and Sectionals, I was honestly just uncertain whether she'd be racing. Here's to all of Georgia hoping she's healthy and rested for the state meet.

GA MileSplit Prediction
1. Nesmith
2. Comstock
3. Schlitz
4. Krogman
5. Wardle

Girls Team

The ladies' race in 6A looks to be just as difficult to interpret as the boys. With traditional powerhouses and surging programs excitedly awaiting their opportunity to stamp their names in Georgia history, Cobb County again looks to lay claim to the title with the Forsyth and Gwinnett county schools attempting to throw a wrench in those plans.

The Lady Blue Devils of Marietta look to be the on paper favorites, however, after Coach Wood and Sectionals, it appears they may be missing a traditional member of their scoring rotation. Regardless, Marietta looks prepared coming off a Sectionals win, and with two strong runners up front looking the best they've looked all fall, we can count on the Blue Devils to make a push for another state title. Furthermore, Marietta's depth appears to be among the best in 6A with the second fastest 5 runner in the division and a 6-7 punch knocking on the door of 20 minutes, and they'll look to capitalize on their experience on Saturday. 

Another legendary program out of Cobb County looks to make a return to the top of the podium this Saturday. The Walton Raiders have looked excellent this fall, featuring the second tightest pack (59 second spread 1-5) amongst the top contending teams in 6A. Walton was the top 6A team at Coach Wood (4th overall), edging out Harrison, Marietta, and West Forsyth who took 5th, 6th, and 7th, respectively. This past weekend, they placed third at 6A Sectional 2 which featured Marietta, West Forsyth, and Harrison who took 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th, respectively. Walton's girls have a strong shot to make a title push this weekend, and they'll lean on the strength of their pack to get the job done. 

Looking to stake their claims to the top combined programs in 6A this fall are Harrison and West Forsyth. Both ladies' teams have run amazing this fall, notching major team finishes at big meets across the southeast. Up front, Harrison has one of the most impressive runners in the state who will certainly look to bring home an individual win, and their pack is among the strongest in the division. Harrison was the fourth Georgia team at Southern Showcase (second in 6A), they ran lights out at Jesse Owens representing all of Georgia well, they were the second 6A team at Coach Wood (5th overall), and they were fourth at the loaded 6A Sectional 2 championships. The Hoyas have a great opportunity before them, and we can trust they'll be prepared. Similarly, West Forsyth has had one of the best seasons of any team in Georgia this fall. With two legitimate individual podium contenders and the second strongest pack (second fastest six runner) in 6A, they have just as much reason to believe they'll claim the title as anyone. West was the top 6A team at ASICS, over 100 points ahead of 6A's second team. They took 7th at Coach Wood with only 44 points separating the top four 6A teams, and they were the second Georgia program (first in 6A) at Southern Showcase, claiming an impressive 6th overall. Following a strong second place finish at 6A Sectional 2, the Lady Wolves look poised to make a strong run at the title. 

Gwinnett County has three teams who look poised to have a big day in Carrollton. North Gwinnett boasts the tightest pack and strongest 6th runner in all of 6A. The Gwinnett County champs will look to run together and finish as high within the chase pack as possible. Mill Creek, always formidable in November, took second at county, but they edged out North Gwinnett by 12 points at Coach Wood and 8 points at 6A Sectional 1. The Hawks have a low stick in their top runner, and their pack will look to have another consistently strong day. While Brookwood took third at Gwinnett County Champs and fourth at 6A Sectional 1, their 1-2 punch have an opportunity to make a statement and set them up for success. The Gwinnett battle within the larger 6A contest will be fun to see develop. 

Lambert, Hillgrove, Richmond Hill, Roswell, and South Forsyth all have a lot to be proud of this season and excited for looking ahead to Saturday. Richmond Hill looked excellent at Sectionals, and a strong day from the lady Longhorns will put them in the podium hunt. Hillgrove, Roswell, and South Forsyth similarly ran strong at Sectionals and have notched strong showings at ASICS and Coach Wood. They'll all look to put their strongest foot forward on Saturday.

Ga MileSplit Prediction
1. Walton
2. Harrison
3. Marietta
4. West Forsyth