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.
Check out all of the rankings over the coming weeks. Check out the #5 rankings right here and #4 rankings here!
Boys' Team #3: Midlothian High School
With four solid guys under 17:00 and a couple others on the doorstop the Midlothian Trojans are back to their winning ways. Though they have some tough competition between them and an appearance on the podium at states, they will certainly be ready to perform at their best in November.
Midlothian led by Max Etka will be strong all season but as we know from the past they will peak at the state meet. They are going up against a monster in Loudoun Valley but they also deserve everyone's respect for being one of the best teams in VA in quite a few years. Plus, who knows what can happen in one race and for that reason we have ranked them #3 in our preseason rankings.
Top Returners and State-wide rankings
| 3 | Midlothian High School (VA) | 518 | ||
| 1) Max Etka* | 15:53.00 | 20 | ||
| 2) Clay Robb | 16:19.00 | 56 | ||
| 3) Joey Maguire | 16:33.00 | 90 | ||
| 4) Andrew Steenkamer | 16:41.00 | 111 | ||
| 5) Max Turkaly | 17:13.00 | 241 | ||
| Average Time: 16:31.80 Total Time: 1:22:39.00 1-5 Split: 1:20.00 | ||||
| 6) Ian Gray | 17:30.00 | 365 | ||
| 7) Robbie Rowley | 17:41.00 | 435 | ||
Girls' Team #3: Oakton High School
It looks like Oakton is also back to their winning ways and with a very solid, closely packed group of girls they could do some serious damage at states this year. They have GCM and James Madison between them and another team title but with their solid depth and maybe some improvements from their very young team we could see them winning that big trophy in November.
Don't expect Oakton to be flashy at all this season as they love to hit the hills and maybe throw down a fast one at Knights Crossing but aside from that they will lay low and train thru regionals for a huge state meet. That is why we are ranking them third in the entire state.
Top Returners and State-wide rankings
| 3 | Oakton (VA) | 430 | ||
| 1) Rachel Green | 19:06.00 | 44 | ||
| 2) Gaby Katz | 19:15.00 | 58 | ||
| 3) Rebecca Woodhouse | 19:28.00 | 97 | ||
| 4) Joanna Moffitt | 19:32.10 | 107 | ||
| 5) Katya Lebert | 19:37.00 | 124 | ||
| Average Time: 19:23.62 Total Time: 1:36:58.10 1-5 Split: 31.00 | ||||
| 6) Mandy Odom | 19:56.00 | 167 | ||
| 7) Kira Buttrey | 20:41.00 | 312 | ||