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Southeast Region Girls Preseason Rankings 2021Published by
IMG Academy looks to become latest Florida group to make debut at NXN; North Carolina powers also competing for first appearances in Oregon, with Loudoun Valley looking to extend Virginia streak under new coach By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Southeast Preview IMG Academy got used to traveling last year in the quest to face elite competition, with the Florida independent program making appearances at the Desert Twilight Festival in Arizona and at the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by The Garrett Companies, in Terre Haute, Ind. The Ascenders also took part last season in the Nike Cross Virtual Championships, learning what that experience might be like this year on a larger scale with the return of an actual national final in Oregon. Following appearances by Lawton Chiles in 2018 and Pine Crest in 2019, IMG Academy wants to continue to demonstrate the improvement in prep distance running in Florida, with its primary focus on competing in December in Portland. It will again be an unconventional journey for IMG Academy, which doesn’t compete in the Florida High School Athletic Association postseason, forcing coach Dustin Spanbauer to become creative with his scheduling to not only find opportunities to compete against the other top programs in the state, in addition to gaining experience against nationally ranked programs in preparation for the Southeast Regional on Nov. 27 at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Loudoun Valley got its first opportunity to compete as a girls program at NXN in 2019 and responded with a 10th-place finish. Whether the group from Purcellville can return to Oregon under new coach Kevin Shirk and extend a streak of appearances by Virginia girls teams competing at the national meet that began in 2013 will depend on whether Lodoun Valley can hold off a pair of North Carolina teams with strong potential. Both Cuthbertson and Weddington are pursuing their first opportunities to compete at NXN, as only Cardinal Gibbons and Green Hope have represented North Carolina as girls qualifiers in meet history. After battling in the 3A state final last season, both programs have moved to the 4A classification this year. Although reigning 2A state champion The Bolles School has the edge in experience, one of the most compelling storylines this year in Florida is the rise to prominence of 1A program Cambridge Christian. The Lancers feature a talented trio in seniors Caroline Lehman and Mary Ellen Eudaly, along with eighth-grader Eliana Black. That strength up front can present problems for any team in the state and region, but Cambridge Christian will need significant improvement from sophomore Madeleine Gear, junior Madelyn Spadaro and the rest of its lineup if it has plans on challenging for an automatic berth at the regional meet. 1. IMG Academy FL. There is a wealth of talent and plenty of experience on the Ascenders’ roster, but also guarded optimism for coach Dustin Spanbauer, who will mentor a group that doesn’t compete in the Florida state postseason championship series and will need to have them all ready to perform at the regional meet, an opportunity the IMG Academy athletes didn’t have last year, creating an even greater sense of urgency to qualify for the national meet for the first time. Tatum David is one of the top juniors in the country and fellow 11th-grader Carly McNatt has also earned Foot Locker All-America honors during her career. Sophomores Jais Ward and Eve Siff-Scherr also return, along with junior Mia Andreae, adding necessary depth. But the biggest difference maker in the quest to qualify for NXN could be the arrival of junior Layla Haynes from Barbados, giving the Ascenders’ lineup another quality component with such an experienced competitor. 2. Cuthbertson NC. The defending 3A state champion Cavaliers return six athletes from that lineup, but the group will seek another title competing this season in 4A, which means the anticipated postseason rematch against Weddington will write a new chapter in a different classification. Junior Alyssa Preisano is a legitimate state championship contender, with her sophomore sister Justine Preisano a significant part of the lineup for coach Kirk Walsh. Juniors Lillian Nasta and Marissa Bosland, along with sophomores Charlotte Bell and Stella Kermes, will also be instrumental for a group that must replace last year’s state champion Madeline Hill. 3. Weddington NC. There is plenty of motivation and strong potential for last year’s North Carolina 3A runner-up, which endured a 31-46 setback against Cuthbertson, despite placing five scorers in the top 15 at the state final. Seniors Emma Jones and Alyx Beausoleil have shown a great deal of improvement and are supported by juniors Elizabeth Ritter, Paige Starkie and Audrey Wright. With all five athletes capable of producing sub-19 performances on 5-kilometer layouts, the lineup for coach Rick Spencer has the potential to not only secure the 4A state title, but challenge for a national berth. The development of the final two spots in the lineup will be necessary come the postseason if Weddington plans to be in contention at the regional meet. 4. Bolles School FL. After trading state 2A titles the past four years with Pine Crest, the Bulldogs will look to repeat for the first time since 2014-15. State runner-up Jillian Candelino and third-place finisher Ella Mickler, both juniors, will provide the necessary strength up front for Bolles, but the most important competitor for coach Tony Ryan could be senior Maddie Popp. Following a seventh-place finish at the state meet last year, Popp will need to close the gap with Candelino and Mickler to help overcome the losses of Maxine Montoya and Layne Rivera to graduation. Bolles should also get a boost from junior Elizabeth Csikai, who finished 13th at the 2019 state final right behind Candelino but didn’t race at last year’s championship meet, along with the development of freshman Elizabeth McClure. 5. Loudoun Valley VA. There is plenty of excitement over rising Florida 1A power Cambridge Christian, but the veteran presence on the Vikings’ roster of student-athletes who competed at NXN in 2019, along with the XC Town USA Meet of Champions, presented by The Garrett Companies, last year in Terre Haute, Ind., gives Loudoun Valley the edge in experience. Ava Gordon is one of the top seniors in the country and is supported by sisters Scarlet Fetterolf and Cecelia Fetterolf. The improvement of senior Maddie Smith and sophomore Eryn Lackey gives new head coach Kevin Shirk – who succeeded Joan Hunter and Marc Hunter – a lineup more than capable of repeating as Virginia 4A champion, but Loudoun Valley needs to improve its depth if it is going to find itself in contention to return to Oregon to race in December. WATCHLIST |
