Girls Regional Rankings - 10/19/2023

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Although Cuthbertson High from North Carolina and the Webb School in Knoxville, Tenn., represented the Southeast Region last year at Nike Cross Nationals, the past two weeks have demonstrated that despite both programs returning significant experience from last year’s lineups, there is the potential that neither team could return to Oregon in December.

Few teams in the country have more momentum currently than Tatnall School from Delaware, which completed an exceptional three-week stretch with a 26-72 victory against Champlain Valley Union of Vermont in the Eastern States race at the Manhattan Invitational at Van Cortlandt Park in New York.

Abby Downin, Katie Payne, Ruby Schwelm and Carlita Kaliher all produced sub-15 performances on the 2.5-mile layout to finish in the top 10, with Katrina Endres the No. 5 scorer for the Hornets, placing 13th in 15:06.1.

Tatnall also achieved a 68-96 triumph Oct. 7 against Cardinal Gibbons from North Carolina in the Garmin Race of Champions at the Great American Cross Country Festival at WakeMed Soccer Complex, site of NXR Southeast on Nov. 25 in Cary, N.C.

Cardinal Gibbons used that experience to produce a 70-91 win Oct. 14 against North Carolina rival Mount Tabor in the girls elite race at the MileStat.com Invitational at Pole Green Park in Virginia.

Hannah Rae Shaffer was second for the Crusaders with a 17:18.0 effort on the 5-kilometer layout in Mechanicsville. Cardinal Gibbons had five scorers in the top 35 overall, continuing to build confidence in its pursuit of the program’s first Class 4A state title since 2018 at the Nov. 4 championship meet.

The Crusaders won nine consecutive championships in Class 3A and 4A combined and secured 13 titles in a 14-year span, including four in a row in Class 2A from 2005-08.

But Cardinal Gibbons hasn’t won a state crown in the past four years and is looking to prevent Cuthbertson from capturing a third straight Class 4A championship and sixth in a row overall, including a three-peat in Class 3A.

Tatnall hasn’t competed at Nike Cross Nationals since 2012, the last year the Hornets also secured the Eastern States title at the Manhattan Invitational.

Cardinal Gibbons made its only previous NXN appearance in 2017.

Lincoln High of Oregon followed up its first victory against Class 6A rival Jesuit on Oct. 7 at the Nike Hole in the Wall Invitational in Washington by winning the third edition of the Rose Championship Invitational on Oct. 13 at the Rose City Golf Course in Portland.

Even more impressive for the Cardinals was earning the victory without senior Keira Saavedra in the lineup, as freshman Ellery Lincoln and junior Sophia Malinoski both placed in the top five, with Lincoln having five scorers in the top 35 in a 68-116 triumph against Lakeridge.

JSerra High in California followed its win in the Bill Buettner girls championship race Oct. 7 at the 44th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno by securing back-to-back sweepstakes titles Oct. 14 at the Orange County Championships at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado.

The Lions had six athletes finish in the top 25 in a 46-110 victory against Trabuco Hills, including Sophie Polay taking third on the 3-mile layout in 16:37.5 and fellow junior Brynn Garcia earning eighth in 16:47.7.

Bethlehem Central produced a 45-86 triumph against East Aurora in a New York showdown Oct. 14 at the Burnt Hills Invitational at Saratoga State Park.

Freshman Anna Chrapowitzky took third on the 3-mile course in 17:53.8, with junior Charlotte O’Meara finishing fifth in 18:00.0 for the Eagles, who had five scorers in the top 16.

Fayetteville-Manlius of New York prevailed Wednesday in the Salt City Athletic Conference Championships at Baldwinsville High, with junior Izzie Sullivan clocking 17:48.9 on the 5-kilometer layout to lead five Hornets finishing in the top 10 in a 29-73 win against Cicero-North Syracuse.

The South Dakota state championship meet Saturday is expected to showcase a pair of rising programs in the Heartland Region, with Brandon Valley among the leading contenders in Class AA and Sioux Falls Christian the favorite to prevail in Class A at Yankton Trail Park, the same venue that will also play host Nov. 12 to the regional competition.

Both teams put together impressive performances in their respective state qualifying meets, also at Yankton Trail Park.

The 75th Mt. SAC Invitational Presented by Nike is scheduled for Saturday in Walnut, Calif., with the Division 1-2 girls team sweepstakes race expected to include Ventura and Corona Santiago. But both programs will learn more about their depth, as junior standouts Sadie Engelhardt and Rylee Blade are not scheduled to compete for their respective teams.

CALIFORNIA

1. JSerra

2. Ventura

3. Buchanan

4. Corona Santiago

5. Los Altos

HEARTLAND

1. Wayzata MN

2. Olathe West KS

3. Johnston IA

4. Brandon Valley SD

5. Sioux Falls Christian SD

MIDWEST

1. York IL

2. Downers Grove North IL

3. Prospect IL

4. Barrington IL

5. Noblesville IN

NEW YORK

1. Saratoga Springs

2. Bethlehem Central

3. Fayetteville-Manlius

4. East Aurora

5. Shenendehowa Central

NORTHEAST

1. Union Catholic NJ

2. North Allegheny PA

3. Champlain Valley Union VT

4. Cambridge Rindge and Latin MA

5. Haddonfield Memorial NJ

NORTHWEST

1. Lincoln OR

2. Jesuit OR

3. Boise Senior ID

4. Central Kitsap WA

5. Preston ID

SOUTH

1. Lucas Lovejoy TX

2. Southlake Carroll TX

3. Flower Mound TX

4. Conroe The Woodlands TX

5. Klein TX

SOUTHEAST

1. Tatnall School DE

2. Cardinal Gibbons NC

3. Assumption KY

4. Cuthbertson NC

5. Webb School of Knoxville TN

SOUTHWEST

1. Niwot CO

2. Air Academy CO

3. Lone Peak UT

4. Mountain Vista CO

5. American Fork UT