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National High School Girls Team Rankings - 11/7Published by
Young Saratoga Springs Team On The Move In New York By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor After a number of quality efforts at several low-key meets during the regular season in New York, the young lineup of Saratoga Springs not only established itself as a legitimate challenger for a Class A state title, but also a Nike Cross Nationals podium contender with its performance Monday at the Section 2 Championship at Saratoga Spa State Park. Led by sophomore Ella Kurto winning in 17 minutes, 2.3 seconds, the Blue Streaks placed five scorers in the top 10 and seven athletes among the top 15 finishers. The most amazing aspect of Saratoga Springs’ success is all seven individuals are underclassmen, with sophomores Kurto and Catherine Mongan, freshmen Sheridan Wheeler, McKinley Wheeler and McKenzie Hart and eighth-graders Anya Belisle and Emily Bush. The Blue Streaks placed sixth at Nike Cross Nationals last season, but graduated runner-up Kelsey Chmiel. Although Saratoga Springs has yet to match up this season with Fayetteville-Manlius, the Blue Streaks demonstrated they are capable of knocking off a Hornets’ lineup led by Claire Walters, Phoebe White, Hannah Kaercher and Grace Kaercher at the Nov. 16 state final. For the first time since 2004, Saratoga Springs had five athletes under 18 minutes at the sectional meet, clocking a team time of 87:49. By comparison, the 2004 lineup of Nicole Blood, Lindsey Ferguson, Hannah Davidson, Caitlin Lane and Karyn Delay ran 87:07 at the sectional meet at Saratoga Spa State Park on its way to a dominant effort at Nike Team Nationals, with all five athletes finishing in the top 25 at Portland Meadows to prevail over Smoky Hill CO by a 51-125 margin. Niwot, which finished fifth at NXN last year, also continued to build momentum toward another potential top-five finish next month by repeating as Colorado 4A state champion. Senior Samrawit Dishon captured the individual title Oct. 26 in 18:11.9 at Norris-Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs, leading five scorers in the top 13 for the Cougars. Niwot is expected to become even stronger Nov. 23 at the Nike Southwest Regional in Casa Grande, Ariz., with junior Lucca Fulkerson competing in the Cougars’ lineup for the first time this year after not being eligible to participate in varsity events this season following her transfer from Alexander Dawson. Fellow Colorado programs, 4A runner-up Battle Mountain and 5A champion Arapahoe, also made significant moves into the top 15. Boise ID repeated as 5A state winners Saturday with five scorers in the top 16 and a 23-second spread among its pack. The Braves, led by junior Rosina Machu and sophomore Mikella Tobin, are preparing for a Nov. 16 showdown with reigning national champion Summit OR at the Nike Northwest Regional at Eagle Island State Park. Edina, led by sophomore Maggie Wagner, freshman Lauren Cossack and senior Morgan Richter, relied on an even tighter compression to capture its first Minnesota AA title since 2016, with all five scorers in the top 27 and an 18-second gap at St. Olaf College. East Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor Pioneer both produced impressive victories Saturday at the Michigan Lower Peninsula state finals, but won’t have an opportunity to pursue national team berths at the Nike Midwest meet Nov. 16 in Terre Haute, Ind., in an effort to avoid being declared ineligible during the spring track season. Senior Anna Petr led East Grand Rapids to back-to-back Division 2 titles, with senior Zofia Dudek helping Ann Arbor Pioneer capture its first Division 1 championship. Bozeman, with senior Terra Trom leading six athletes placing in the top 12, also moves into the top 20 after capturing its 12th Montana AA state crown in 13 years. Top 30 (Previous ranking) 2 (2). Fayetteville-Manlius NY 16 (14). Downers Grove South IL 25 (NR). St. Michael-Albertville MN
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