Aaron Brodrick might be the best runner in Georgia. He has only lost once, a strong 3rd place finish at Great American and has been under 5:10 four times this year. He almost certainly has his eyes on the bigger prize in terms of a spot at nationals, an don top of that he will have the warmest race of the weekend. There's no real incentive to go for a fast time...except that Witt Windham is a really strong runner too. And I assume he's not going down without a fight. Brodrick will have to earn this one. I think Brodrick is the favorite, but he doesn't have the luxury of chilling at any point, he has to be on his game or we could see an upset here. Brodrick was runner up last year to Windham's older brother, and he was 3rd as a sophomore after winning this race as a freshman. So you know he's focused and dialed in for this thing. Both runners have been killing it this year but I think Windham will have to wait his turn and use this year more as a learning experience before he starts to be among the elite in Georgia next year. There's alot going on behind them too, so I'll try to break that down. Austin Chrouch is having himself a season and should be considered the favorite for 3rd, but it's not a lock. Noah Jenkins looks good this year and so does Finn Wakeman. Both have some strong performances that could challenge Crouch on the right day. Max Young looked good early, but we haven't seen him since Warpath, unfortunately. 

Prediction
1. Brodrick
2. Windham
3. Chrouch
4. Wakeman
5. Jenkins.

3A Boys Team

This will probably not be all that close. Oconee County is considered one of the better teams all class. They have the firepower up front with Brodrick and Jenkins while also having the depth to out duel almost anybody. I think they're going to come away with the four peat here for Brodrick, something very few high school boys ever accomplish. North Hall is not going to lay over and die. If they're healthy and firing on all cylinders, they could challenge Oconee here. But I just don't know if I see that happening given how lights out Oconee has looked all year. Lumpkin Co. and Heritage appear set to duel for the final two trophies so we will see what happens there. 

Prediction
1. Oconee
2. North Hall
3. Lumpkin
4. Heritage

3A Girls Individual

Summer Muxlow will look to get her first cross country win this fall after almost stealing it from her teammate last year. I'm sure Coach Borg is hoping for less drama this time around. But she also won't have a walk in the park here. There are two other girls sub 19 and 10 total girls sub 19:30. This race is going to be very competitive behind Muxlow. And let's not rule out the possibility of Emma Dobson scoring the upset, we've all seen freshman out perform expectations at state before. Behind those two it's kind of a crap shoot. Ealyn Kennedy hasn't been the fastest, but she's been the most consistent. That could make a difference. Hannah Schroeder on the other hand is the most experienced, which could play a big role for the last race of the weekend. Carly Black has run fast, but she's all over the place. She will be looking to avenge the agonizing 11th place finish from last year. Camille Nix has been strong all season long too. There are a few other girls who could find themselves in the top 5 but it's tough to predict the order here.

Prediction
1. Muxlow
2. Dobson
3. Kennedy
4. Nix
5. Black

3A Girls Team

Like I said last year, you can be the favorite, but you still gotta run the race. North Hall might look the best on paper, but they still gotta get it done on race day. And while they have the front runners to get a big enough lead that it might not matter, you still need 5 to score, and one off day could sink them. Oconee County will not let them win without a fight. They're well coached year in and year out and always run well at state. They have the deeper pack which could play a big role in their pursuit of the win. But I feel very good about their chances at going 1-2. After that? I have no idea. There are 5 teams within 40 points of each other on paper. When that happens, you can't predict anything. It'll all be about who wants it more. White County and Chestatee are the favorites, barely, but they've got Whitewater, Jefferson, and Dawson County breathing down their necks. 

Prediction
1. North Hall
2. Oconee
3. Chestatee
4. Dawson County