Severna Park boys couldn't qualify for Nike Cross Nationals for a third straight year...could they???
MileSplit Maryland's top 10 team picks for Saturday's NXN Southeast Regional! How do we see the traditional powerhouses in the region ranking against the new rising programs in the Southeast? We can guarantee this order will not happen as this year is one of the more wide open years for the spots to Portland!
Boys Teams
1. Dulaney (MD) - With 5/6 guys already capable of sub 16 on this course and one of the top individual runners in Eric Walz, Dulaney is ready to show that Severna Park is not the only program from Maryland capable of punching a ticket to Portland. They ran exceptional at the Maryland state meet on a difficult 3 mile course at Hereford to crush a worthy opponent in 2-time NXN qualifiers Severna Park. 9th in last year's NXN Southeast Regional, they returned 6 of their top 7 runners and all their scorers from a year ago, while all the other top contending teams had at least one or two major graduation loss to fill for this fall. Having such a strong core back should be the difference for them.
2. Marietta (GA) - Georgia state champs were winners early at WakeMed at adidas Challenge in September averaging 15:52 as a squad. Their team has 5 guys who have gone under 16 minutes this season, but can't afford one of their guys to blow up on Saturday with a sixth man having a season best 5K time over 17 minutes. If all 5 can hit on all cylinders, they have a strong shot of grabbing one of the two automatic spots.
3. Lake Braddock (VA) - Not the spot they want to be in when the team score is announced after they were 3rd last year at NXN Southeast by only one point and it will be tight for the top 5 places here as they were narrow losers earlier in the season at Maryland state champs Dulaney at Glory Days. Colin Schaefer will be their team's front runner after running 15:34 as the squad's #3 man last November in Cary.
4. Mount Tabor (NC) - This team has stolen the thunder that Broughton owned in North Carolina in recent years as the home state team with best shot of making it to Portland after claiming the state title earlier this month over their rivals. 6th at the Manhattan Invite and winners of Virginia's mega invite at Oatlands over likes of Severna Park, Good Counsel, and Thomas Jefferson.
5. St. Xavier (KY) - Regional champs from 2012, St. Xavier has another squad gunning for nationals with the region's fastest team on paper averaging 15:41 as a squad adding up their top 5's season bests and big winners at Kentucky state meet by 50 points and only a 31 second spread.
6. Broughton (NC) - Runners-up at Manhattan Invite, goes to show how deep and competitive this year's Southeast Region boys squads that they could potentially finish this far back. If they run anything like they did at Van Cortlandt Park against some of the best in the Northeast, they could win the meet or grab a second place auto spot. But their 13 point loss to Mount Tabor in the North Carolina 4A state race also showed vulnerability that could see them on outside looking again of nationals. It will help having one of the individual race favorites in Jeremy Brown leading their squad, which has 5 sub 16 minute 5K performers already this season.
7. Severna Park (MD) - No way they could do it for a third time right? Crazier things have happened and can't count out any Severna Park boys team coached by Josh Alcombright. They return several key members from last year's Nike Cross Nationals squad, but this will be the biggest shocker even compared to the last two years if they could somehow make it to nationals for a third consecutive year. Their team will have two runners up front capable of top 15-20 finishes in Josh Tucker and Andrew Forsyth, but will need the back end of their top 5 which hasn't yet, venture into 15 minute range to give them any shot.
8. Trinity Prep (FL) - Florida's best team making the long trip north, Trinity Prep has nearly 5 guys (#5 at 16:02) who have dipped under 16 minutes for 5K this year. They won the Florida 2A state title by 59 points led by individual champion Chas Cook. They were the 5th best returning team from last year's regional race based on their returnees.
10. Good Counsel (MD) - The most impressive private school squad in the DC metro area this fall winning WCAC title and MD/DC private schools state title all in dominant fashion, Good Counsel has actually beaten Severna Park twice this year at Oatlands and Glory Days. However, led by Jack Wavering, the Good Counsel boys will jump at the opportunity to prove they belong among the best in the Southeast on Saturday.
Girls Teams
1. Blacksburg (VA)
2. Riverside (SC)
3. Tatnall (DE)
4. Lake Braddock (VA)
5. Green Hope (NC)
6. James Madison (VA)
7. Walter Johnson (MD)
8. Houston (TN)
9. Cardinal Gibbons (NC)
10. Mountain Brook (AL)