South Region 2005 XC Preview

By Regional Editor, John Sullivan

Boys - Girls

Boys

1. Flower Mound (TX)
2. A&M Consolidated (TX)
3. The Woodlands (TX)
4. Marcus (TX)
5. Corpus Christi King (TX)
6. Southlake Carroll (TX)
7. Humble (TX)
8. Kingwood (TX)
9. Cinco Ranch (TX)
10. Fayetteville (AR)
(Final 2004 - 1. The Woodlands TX wins state 5A by 35 over SO#2 Carroll with 15:38 5k avge, 2. Southlake Carroll TX 2nd in state 5A to #1 The Woodlands, ahead of other ranked teams, 3. A&M Consolidated TX 3rd in state 5A, 30 points behind #2 Carroll, 4. Kingwood TX 4th in state 5A, ahead of other ranked teams, 5. Flower Mound TX 5th in state 5A with same score as #4 Kingwood, 6. Corpus Christi King TX close 6th in state 5A, 7. Cinco Ranch TX 7th in state 5A, 8. Marcus TX 8th in state 5A, 9. Rogers AR state 5A champion, 10. Boerne TX wins state 4A over Lockhart)

TEXAS

Will this year mark the end of the Houston-areaís domination on the boys side? This interesting storyline features the traditional powers vs the up & coming programs. A Houston-area boys team has captured every 5A cross country title since 1984 (plus they won the 3 prior to El Pasoís victory in 1983). This 21-year streak includes 10 victories for The Woodlands, 9 for Kingwood and 2 for MacArthur.

Flower Mound (The Harrier preseason US#14, last year South #5)
All 7 back from last yearís 5th place team in Texas 5A. Led by J. B. Lagos (Sr,. #10 state returner) and Anthony D'Ambrosio (Sr, #11 state returner) along with two other top 20 returners in Jr Nathan Milles and Sr Marc D'Ambrosio. This squad was young last year and is now battle-tested.

A&M Consolidated (The Harrier preseason US#21, last year South #3)
3rd in Texas 5A last year has top 2 back and 5 of 7. Super 1-2 punch with Duncan Phillips (Jr, #4 state returner, 4:10/9:18 as a soph) and Dusty Langwell (Sr, #5 returner) and looking to tighten up in the 5-6-7 slots. In 2004 this team was under the radar early and finished strongly. Now theyíre a known top contender and Phillips will challenge for the individual title.

The Woodlands (last year South #1, Nike Team Nationals 7th)
1st in Texas 5A returns only #4 and #7, but has good depth including 5 more under 10:00. Led by Daniel Gerber (Sr, #13 state returner, 4:17/9:10) who will be in the hunt for the individual crown.

Marcus (last year South #8)
8th in Texas 5A has 5 of 7 returning. Front runner will be Jacob Cosby (Sr, #9 state returner, 1:53/4:11) coming off a strong track season.

Corpus Christi King (last year South #6)
6th in Texas 5A in 2004 returns top 4 and 6 of 7. Strong upfront with Ari Perez (Sr, #7 state returner) and Tim Revis (Sr, #12 returner). Has already won an Invite this year with 15 points and a 43 second 1-5 split.

Southlake Carroll (last year South #2, NTN 14th)
Loses 2 of top 3, but has 5 back from Texas 5A runner ups. Colby Lowe (Soph, state #1 returner, 30th at NTN as a frosh) will lead the charge along with Jon Hermes (Sr, #21 returner)

Humble (last year South unranked)
The Texas 5A 10th place team welcomes back its top 4 and 6 of 7. Looking for a big season from Scott Zivick (Sr, #20 state returner, 4:19/9:23) who had a great track campaign. Will be led by a new coach this year.

Kingwood (last year South #4)
4th in Texas 5A last season with #3 and #6 returning. Expecting members of last yearës strong sub-varsity lineups to step up. Jordan Vetitoe (Sr, state #23 returner, 1:53/4:17) will look to build on his track success.

Cinco Ranch (last year South #7)
7th in Texas 5A with top 2 and 5 of 7 returning. A tough pack will be led by Joe Sauvageau (Sr, #16 state returner) and Kyle Goldsmith (Jr, #18 returner).

Edinburg North (last year South unranked)
Returns top 4 and 5 of 7 from Texas 5A 9th place team. Led by Rolando Vela (Jr, #22 state returner) and Omar Doria (Sr, #27 returner) this team could finish high.

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
Boerne, Cedar Park, Fort Worth Northside, Georgetown, Lockhart and PSJA North.

ARKANSAS

Fayetteville
2nd in Arkansas 5A lost only #3 man and returning top 5 all project in the top 20. Two quality frontrunners in Aaron Hamilton (Soph, state #2 returner) and Willy Pakhardt (Jr, #7 returner).

Russellville
3rd in Arkansas 5A returns top 4 and 5 of 7. Nathan Peters (Sr, state #8 returner) leads the charge. Will need improvement in the 5-6-7 spots.

Rogers (last year South #9)
Has won State the last 3 years, but graduated top 4 and 5 of 7. Led by Erick Molina (Jr, state #7 returner) this team will look to reload quickly from young, talented group.

Other strong teams in alphabetical order include:
Bentonville, Bryant, Lake Hamilton and Springdale

LOUISIANA

Jesuit
Defending 5A champs will be hard to beat with 4 of the top 11 state returners. Led by Brett Guidry (Sr, state #1 returner) and Adam Tosh (Sr, state #5 returner).

Brother Martin
2nd in 5A State has 4 of their top 7 back and 3 of the top 10 state returners. Will be tough upfront with Andy Florek (Sr, state #2 returner) and Kenneth Schiffman (Soph, state #6 returner).

St. Paul
3rd in 5A State has 4 of the top 22 state returners.

Other top squads in alphabetical order include:
Baton Rouge and West Monroe

MISSISSIPPI

Pearl
4A powerhouse will be going for its 7th straight state title. They had a 1-2-3-5 finish at state last year and all 4 are back led by Tyler Wade (Sr, state champ) and Nick Foster (Sr, state 2nd).

Tupelo
5-time defending 5A champs project to score only 25 points. Their entire top 7 is back and all are among the top 16 state returners. Led by Will Stewart (Sr, state #3 returner) and Drew Kellum (Jr, state #4 returner).

Ocean Springs
5A State runner-up also has top 7 back. Cameron Vincent (Sr, state #2 returner) will vie for the championship.

Other top teams in alphabetical order include:
Brandon, Madison Central and Saltillo

OKLAHOMA

Mustang
Was 3rd in 5A last year and welcomes back their top 6 and 3 of the top 8 state returners. Kevin Schwab (Jr, state champ) will be a heavy favorite to defend his title after setting several course records as a sophomore.

Other contenders in alphabetical order include:
Edmond Memorial and Jenks

 

 

Girls


1. Southlake Carroll (TX)
2. Kingwood (TX)
3. Marcus (TX)
4. Keller (TX)
5. Cedar Park (TX)
6. The Woodlands (TX)
7. Canyon (TX)
8. Cinco Ranch (TX)
9. Tupelo (MS)
10. Mustang (OK)
(Final 2004 - 1. Kingwood TX state 5A champion; 2. Southlake Carroll close 2nd to #1 Kingwood in state 5A; 3. Highland Park TX state 4A winner by 33 points; 4. Marcus TX 3rd in state 5A; 5. Keller TX 4th in state 5A; 6. A&M Consolidated TX 5th in state 5A, 1 point behind Keller; 7. Cedar Park TX 6th in state 5A, 1 point behind A&M; 8. Tupelo MS state 5A champion; 9. Cinco Ranch TX 7th in state 5A; 10. Canyon TX state 3A champion)

TEXAS

Southlake Carroll (The Harrier preseason US#6, last year South #2 and Nike Team Nationals 8th)
Texas 5A 2nd in 2004 lost only #3 girl. Superb 1-2 punch of Brooke Upshaw (Sr, state #1 returner, NTN 11th, Foot Locker finalist, 4:53/10:38) and Miranda Walker (Sr, state #2 returner, NTN 14th, Foot Locker finalist, 4:53/10:32). A recent addition is 3A State champ Morgan Kuykendall (Sr, state #8 returner based on 3A time, 11:08) who moved this summer and now attends Carroll.

Kingwood (The Harrier preseason US#9, last year South #1 and Nike Team Nationals 7th)
Champs in Texas 5A last year return top 2 and 4 of 7. Led by Danielle Selner (Sr, state #7 returner, NTN 36th, 4:54/10:36) and Megan Munoz (Soph, state #4 returner, NTN 38th). This team had a very deep sub-varsity roster last year.

Marcus (last year South #4)
3rd in Texas 5A last year, returns top 2 and 6 of 7. Strong up front with Cynthia Santaella (Sr, state #8 returner, 5:03) and Kristen Gibson (Jr, state #10 returner

Keller (last year South #5)
Was 4th in Texas 5A last year and welcomes back top 3 and 5 of 7. Leading the team is Carlene Mayfield (Sr, state #3 returner, Foot Locker finalist).

Cedar Park (last year South #7)
This squad was 6th in a tight Texas 5A battle last year. Returns top 3 and 6 of 7 including Heather Bullin (Sr, state #19 returner) and Katie Weise (Sr, state #22 returner).

The Woodlands (last year South unranked)
Finished 8th in Texas 5A last year and returns top 3 and 6 of 7. Cheryl Spring (Sr, state #14 returner, Foot Locker South # 14 returner, 5:02/10:54) and Adrienne DiRaddo (Jr, state #25 returner) will provide leadership at the front.

Canyon (last year South #10)
Texas 3A champs expected everyone back, but #1 moved recently. Lauren Simpson (Jr, state 3A 6th, 11:15) will contend for the 3A state title.

Cinco Ranch (last year South #9)
Finished 7th in Texas 5A last year. Led by Tricia Stewart (Sr, state #21 returner) and Allie Keithan (Soph, state #29 returner). The entire top 7 is back and will be pushed by some talented youngsters.

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
A&M Consolidated , Highland Park, Humble and Tuloso Midway

MISSISSIPPI

Tupelo (last year South #8)
Champs in state 5A last year return entire top 7 and project to score 15 points. Seeking 5th straight state title. Led by Emily Crow (Jr, 2-time state champ), Claire Corban (Jr, state #2 returner) and Caitlin Marlin (Soph, #3 returner)

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
Ocean Springs, Pearl and Saltillo

OKLAHOMA

Mustang (last year South unranked)
1st in Oklahoma 5A, returns a good group with some promising newcomers in the mix. Led by Katy Grant (Sr, #3 state returner) and Elizabeth Snyder (Sr, #9 state returner).

Edmond North
Runner-up in 5A has a strong nucleus back. At the front of the pack will be Erin Watson (Soph, #2 state returner) and Alexandra Miley (Sr, #12 state returner).

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
Jenks and Tulsa Union

ARKANSAS

Bentonville
State 5A champs have top 7 back to defend. Their first four project to finish in the top 8 including Alyssa Potter (Jr, #3 state returner) and Brittany Potter (Jr, state #5 returner).

Rogers
This perennial power was 2nd last year and entire state squad returns. Led by Rachel Conley (Jr, state #4 returner) and Ellen Heimback (Soph, #7 state returner).

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
Bryant, Fayetteville and Springdale

LOUISIANA

Barbe
Was 1st in state 5A and have everyone back. The top 6 project to finish in the top 15 at state. Led by Lydia Woodward (Jr, state champ) and Jessica Gurley (Sr, #4 state returner)

Other top contenders in alphabetical order include:
Episcopal, Ruston and St Josephís


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