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National High School Girls Team Rankings - 11/11Published by
Several strong performances at state finals overshadowed by exceptional effort from Saratoga Springs at Section 2 event, providing glimpse of potential for top-ranked Blue Streaks at upcoming New York championship meet By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Even with a national schedule featuring more than 20 state meets during the past week, the most dominant girls performance anywhere in the country was showcased Nov. 5 at the Section 2 Championships at Saratoga Spa Park in New York. Saratoga Springs delivered its most impressive effort of the season in preparation for the Nov. 13 state final at Chenango Valley State Park. The top-ranked Blue Streaks swept the top six spots and had seven athletes place in the top eight overall, with senior Mackenzie Hart earning the victory on the 4,892-meter course in 17 minutes, 15.67 seconds. Saratoga Springs produced an 18-second spread among its top five – including Emily Bush, Ella Kurto, Alycia Hart and Sheridan Wheeler – with Anya Belisle in sixth place and Claire Cuneo earning eighth. Although it is uncertain what the schedule looks like for the Blue Streaks following the state final, their depth continues to be unmatched by any program in the country. Niwot placed five scorers in the top nine Oct. 30 at the Colorado 4A state final, but the spread was more than 45 seconds for the Cougars. Arapahoe had five scorers in the top 20 in the Colorado 5A championship race, but its spread exceeded 50 seconds. And despite having five scorers in the top 25 to win the Oregon 6A title, the gap Nov. 6 for Summit High was more than a minute. Ella Thorsett, Teaghan Knox, Barrett Justema and Magdalene Williams all finished in the top 10 for Summit, which edged rival Jesuit by a 55-58 margin. Runner-up Chloe Foerster led five scorers in the top 20 for Jesuit. York was exceptional in its 3A championship effort Nov. 6 in Illinois, placing five scorers in the top 30 and achieving a 36-second spread, led by a seventh-place finish from sophomore Katherine Klimek. Flower Mound shined in the Texas 6A final, led by Natalie Cook covering the 5-kilometer layout at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock in 16:32.4 to lead five scorers finishing in the top 20. Lucas Lovejoy also entered the rankings following a Texas 5A crown, with four athletes finishing in the top 15, led by junior Amy Morefield placing fifth. Ann Arbor Pioneer relied on a victory from sophomore Rachel Forsyth at the Michigan International Speedway in 17:09.32 to prevail in the Division 1 state championship, as five scorers finished in the top 45 overall for the Pioneers, who will square off Sunday with York at the Nike Midwest Regional in Terre Haute, Ind. Edina had five scorers place in the top 40, led by senior Maggie Wagner in seventh place, and relied on a 38-second gap to secure the Minnesota AAA team title over Wayzata and Prior Lake. The three teams are all entered Sunday in the Nike Heartland Regional in South Dakota. Following several narrow victories over 4A rival Weddington in recent weeks, Cuthbertson showcased its strongest effort of the season to triumph by a 48-point margin Nov. 6 in the state final. Alyssa Preisano was fourth and Stella Kermes took ninth for Cuthbertson, which achieved a 37-second spread and placed five scorers in the top 20. Prosper, which finished second at the Texas 6A final, joined Holland West Ottawa – the Michigan Division 1 runner-up – and Minnesota AAA second-place finisher Wayzata in being part of the top 30, despite not winning their state championships.
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