Comprehensive state championship meet previews and coverage available all weekend long on MileSplit.us and our affiliate sites.
Alabama
By Tim Loreman (AlabamaRunners.com)
Tim's Prediction: In 6A girls it looks like MileSplit #7 Mountain Brook will try to repeat yet again. The perennial powerhouse has a top 10 that is lethal. What I like about this team is if one runner has a bad day, there are several behind her to pick up the slack -- and I mean several. On the boys 6A side however, all bets are off. With Howard Graves (Auburn) running again, I expect Auburn to be in the mix with Mountain Brook and possibly Hoover. There could however be a state meet record if McGregor and Perkins of Hoover push each other during the race. Both had standout performances at the Chile Pepper in AR.
If the 5A statistics hold, Scottsboro could take the boys and girls team trophy home. The Scottsboro girls, led by a healthy Caitlin Chitwood and the boys led by Lucas Sieb will both be serious contenders for the top spots in their respective races.
This year 3A and 4A run separate races and this could be interesting. In 4A girls I look for Rogers and UMS Wright to be knocking heads (and arms and legs) up front. The boys race should go to UMS Wright or possibly hometown favorite Lawrence County. Happy to have their own race now is girls 3A favorites Montgomery Academy and TR Miller. I saw these two teams go head to head at section and they are going to fight for every position. On the boys side will be Randolph or Bayside.
The 1A/2A girls division is led by a strong ACA team with Cold Springs close behind. The boys side has Cold Springs led by twins Nathan and Nick Lewis battling it out with Hatton.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit alabamarunners.com
Arizona
By Margot Kelly (AZtrackXC.com)
The 4A II race will be the race to watch on Saturday. Tim Freriks (pictured left, Sr, Mingus Union) and Brian Shrader (pictured center, Jr, Sinagua) have raced each other all season with varying results. Early in the seaosn Freriks won the Ray Wherley Invitational with Shrader finishing second. A few weeks later Freriks headed to Oregon with his team to run in the Jim Danner - Nike Pre Nationals, placing 1st, and shattering the course record. Shrader won the Four Corners, Mingus Invite, the Jack Boehle Memorial Invite and the 4A II Grand Canyon Regionals with Freriks finishing second in each race. The competition between the two runners has been exciting to watch and with the addition of Sherod Hardt (Jr, Queen Creek, pictured right) it will be even better.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit AZtrackXC.com
Georgia
By Bruce Taylor (GATFXC.COM)
AAAAA State Meet Preview: Collins Hill may be unargueably the greatest Girls High School XC team of all-time in Georgia. Coach Hudson's squad is ranked #3 in the MileSplit National Team rankings.
Amanda Winslow has developed into a top National runner as displayed by several of her outstanding performances on the National and Statewide stage
What a fantastic team battle this has been shaping up to be this season. Brookwood ran great as well as Collins Hill all season long with the Eagles making the greatest improvement throughout the season as anyone who has followed 5A closely has witnessed. There should be no doubt come Saturday that both squads will be be running at full strength as the title and bragging rights for All-Class best team are at stake as well as NTN Regional rankings.
Individually, Taylor Lord from Chapel Hill may have been holding back at Region for a great race at Carrollton and looks to be the clear favorite after his blazing 14:43 at the Douglas County Championships
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit GATFXC.COM
llinois
Four of the nation's top teams will take to the line in Peoria. MileSplit US #4 York, led by Jordan Herbert and Steve Sulkin, #5 Naperville North and #14 Neuqua Valley headline the boys races. York will be gunning for its 27th state title. Kyle Gibson and Naperville North will try to stop them. Danny Pawola leads Neuqua Valley, another challenger to the throne.
Girls US #5 Geneva, the defending AAA state champion, and Lake Park senior Lindsay Flanagan look to bring home state titles as well.
Maryland
Sherwood senior Solomon Haile (Photo by Mary DiBiase Blaich) will be in action in the boys 4A race. Arguably the top prep runner in the nation, Haile, who set an all-time course record at Van Cortlandt Park earlier this year, has come under fire this season with repeated questions about his age and eligibility. The MPSSAA has recently and emphatically reaffirmed that Haile is eligible to run. To that there is no doubt he is the man to beat, watch and enjoy.
Missouri
Missouri newcomer Emily Sisson, a Foot Locker All-American, will be gunning for the state record of 17:51, set by Meredith Snow in 2005. Lee's Summit West Girls not only aims for a state crown, but some national respect to go along with it. St. Louis University High and Lee's Summit battle for the Boys Class 4 title.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit morunners.com
Nevada
Galena's Bryan Tibaduiza looks to defend his AAAA crown.
New England
By Derek Veilleux (MaineTrackXC.com)
Andrew Springer decision to train his soccer cleats in for XC spikes looks like an excellent decision, Springer his first XC season captured the RI state championship with a 15:14 clocking at Ponaganset HS course, the time broke the course record held by 2006 & 2007 New England champion Don Cabral (15:29).
Tucker Schaefer is coming off a strong run at the CT championships where he led his team Danbury to the team title on route to winning the individual crown in a fine 16:01 on the challenging Wickham Park course. Eric Malnati has been on fire the past two weeks, first at the NH Class Championships held at Derryfield Park, the site of the New England’s, where he ran 15:34 to win the Class M-S title, then followed that up with his won at the NH MOC.
Danbury comes in the #9 ranked team in the Milesplit National poll as well as #3 ranking in the NXN Northeast rankings.Bishop Guertin, NH: They are#7 in the NXN Northeast rankings.Won the NH MOC with 72 points over runner-up Hanover (118 points).
Hanover, NH: #9 ranked in the NXN Northeast rankings.The runner-up at the NH MOC to Bishop Guertin. Won the Class I title two weeks on Derryfield course averaging 16:22.
Bishop Hendrickson, RI: Won the RI Championship meet last weekend over Lasalle with a 16:44 team average.
For more state meet previews and coverage visit MaineTrackXC.com
New Mexico
MileSplit Us #2 Albuquerque Academy and #15 Los Alamos square off again. Albuquerque Academy, Cibola and a depleted Los Alamos went 1-2-3 at the Los Alamos Invitational two weeks ago.
New York
By Christopher Hunt and Tim Fulton
Girls Class AA State Preview Predictions
Chris’s prediction: Team: No way I’m betting against Fayetteville-Manilus. They are really just that much better than everyone else and for all intents and purposes, the season just started for the three-time national champs. My feeling is that FM coach Bill Aris is only now going to start truly unleashing his team and they will only get better from here on out.
With that said, I was thoroughly impressed with Saratoga Springs at the Section 2 Championships last Saturday and the way they handled Shenendehowa at Saratoga Spa State Park. Not to mention that as I write this, Tim just called them “the best team ever in the history of sports, in any sport.” Yes, meant high school for any New York Yankees fans. Saratoga Springs will battle it out with Burnt Hills for second in the merge as well.
Individual winner: I’m going with FM’s Courtney Chapman. She’s seasoned. She’s consistent and simply the best runner in the field. Teammate Hannah Luber will be right behind her. Don’t worry. I’m not forgetting about Shen’s Lizze Predmore. She should be in the mix as well.
Tim’s Prediction: Anyone that picks against FM hasn't watched this team at all this season. Sure Saratoga has been coming on strong of late and I don't see anyone else finishing 2nd. FM is trying to win Nationals again thios year so I agree with Chris that FM has another level in them. As for the individual, either Prerdmore of Shen or Chapman. Chapman seems closes to unbeatable here but Predmore's sub 17:00 at Saratoga Spa was just silly fast. IF Chapman faulters, it's Predmore's race.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit Armorytrack.com
South Carolina
By John Olson (scrunners.com)
Class AAA girls: Hilton Head girls are the favorite, based on team database scoring, to capture the team title. A close battle may take place for second with Daniel and Mann, led by senior twins Kate and Emma Borowicz. Kate, also in contention for the individual state title has her eyes on top competitors Tameka Jackson (Seneca) and Sinead Haughey (Daniel).
Class AAA boys: Hilton Head and Wade Hampton look to be top contenders for the team title, not counting out Riverside, scored third in the team scores database.
Individually, Woodmont junior Aaron Ramirez is making a comeback as the favorite following an early season injury. Other contenders for the individual title also include Hilton Head's Jack Felix, Blue Ridge's Jordan Plumblee and Wade Hampton's Kyle Keene.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit scrunners.com
Virginia
By Brandon Miles (MileStat.com)
Glenvar junior Megan Marsico and Jamestown senior Andrew Colley are capable of course record runs after recent all-time historic performances. Marsico has ran the nation's 3rd fastest time for 3 miles at 16:51 and among the top 30 nationally with a 17:45 5K performance. Colley's converted 3.05 to 5K performance from his district meet ranks him 3rd in the US at 14:54. State meet course records at Great Meadow are held by Alan Webb at 15:03 (2001) and Catherine White at 17:48 (2005). Colley will have more competition in his race to push him with some of the state's fastest found in Group AA, while Marsico will have to run a record time solo in the Group A.
The best team in the state of Virginia and the #11 ranked team in the country will be featured in the 11:15 am and second race of the day with the Jamestown High School boys cross country team from Williamsburg.
Washington.
The Midlothian girls will looking to put themselves in history right along with the greatest dynasty previously among AAA girls in their pursuit of a fourth straight AAA state cross country title at Great Meadow this weekend. Another state title would tie Midlothian for the most consecutive AAA girls state team championships with the great run by the Lake Braddock girls from 1985 to 1988.
The three-time Northwest Region champion Porter is one of two popular race favorites along with Atlee senior Ben Dejarnette. Dejarnette has at least one state title under his belt in a 3200 meter victory at last March’s indoor state championships.Thomas Porter has qualified for Foot Locker Nationals twice. He won a national title in the freshmen mile and earned All-American honors. Add numerous district and regional titles to his list of credentials. He has been one of Virginia’s best distance runners over the past few years.
For complete state meet previews and coverage visit MileStat.com
Washington
MileSplit US #1 North Central, led by Andrew Kimpel, looks to be a lock in the boys 3A race. Gig Harbor, led by Alyssa Andrews, a contender for the individual crown, aims for its fourth straight 4A girls title.
Previews coming
Arkansas
New Hampshire
.