Regional editor: John Sullivan
 
 
Region 3 - South
 
 
AR, LA, MS, OK, TX
 
 
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2004 Cross Country Season Preview

The Woodlands TX boys and Carroll Southlake TX girls top the charts

by John Sullivan, South region editor

Boys - Girls

Boys

pre-season 2004 Ranking

1.The Woodlands TX
2.Kingwood TX
3.Cedar Park TX
4.PSJA North TX
5.Carroll (Southlake) TX
6.Rogers AR
7.Jenks OK
8.Marcus (Flower Mound) TX
9.Cinco Ranch TX
10.Edmond Memorial OK

(last Season - 2003 1.The Woodlands TX; 2.Cinco Ranch TX; 3.PSJA North TX; 4.Coppell TX; 5.Cedar Park TX; 6.Jenks OK; 7.Rogers AR; 8.Edmond Memorial OK; 9.Kingwood TX; 10.Reagan (San Antonio) TX)

TEXAS – Defending state 5A team The Woodlands looking for 12th title overall.

  • The Woodlands (2003 state title with 35 points) – Was crowned National Champ after dominating wins at Great American and State. South region pre-season #1 and #2 nationally. Lost top 3 men from state, but looking for a tight pack this year. Led by Luke Hansen (Sr, 4:13, #6 state returner), Ben Schulz (Sr, 9:28, #9 state and #20 Foot Locker South returner), Daniel Gerber (Jr, 9:10, #10 state and #15 Foot Locker South returner) and Daniel Lanzillotti (Sr, 9:29, out last year, but 13th at Great American in 2002).
  • Kingwood (2003 state 7th with 173 points) – South region pre-season #2 and #23 nationally. Return #2, 3, 4 and 6 men from state. Led by Chad Johnson (Sr, 9:37, #16 state returner) and Michael Adams (Sr, #22 state returner).
  • Cedar Park (2003 state 5th with 130 points) – South region pre-season #3. Return #3, 4, 5 and 7 men from state. Led by Aaron Greer (Sr, #12 state returner), Jon Wrobleski (Jr, #18 state returner) and Perry Morris (Jr, #20 state returner).
  • PSJA North (2003 state 3rd with 121 points) – South pre-season #4. Return #2, 6, and 7 men from state. Led by Juan Jose Hernandez (Sr, #7 state returner) and Jose Taldvera (Sr, #30 state returner).
  • Carroll (Southlake) – South region pre-season #5. Led by Kevin Ondrasek (Sr, 4:18, #4 state and #13 Foot Locker South returner) and Orey Smith (Sr, 9:23).
  • Marcus (Flower Mound) (2003 state 9th with 197 points) – South pre-season #8. Return #1 and 3 men from state. Led by Beck Mitchell (Sr, #8 state returner).
  • Cinco Ranch (2003 state 2nd with 121 points) – South pre-season #9. Return #4, 5 and 7 men from state. Led by Joe Sauvageau (Jr, #20 state returner) and Reagan Page (Sr, #24 state returner).

Other strong contenders in alphabetical order include Boerne, Coppell (with super Soph Taylor Ray - #3 state returner), Friendswood, Georgetown, Humble, and La Joya.

 

ARKANSAS – Defending state 5A champ Rogers is favored again.

  • Rogers (2003 state champs with 40 points) – Earned a #7 South ranking last year and is the pre-season #6. Seeking 3rd title in a row. Return #1, 4, 5 and 6 men from state. Led by Michael McCullough (Sr, state 3rd, #2 state returner). Also have juniors Luis Flores (state 11th, #5 state returner), Stefan Mueller (state 12th, #6 state returner) and Aaron Jefferson (state 17th, #7 state returner).
  • Bentonville (2003 state 6th with 174 points) – This team was very young last year with no seniors in the top 7 . Leading the tight pack this year will be Justin Spradlin (Soph, state 26th, #12 state returner), Stephen Hammond (Jr, state 27th, #13 state returner), Alex Johnston (Jr, state 28th, #14 state returner), and Nicholas Rodriquez (Sr, state 31st, #16 state returner)
  • Springdale (2003 state runner-up with 94 points) – Lost #1, 2 and 4, but will be strong again. Will rely on Matt Collins (Sr, state 20th, #10 state returner), Kerry Nelson (Sr, 29th at state, #15 state returner), Tyler Bever (Soph, state 34th, #18 state returner), and Steven Woolsey (Sr, state 42nd, #22 state returner).

Other top teams include Bentonville, Bryant, Conway (with Sr Eric Harris - #1 state & #28 Foot Locker South returner; Jr Raven Fuller - #3 state returner), Fayetteville, Lake Hamilton, and Russellville.

 

OKLAHOMA – The top two 5A teams from 2003 will duke it out again.

  • Jenks (2003 state 5A champs with 64 points) – Earned a #6 South ranking last year. Return #1, 3 and 4 men from state. Led by Dan Maxwell (Sr, state 6th), Brandon McCarthy (Sr, state 11th) and Daniel Witmer (Jr, state 12th).
  • Edmond Memorial (2003 state 5A 2nd with 78 points) – Earned a #8 South ranking last year and is the pre-season #10. Return #3 and 4 men from state. Led by Dan Szatkowski (Sr, state 17th) and Jordan Powell (Sr, state 18th).

Other strong squads include Mustang and Owasso.

 

LOUISIANA – Last year’s top two 5A teams will renew their battle.

  • Jesuit (2003 state 5A champs with 65 points) – Return #1, 3 and 4 men from state. Led by Brett Guidry (Jr, state champ), Brett McCann (Sr, state 10th), and Adam Tosh (Jr, state 22nd).
  • Brother Martin (2003 state 5A 2nd with 117 points) – Return #1 and 2 men from state. Led by Patrick Aucoin (Sr, state 5th) and Andy Florek (Jr, state 12th)

Other strong contenders include Baton Rouge, Bishop Sullivan (defending 4A champ), Catholic, Ruston, and West Monroe.

 

MISSISSIPPI – Look for the defending 4A and 5A champs to repeat and compete for overall top team honors.

  • Pearl (defending state 4A champs with 25 points ) – Only lose #1 and 5 from state. Will be going for 6th straight state title. Led by Tyler Wade (Jr, state 3rd), Jeremy Steele (Jr, state 5th), Scott Pulliam (Jr, state 7th) and Nick Foster (Jr, state 10th). They’ve got the #1, 3, 4, 5 & 7 returners from the 4A state meet which projects to scoring 20 points this year!
  • Tupelo (2003 state 5A title with 43 points) – Return #2, 3 and 4 men from state. Seeking 4th consecutive state championship. Led by Michael Weeks (Sr, state 4th, #3 state returner), Alex Brown (Jr, state 10th, #8 state returner), Will Stewart (Jr, state 11th, #9 state returner)

Other top squads include Biloxi, Madison Central and Ocean Springs.

Girls

GIRLS

pre-season 2004 Ranking

1. Carroll (Southlake) TX
2. Kingwood TX
3. Marcus (Flower Mound) TX
4. Tupelo MS
5. Mustang OK
6. Cedar Park TX
7. Klein TX
8. The Woodlands TX
9. Rogers AR
10. Georgetown TX

(last Season - 2003 1.Cedar Park TX; 2.Carroll (Southlake) TX; 3.Kingwood TX; 4.Tupelo MS; 5.Marcus (Flower Mound) TX; 6.Coppell TX; 7.Plano West TX; 8.Georgetown TX; 9.Mustang OK; 10.Broken Arrow OK)

 

TEXAS – Carroll will be very tough to beat.

  • Carroll (Southlake) 2003 state runner-up with 66 points – Earned a #2 South ranking last year and is the pre-season South #1 and U.S. #5. Has all 7 back. Led by Miranda Walker (Jr, 4:53/10:32, state 2nd, #2 state & #4 Foot Locker South returner), Brooke Upshaw (Jr, 4:53/10:38, state 4th, #3 state & #16 Foot Locker South returner) and Brittney Alberto (Sr, 2:16/5:03, state 11th, #9 state & #12 Foot Locker South returner).
  • Kingwood 2003 state 3rd with 120 points – Earned a #3 South ranking last year and is the pre-season South #2 and U.S. #19. Return #1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 from state. Led by Danielle Selner (Jr, 5:01/11:02, state 13th, #11 state returner) and Brenna Williamson (Sr, 5:04/11:03, state 27th, #19 state returner). Has a lot of depth to round out the team.
  • Marcus (Flower Mound) 2003 state 4th with 123 points – Earned a #5 South ranking last year and is the pre-season South #3. Only lost #5 from state. Led by Kristen Gibson (Soph, 5:06, state 15th, #12 state returner) and Tara Gruber (Sr, state 16th, #13 state & #29 Foot Locker South returner).
  • Cedar Park 2003 state champs with 63 points – Earned a #1 South and U.S. #18 ranking last year. Is the pre-season South #6. Return #3-7 from state. Led by Jennifer White (Jr, state 23rd, #16 state returner), Heather Bullin (Jr, state 28th, #20 state returner) and Katie Weise (Jr, 11:07, state 29th, #21 state returner).
  • Klein – South pre-season #7. Just missed a state berth in 2003 in a tough Region. Led by Kelcee Keenan (Sr, 5:04/11:08) and Caitlyn Charron (Soph, 5:04/11:12).
  • The Woodlands – South region pre-season #8. Young team last year has a strong nucleus back. Led by Cheryl Spring (Jr, state 8th, #6 state & #9 Foot Locker South returner).
  • Georgetown 2003 state 7th with 142 points – South pre-season #10. Earned a #8 South ranking last year. Return #1-4 & 6 from state. Led by Lavenna Mullenbach (Sr, 11:05, state 22nd, #15 state returner) and Sarah Greer (Jr, state 24th, #17 state returner).
  • Other strong contenders in alphabetical order include Coppell and Highland Park.
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  • MISSISSIPPI – Tupelo favored for 4th state 5A win in a row.
  • Tupelo 2003 state 5A title with 18 points – Earned a #4 South ranking last year and is the pre-season South #4. Only lose #2 from state. Led by Emily Crow (Soph, state champ, #25 Foot Locker South returner), Natalie Holland (Soph, state 4th, #2 state returner) and Caitlin Marlin (Freshman, state 6th, #4 state returner). In fact they project to score 18 points at state this year.
  • Other top squads include Biloxi, Ocean Spring and Pearl (defending 4A champ with 34 points)
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  • OKLAHOMA – Mustang looking to repeat.
  • Mustang 2003 state 5A champs with 76 points – South region pre-season #5. Earned a #9 South ranking last year. Return entire top 7 from state meet. Led by Katy Grant Mustang (Jr, state 2nd, top state & #37 Foot Locker South returner), Danielle Zanotti (Sr, state 3rd, #2 state returner), and Elizabeth Snyder (Jr, state 6th).
  • Other strong teams include Broken Arrow and Jenks.
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  • ARKANSAS – Defending state 5A champ Rogers is favored again.
  • Rogers 2003 state 1st with 56 points – South region pre-season #9. Lost only 3rd girl from state. Led by Staci Papageorge (Jr, state 3rd, #3 state returner), LeAnna Peerson (Jr, state 12th, #8 state returner), and Danielle Cummins (Jr, state 14th, #9 state returner).
  • Other top teams include Bentonville, Bryant, Mount St. Mary (led by Sr Ashley Williams, state champ and Foot Locker South #10 returner), Russellville, and Springdale.
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  • LOUISIANA – Will be a battle at State with Walker leading the charge.
  • Walker 2003 state 5A 2nd with 108 points – Top runners from state are back. Led by Kristy Carlin (Sr, state 3rd, #1 state returner), Callie Picou (Sr, state 4th, #2 state returner) and Jenna Picou (Soph, state 15th).

Other strong contenders include Barbe, Baton Rouge (defending 5A champ), Bishop Sullivan (defending 4A champ), and Ruston.

 

 

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