Girls Regional Rankings - 10/3/19

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The outcome of the girls gold race at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota had a significant impact on the pecking order in three regionals, with the results from the Woodbridge Classic, Bob Firman Invitational, McQuaid Invitational, Bowdoin Classic, Nike Portland XC and Desert Twilight Festival all shaping how the regional contenders stack up entering October.

All of the top teams in the Southeast, along with California power Great Oak and talented New York program North Rockland are scheduled to compete Saturday at the Great American Cross Country Festival in North Carolina. The New Balance Shore Coaches Invitational in New Jersey, Paul Short Run in Pennsylvania, Nike Valley Twilight Invitational in Indiana, Nike South Invitational in Texas and Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas also feature impressive lineups.

Southlake Carroll TX continues to be the leader in the South, based on its performance Sept. 21 at the Woodbridge Classic in California, finishing even with Buchanan, but being edged by two seconds on a sixth-runner tiebreaker. Although Flower Mound TX did prevail by a four-point margin Aug. 31 over Southlake Carroll at the Marcus I Invitational, Southlake Carroll has found another level since then and will look to maintain its momentum at the Chile Pepper Festival. The remaining teams behind Southlake Carroll and Flower Mound continue to fluctuate, with the McNeil Invitational highlighting the performances of Boerne Champion TX and Humble Kingwood TX, along with the consistency of Grapevine TX.

Loudoun Valley will get its first opportunity to compete against the top teams from Florida, Georgia and North Carolina at Great American, looking to validate its position as a leading contender in the Southeast, in addition to measuring its national standing by facing quality programs from both California and New York. Weddington edged Cuthbertson by a three-point margin Sept. 25 at the Union County Championships in a showdown of North Carolina’s elite teams. The Bolles School has been impressive at both the Bale-n-Trail and Katie Caples invitationals, but will finally get to match up Saturday against Florida rival Pine Crest in the Nike Race of Champions at Great American.

North Allegheny PA remains the clear frontrunner in the Northeast, especially following its effort Sept. 21 at the PIAA Foundation Invitational, with New Jersey programs Ridgewood and Holmdel ascending following strong performances at the Bowdoin Classic, along with Colts Neck, which was the dominant team among all the varsity races at Six Flags Wild Safari Invitational. Hall CT has been one of the surprises in the first month of the season, holding its own Sept. 28 against Saratoga Springs NY at the Ocean State Invitational in Rhode Island. Champlain Valley Union VT struggled with its depth at the Manchester Invitational and will look to return to a regional contender with its performance Oct. 12 at the Manhattan Invitational.

Fayetteville-Manlius and Saratoga Springs continue to be the two strongest presences in New York, but Shenendehowa had a strong showing at the McQuaid Invitational, defeating a short-handed Beavercreek OH team than ran without Taylor Ewert. Niskayuna also moved up after prevailing against Liverpool, Corning and Shaker. In addition to Katelyn Tuohy producing her first significant effort this year, North Rockland will also have a chance to measure its depth by racing at Great American.

Although Naperville North IL finished second in the gold race at the Roy Griak Invitational, it was by a 90-point margin behind Cherry Creek CO. The Midwest is annually one of the deepest regions in the country, but such a significant setback for Naperville North provided an indication that the Southwest has the early edge in terms of the strongest region in the country. Yorkville was impressive in the Rock River Run to remain the second Illinois team behind Naperville North, with Downers Grove South IL still chasing both its rivals after placing third behind Colorado programs Niwot and Cherokee Trail at the Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona. East Grand Rapids MI hasn’t been tested since the MSU Spartan Invite, but continued its impressive roll with another victory Wednesday at the OK Gold Jamboree.

Summit OR prevailed over Boise ID at Nike Portland XC in a showdown of the top two teams in the Northwest, with the defending national champion Storm continuing to strengthen the lineup with senior Isabel Max returning to win the JV race in a time that would have placed her No. 4 on the varsity, along with the continued development of sophomore Teaghan Knox, who placed third overall in the Jim Danner championship race. North Central WA has remained competitive despite the absence of junior Allie Janke, with the Indians hoping for her return Oct. 12 for the Hole in the Wall Invitational. Although Lexy Halladay won for the second straight week for Mountain View ID, the Mavericks rebounded from their struggles at the Bob Firman Invitational to provide better support for their leader and finish third in Portland behind Summit and Boise.

Not only the entire Southwest Region, but specifically the state of Colorado, has demonstrated in several settings already this season both its quality and depth, evidenced again by the exceptional effort from Cherry Creek at Roy Griak, as well as the dominant performances by Niwot and Cherokee Trail at Desert Twilight. Sophomore Riley Stewart leads a Cherry Creek lineup that includes only one senior among its top five athletes. Samrawit Dishon and Taylor James stepped up in Arizona for Niwot, which is still awaiting the postseason varsity eligibility of junior Lucca Fulkerson, who improved more than a minute at Grande World Sports Complex this season competing in the open race at Desert Twilight after transferring from Alexander Dawson. Cherokee Trail was led again by Cameron McConnell and McKenna Mazeski. Lone Peak is still the class of Utah, but will have its work cut out in November against the Colorado powers, including Mountain Vista, in addition to a full-strength Desert Vista AZ lineup.

Following a narrow victory at the Woodbridge Classic, Buchanan becomes the target in California, but Great Oak will have opportunities in consecutive weekends to improve its status, first at Great American, followed by a rematch against the Division 1 rival Bears on Oct. 12 at the Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park. The championship race at Clovis will also highlight a Woodbridge rematch among St. Francis Sacramento and Newbury Park, the top two teams in Division 2. Newbury Park is scheduled to race at full strength for the first time this season at Clovis, with Westlake transfer Hailey Golmon expected to be eligible for the anticipated showdown. Saugus has its sights set on Oct. 26 at the Mt. SAC Invitational to hopefully put together a quality effort in preparation for a deep postseason run.

SOUTH

1. Southlake Carroll TX

2. Flower Mound TX

3. Boerne Champion TX

4. Grapevine TX

5. Humble Kingwood TX

SOUTHEAST

1. Loudoun Valley VA

2. Pine Crest FL

3. The Bolles School FL

4. Weddington NC

5. Cuthbertson NC

NORTHEAST

1. North Allegheny PA

2. Ridgewood NJ

3. Holmdel NJ

4. Hall CT

5. Colts Neck NJ

NEW YORK

1. Fayetteville-Manlius

2. Saratoga Springs

3. Shenendehowa

4. North Rockland

5. Niskayuna

MIDWEST

1. Beavercreek OH

2. Naperville North IL

3. Yorkville IL

4. Downers Grove South IL

5. East Grand Rapids MI

HEARTLAND

1. Stillwater Area MN

2. Edina MN

3. Wayzata MN

4. Saint Michael-Albertville MN

5. Muskego WI

NORTHWEST

1. Summit OR

2. Boise ID

3. North Central WA

4. Mountain View ID

5. Bozeman MT

SOUTHWEST

1. Cherry Creek CO

2. Mountain Vista CO

3. Niwot CO

4. Lone Peak UT

5. Cherokee Trail CO

CALIFORNIA

1. Buchanan

2. Great Oak

3. St. Francis Sacramento

4. Newbury Park

5. Saugus