Directly because of the reclassification by the VHSL for 2017-2019, the state XC meet is going to look a whole lot different next year. For starters, there will now be four regions per each classification and according to the most recent information, all teams will qualify to regionals. The advancement from regionals to states is yet to be decided.
That is a huge change in it's own but here is the kicker... some state champion teams are moving classifications.
Photos by: John Herzog
The biggest of these movers is the George C. Marshall girls squad that dominated the 5A State meet. The Statesmen will be joining 6A next year and that means Rachel Northcutt will be racing Heather Holt for a state championship next year.
Another huge shakeup will be Blacksburg joining 4A. Which means that even though Loudoun Valley returns six of their scorers, they will not have to defeat Blacksburg for the girls team title. This is already looking like the team matchup of the century.
Those two moves alone reshape the Girls 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A state individual and team favorites heading into next year. On the boys' side things will also be changing a lot with these moves as well. Both the 3A and 5A team champions are moving classifications.
Check out the new alignment on the next page.