It is not often Virginia has a monster of a team. Now we do occasionally get some individual gems but it really hasn't happened in quite some time that we get a team of athletes who are not only contenders to make NXN but to win the whole ship.
Check out this Q & A with The Active Kitchen host and chef Lottie Bildirici.
Change has come and there has definitely been a power shift in the state. Unlike track it looks like size isn't as important as program history during XC. Check out the polls below and let us know what you are thinking about the new classifications and rankings for this season.
Now with a state title to his name in track and having made Foot Locker Nationals, Price Owens is ready to break thru and win that XC state title. He enters the season with the fastest personal best and as one of the fastest returners in years with his 15:07 best.
Ailene may not be the quickest returning athlete but she very well could have the most upside. She has run 17:49 for 5K and most impressively went 10:48 as a frosh in the two mile two years ago. Those two times tell us one big thing, she loves the flat fast courses. That speed will bode well for her this season and that is why have her ranked 6th in our top returning list.
This year it could very well be the James Madison girls taking home that 6A state team title.
Despite facing injuries all last year Grant Northcutt just has too much talent and speed to overlook him. This year, his senior year, he will be looking for that big break-thru race at Great Meadow. He finished second as a sophomore and didn't run as a junior but still boasts a 15:21 best and is in the shape to go even faster.
She has run 17:55 to win a state title but her most impressive performance is her 17:59 performance at the Oatlands course.
Only two teams enter the season with six guys under 17 minutes and one of them is our number two preseason team. The thing though that makes them not only on pace for a huge season this year but also next year is the fact that their entire top seven returns this year.
From 15th to 6th in our preseason rankings in just a year is quite impressive.
After a huge year as a sophomore the now junior is ready to battle the best in the state and on her team for the state and national spotlight. Ava boasts a 17:54 best and is seriously on the cusp of greatness. She has yet to win that state title and that will certainly be one of the best things for her training this year.
They may be the dark horses in their classification but they are certainly not dark horses in the entire state as they are our #3 ranked preseason teams.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
Rose family members Michaela, Michail, Michailyn, and Michael all brought home some serious hardware this summer from the USATF Championships and AAU Junior Olympic Games. In total they brought home nine medals including two golds, one silver, and three bronzes.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
After multiple team title runner-ups and three state runner-ups, Loudoun Valley's Natalie Morris is certainly ready to take home that state title. This season she enters as our #9 returning star in the entire state and second amongst 4A competitors. She is though the fastest returning state course runner this year in 4A.
Phillip may not have had one of the best XC or indoor seasons but by outdoor season it was very apparent that he was the real deal. Over the past few months the Stafford star tallied up an undefeated record in the 3200 and even took home the 5A state title in 9:11.
Below is just the start of our very competitive top fives. Check them all out over the coming weeks. Check out the #5 rankings right here!
Following those trends we are predicting a big season from Colton and expect his improvements over distances to keep improving. We know we are being bold here but sub 15 could very well be in his future.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
Olympian (and movie star) Alexi Pappas has some detailed advice for her teenage self.
This year though Derek is on a mission he returns as the second seed in all of 5A by only a second. Yared of Edison enters as the top seed but behind both of them are quite a few juniors who are also looking for that big break thru.
There is no imposed limit on the number of unofficial visits that an athlete may take, so there is no better tool to help you hone in on the best school/program for you.
The thing that makes XC the best season for many is the undeniable team aspect of the sport. Though you can win national titles and state titles all while setting records as an individual, it truly takes five guys or girls to bring home a team trophy in cross country.
Chase will enter this XC season with his 15:59 best run at the state meet and an impressive 9:28 3200 behind Ahmed Hassan in the 6A State Championships.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
Though the state meet will be the same size, the makeup of who is running and where they are from will be a whole lot different. Instead of two regions advancing six teams and 10 individuals it will be four regions advancing three teams and five individuals. Below are our pre-season predicted state fields.
There has been a lot of anger, disgust, and even distrust revolving around the new VHSL regional alignments. The epicenter of those emotions will definitely be in 6A regions C and D this upcoming XC season with two of the top 10 teams in the state slated to miss out on state competition.