MileSplit’s Preseason Top 25 National XC Rankings, 2012; Girls Individuals
These rankings are based on 2011 XC and 2012 T&F distance performances, and project where athletes will be at the end of the 2012 cross country season. Incoming freshman were not yet considered. Future rankings will be based on relative accomplishments during the season, particularly in head-to-head competitions.
With her impressive second place finish at Footlocker Nationals 2011, and quality 2012 track performances (e.g., U.S. HS indoor 5000m record, 16:19.69), we rank Erin Finn (senior, West Bloomfield HS, West Bloomfield, MI) number one nationally going into the 2012 XC season. Others including Sarah Baxter (junior, Simi Valley HS, CA) and Mary Cain (junior, Bronxville HS, NY) may run faster on easier courses through the high school season. But, as the Nike Cross Nationals and Footlocker championships arrive on more challenging terrain at season’s end, Finn will be hard to beat. Baxter was the NXN champion in 2011, and had 2012 track bests of 3200m (10:08.11, #1 U.S.) and 5,000m (16:45.87). Cain was 6th at NXN 2011, and ran track PR’s of 800m (2:03.34) and 1500m (4:11.01, U.S. HS national record).
PRESEASON RANKINGS, INDIVIDUALS, GIRLS:
1. Erin Finn, 12, West Bloomfield HS, West Bloomfield, MI|
2. Sarah Baxter, 11, Simi Valley HS, Simi Valley, CA
3. Mary Cain, 11, Bronxville HS, Bronxville, NY
4. Ashley Erba, 12, Warsaw Community HS, Warsaw, IN
5. Sophie Chase, 12, Lake Braddock HS, Burke, VA
6. Katie Knight, 12, North Central HS, Spokane, WA
7. Jillian Fanning, 11, Fayetteville-Manlius HS, Manlius, NY
8. Karlie Garcia, 12, Oakmont HS, Roseville, CA
9. Hannah Meier, 12, Grosse Point South HS, Grosse Point Farms, MI
10. Amy-Eloise Neale, 12, Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish, WA
11. Hagen Reedy, 12, Buchanan HS, Clovis, CA
12. Grace Tinkey, 12, First Presbyterian HS, Macon, GA
13. Wesley Frazier, 12, unattached, Raleigh, NC
14. Laura Leff, 11, West Genesee HS, Syracuse, NY
15. Hannah Christen, 11, Lake Braddock HS, Burke, VA
16. Makena Morley, 10, Bigfork HS, Bigfork, MT
17. Clare Flanagan, 11, The Blake School, Hopkins, MN
18. Anna Maxwell, 11, San Lorenzo Valley HS, Felton, CA
19. Catarina Rocha, 12, Peabody HS, Peabody, MA
20. Jordan McPhee, 11, Mount Rainier HS, Normandy Park, WA
21. Nikki Hiltz, 12, Aptos HS, Aptos, CA
22. Julia Bos, 12, Christian HS, Grand Rapids, MI
23. Karis Jochen, 12, A&M Consolidated HS, College Station, TX
24. Alexandria Fons, 11, Franklin HS, Franklin, WI
25. Maria Hauger, 12, Shakopee HS, Shakopee, MN
MileSplit’s next preseason rankings (girls team, and boys individual and team) will be forthcoming in the next few days. Then weekly rankings will follow through the end of the season beginning September 10; as - girls individuals each Monday, girls teams on Tuesdays, boys individuals on Wednesdays, and boys teams on Thursdays.
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