Team Regionals Begin: Girls MW, NW, HRT Predictions/Preview

It may go without saying that the Midwest region may be the toughest division to qualify out of for Team Nationals in December.

Especially considering there are four nationally-ranked girls teams, and plenty others on the MileSplit50 bubble, set to toe the line, the regional competition in Terre Haute will be ruthless.

Illinois powerhouses No. 6 Prospect and No. 10 York enter as the favorites for the two nationals bids. The Midwest meet on Sunday could very well turn into a rematch of the Illinois Class 3A State Championships held just last week, where Prospect came out on top with 38 points and an elite 25-second 1-5 spread, just ahead of York in second with 58 points.

The key for Prospect is that pack running strategy that helped propel them to that state title win. Their top four runners all have 5k season bests under 18 minutes, with Hailey Erickson leading the way in 17:41.1. Look for Prospect to use that depth to their advantage as they chase down a regional title and nationals spot.

But other teams outside of Illinois have more than a legitimate chance of placing among the top two in the Midwest.

Look to a team like No. 18 Noblesville as one who could snag a qualifier spot. They finished runner-up to Prospect at the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational in October, so they're familiar with the competition.

Now, the team race looks quite daunting, but then there's the individual race. 

US No. 6 all-time 5k runner and University of Oregon signee Lily Cridge will be leading that battle.

The Bishop Chatard (IN) senior, ranked fifth in the latest MileSplit50 rankings, enters with a 16:46 5k season's best from the Indiana Noblesville Regional and will be the favorite to win the meet and book a trip to Portland. 

Then there's one of Illinois' top cross country runners of all-time who will be vying for a meet win -- Carol Stream senior Grace Schager. Her 3-mile time of 16:00.2 from earlier this season ranks the University of Notre Dame signee among some of the best talents in the country, and perhaps a national title contender come December.

But looking at the girls behind the two frontrunners, it could be anyone's race for the final four national bids. The Holland West Ottawa (MI) 1-2 punch of Helen Sachs and Arianne Olson will be leading that pack, along with Stanford signee Sophia Kennedy of Park Tudor (IN). 

Other top entered athletes include Addison Knoblauch of Homestead (IN), Julia Kiesler of Columbus North (OH) and Olney (IL) senior Tatum David, all of whom will likely put themselves in the lead pack.

It's also worth noting that with the Sachs-Olson duo, Holland West Ottawa could very well pull off an upset in the team race and potentially snag an auto bid or one of five at-large bids selected from the entire regional pool. If that's the case, that could open up room for other Midwest athletes to grab individual qualifiers.

1. Prospect (IL)

2. York (IL)

3. Noblesville (IN)

4. Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI)

5. Columbus North (IN)

INDEX

- - -

Northwest - Heartland - Midwest