CHAMPIONSHIP GIRLS
The Girls Championship race is stacked. Seven of the top 10 All-Class teams will be competing in the championship race. The race will also feature several teams who are ranked in their respective classes.
The team competition may turn out to be a battle between teams with clear front-runners vs. teams with depth. Lakeside-Evans, Collins Hill, Brookwood, & Harrison appear to be (on paper, anyway) the main contenders for the team title. However, Westminster, Walton, & Marist each will bring great tradition, coaching, and athletes to Gainesville and will make a serious run at the Championship race team title. Do not expect an extremely low team score in this race, as 20 points could be all that separates the top 6-7 spots.
The individual race will be just as exciting as the team battle. Lakeside-Evans’ Anna Bowles and Katie Townsend could go 1-2 if they race well. However, that will be an extremely difficult task with Collins Hill’s Winslow and Whitworth, Allie Schaich from Lambert, Katherine Yost from Norcross, Marist’s duo of Harkins & Northrop, and Fletcher from Westminster in the race. Brookwood’s Lopez, Kissel, & Perry, Mara Canning & Alexa Womack from Walton, Kaylee Isaacs from Harrison, and Lauren Scott from Mill Creek all have the low-19:00 credentials to make some noise in the lead pack, as well.
CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS
The Boys Championship race is also loaded with talented teams. Six teams that are ranked All-Class, and an additional 6 teams that are ranked in their respective classes, will dual it out on Saturday. On paper, Brookwood looks to be the class of the field and will be looking to take home the team title. However, like the girls races, taking home the team title will be easier said than done. St. Pius, Chapel Hill, Mill Creek, Collins Hill, and Marist all have the ability to be the team hoisting the big hardware atop the podium on Saturday. Each team that will be in contention on Saturday has the front runners and 1-5 depth to take home a trophy.
The individual title could go to a runner that is also on the winning team. As mentioned previously, each of the top teams have at least one front runner that could take home individual honors. Brookwood’s Brennan & Wearn, Brendan Hoban from St. Pius, Voyles from Chapel Hill, Mill Creek’s Austin Boetje, Andy Gonzales from Collins Hill, and Cody Barger from North Hall look to be the main individual contenders on Saturday. It is a very real possibility that a tight pack containing all of these athletes could still be together with 800 meters to go on Saturday.
BOYS & GIRLS VARSITY RACES
Coach Christie’s meet is stacked with good teams to the point that the Varsity races will contain state-ranked squads, as well. The girls’ race contains 5 ranked teams, including Milton (All-Class #6) and Blessed Trinity (#9 All-Class), and several fast individuals, including Megan Wetterhall (Lakeside Dekalb), Kate Beecham (Blessed Trinity), Maddy Wetterhall (Chamblee), Destiny Jenkins (Athens Christian), and Annie Kelly (Milton).
The Boys Varsity race contains 7 teams that are ranked in their respective classes, with Lakeside Dekalb, Flowery Branch, & Pope giving us a peek into the AAAA battle in Carrollton. Individual honors could go to Slavik (Flowery Branch), Jenkins (Athens Christian), or Reynolds (Lakeside-Dekalb).