Race of Champions
Team Profiles - Girls

Bingham, South Jordan, UT.

# 1 seed in the 2000 Race of Champions. Returns 6 of top 9 runners from last year's Great American Race of Champions first place team.  Ranked # 1 nationally by The Harrier's Cross Country Report.  McAlpine team course record holder with a 18:13 average; fastest recorded team average in high school running history.  Returns top two runners Laura Zeigle (17:41 5K, UT state champ, FL Nationals 10th, 4:50 M) and Jackie Zeigle (18:12 5K, UT state runner-up, 4:57 M), but loses next three runners.  2000 team will include Angie Campbell (18:34 5K, 5:11 M) and Stacie Grover (18:58 5K) who will cover 3rd and 4th spots behind the Zeigle twins.  Question: Will Seniors Molly Baker and Bekah Jgvtzsih, both sub 19:45 5K runners fill the gap of three departing sub 18:48 runners or will a host of new stars emerge to keep this program on top for another two years?

Bowman, ND.

Is Cinderella coming to the ball?  If she does, she just may be from Bowman High School (enrollment 160) from Bowman, ND. Ranked # 20 nationally in 1999.  Returns top 9 runners from a squad that took the top 7 of the top 11 spots in ND state championships.  Shockingly, the 99 state championship team consisted of three 8th graders, two 9th graders, one 10th grader, and yes, one 7th grader!  Their best times average 18:11 (faster than Bingham's average) but can they do this in one race?  But before you discount these times as being the product of a short course, consider the fact that their 9th runner on the dept chart has a 11:48 2 mile PR.  One more point to consider, this program has won 20 state championships out of the past 21, a national record.  Will the clock strike twelve before we hear the last of this team?

Campbell Co., Gillette, WY.

Coach Orville Hess has assembled another outstanding team that will rank up with the best and this school has produced the best. Wyoming  State Champions, 1999 by placing 4 runners in the top 10 and their 5th runner in 16th.  Previously nationally ranked # 1 in 1998, and # 4 in 1999.  Won past 5 Wyoming State Championships, and 6 in the 1990s. Ranked # 12 nationally in 1999, Campbell returns all top five runners, including Alicia Craig (17:19 5K, 1st. WY state, 1st. Footlocker West, 3rd. Footlocker nationals, 4:53 M). Campbell will be the # 5 seed in the Race of Champions.

Colonie Central, NY.

Coach Frank Myers brings to Charlotte 4 of his top 5 runners from his nationally ranked # 3 team from 1999.  1999 New York State Champs.  Colonie will have the fastest three front runners in the Race of Champions.  Look for Kate Twarog, Nicole Susser and Ashleigh Borwell to all run sub 17:50 on McAlpine's super quick course.  They will be followed by Ashley Tremblay and Julie LaFranco, both excellent runners with sub 18:30 ability, creating a formidable task for any team to challenge.  With several sub 2:19 800 meter PR times, look for this team to have the speed to get out fast and maybe never look back.  Colonie will be the # 2 seed in the Race of Champions.

Eisenhower, WA.

Returns 6 of top 7 runners from 1999 Washington State Championship team.  Winner of 3 state championships in the 1990's. Undefeated in 50 consecutive league meets spanning a 6 year period.  Ranked nationally #17 in 1999, with a team that included three 9th graders.  Team lacks a proven front runner but expect one to emerge from last years talented group of frosh.  Very tight pack of runners with no visible weak links that should average under 19:10.

Esperanza, CA.

Coach Rich Medellin will return to Charlotte for his second run in the Race of Champions with a much improved team that will include its top two runners and 6 of their top 7 from 1999.  Previously ranked twice in the nation's top 20 in 1998 and 1997. Esperanza has taken a top 5 place in California's Division I in each of the last four years, a feat no other team has accomplished.  Collegiate great Courtney Pugmire (BYU) is an Esperanza Alum.

Fitch, CT.

Fitch has been one of Connecticut's top program in recent year's having won their Class L State Championships in 1998 and 1999. Placed in state top 10 in each of last four years. Returns 7 of top 9 runners from 1999 team.  Coach Shawn Towne's team will be lead by junior Rachel Harrington who finished 9th in last year's state meet.  

Douglas Freeman, VA.

1999 Virginia 3A state champs. Placed all 5 runners in top 20.  Returns 6 of 9 from 99 team.  Team will be lead by senior Laura Hofman and junior Julia Siegel, but this excellent program has a number of young runners who will fill the gap of three graduating seniors. Ranked 9th in the south in 1999 by The Harrier's. State runner-ups in 98.  Coached by Mark Harvey.

Green Valley, Henderson, NV.

From a program that produced last year's high school Heisman trophy winner, Abby Miller (17:08 5K) Green Valley will be lead by rising sophomores Emily Eskin and Jackie Faureau.  This duo placed 3rd and 7th respectively in the Nevada state meet, behind Miller's 1st place win.  Coach Jeff Doyle has a dedicated team of youngsters which will include four sophomores and one frosh.  After Miller's success look for this team to emerge as a national ranked team within the next two years.

Hopi, AZ.

Arizona 1999 1A/2A State Champs.  Won 12 of the last 13 state titles (2nd place the other year).  School has produced 5 state individual champs in the last 13 years.  Team will be lead by four super sophs  who all placed in the top 10 in last year's state championship run.   Top runner will be Martina Goklish, Arizona state champ in 19:03, followed by Mallaory Shattuck, state runner-up in 19:18, Alyssa Fredericks 4th in state meet with a 19:30, Tara Secakuku 10th in state with a 20:11 and Kim Zahne 13th in the state meet with a 20:35.  As of this writing Hopi's top 4 runners have yet to run a frosh track race.  But to provide a guide: Debra Namoki and Tessa Beatty ranked 6th and 7th on the team's dept chart have run track times of 5:38 and 2:35 respectively.  Coach Harvey Honyouti has a very very good team in the making.

Kingwood, TX.

When Coach Zoe Simpson loses track of the number of national rankings ("6 or 7") over the past 10 years, you know that you have one of the best programs ever.  1999 Race of Champions 3rd place behind Bingham and Saratoga Springs, with a 18:50 average.  Returns 5 of top 7.  1999 Texas State Championships, 3rd place. In 1990's won 10 district titles, 10 regional titles, 4 state titles and 3 runner-ups.  In 1999 ranked # 3 in the south and # 18 nationally.  2000 team will be lead by Jamie Weiler (18:48 5K, 5:02 M) and Liz Phillip (18:55 5K and 5:10 M).

Leesville Road, NC.

1998 North Carolina 4A State Champs.  Returns 6 of top 7 runners from 1999 state 3rd place team.  Returns 1998 3rd place finisher Laura Hamm (18:32 5K) who missed 1999 with an injury.  Last year's team included 4 first year runners.  With the return of Hamm this should be one of North Carolina's top teams.  Coached by Steve Moss.

Manchester, VA.

One of the top programs in Virginia over the past 10 years.  Returns entire top 7 from  a very young Virginia 3A 6th place team in 1999.  The 99 team had two 9th graders and two 10th graders in the top 5.  Team lacks a big time front runner but has a very solid pack of five runners that run within 30 seconds of each other, all capable of running between 19:10 and 19:40 or faster.

Manchester Central, NH.

Ranked in the top 10 nationally ever year except once in the 1990's and ranked # 15 nationally in 1999 by The Harrier's.  Winner of 200 consecutive regular season meets since 1983.  Won 4th consecutive state title in 1999.  Returns top 4 runners including 2nd, 5th and 8th place finishers in state meet.  Team will be lead by Footlocker finalist Codi Vachon.  Coached by Joe O'Neil.

McIntosh, GA.

1998 Georgia 4A State Champs with four 9th graders.  Injury plagued in 1999 but still managed a 3rd place state finish.  Team will be lead by Dana Van Winkle who sat out 99 with an injury but has a 18:37 5K best and a 11:15 2 mile, both ran in the 9th grade.  Won 9 of 10 regional championships and has consistently placed in the state's top 4 over the past 10 years.  Coached by Chuck Buckle.

Mountain View, UT

Ranked as the nation's second best girl's program in the 1990's.  1999 state runner-ups to Bingham.  Ranked in the top 10 nationally in 7 out of 10 years in the 1990's.  Ranked # 1 in 1989 and 1990.  Ranked # 2 in 1993 and 1996.  Team will be lead by Tiffany Strickland (18:10 5K, 2:17 800, 3rd Utah State meet) and Lindsey Wilkenson (18:30 5K, 5:13 mile).  Coached by Dave Houle, who has a national high school record of 876 wins and 61 losses for his combined cross-country, basketball and track teams, including 47 state titles in three sports.

Oakridge, TN.

Best Tennessee team over the past five years.  1999 Tennessee State Champs and winner of Great American's Invitational race.  Ranked as the south's 7th best team in 99 by The Harrier's Report.  Also state champs in 1996 and state runner-ups in 97 and 98.  Returns four of top 5 runners.  Team will be lead by Deanna Kuesz and Kim Roush.  Coached by Jim McNamee.  

Kentucky powerhouse team.  Winner of 4 state championships in the 1990's followed by two runner-ups and last year's 3rd place finish.  Returns entire top 9 runners.  Team lead by Rachel Sanford who has one five state championships (18:50 5K, 5:11 M, 11:14 2 mile).  Team is coached by Bryon Childers.

Ranked # 4 Nationally in 1999 by The Harrier's.  Returns entire top 7 from 99 team and 5 runners who placed in the state's top 20. California Division III state champs.  Winner of Mt. Sac, and Stanford Invitationals.  Lead by sisters Alejandra and Raquel Barrientos.  Ale (17:31 5K, 4:45 mile) was a 99 Footlocker finalist and California State Cross Country champ.  Younger sister Raquel finished 4th in the state meet and has a 5:19 mile PR, ran in the 8th grade.  Coached by Rob Collins San Lorenzo will be the # 4 seed in the 2000 Race of Champions.

Saratoga Springs, NY.

The nation's top girls program will be the # 3 seed in the Race of Champions behind Bingham.  No other team has matched the dominance of Saratoga Springs over the past 10 years with a national ranking no less than # 5 in the past 9 years.  Previously ranked # 1 in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997.  Ranked # 5 nationally in 1999.  2nd place finisher to Bingham in the 1999 Race of Champions.  Only other loss was to New York state champion and # 3 Colonie Central

1999 North Carolina State 4A Champions.  Surprise winner from school that has been open only a few years.  Returns entire top 7 runners.  Ranked as 10th best team in the south by The Harrier's.  Lead by sister's Jessa and Jenna Giroux who ran 18:49 and 18:50 to take 5th and 6th in the 99 NC state meet.  Team is without a coach as of this writing.

Returns 7 of 9 runners from 3rd place team in Washington's 99 4A Championships.  1997 State Champs.  Also finished 3rd and 5 points out of 1st in 98.  Competed in state championships 12 consecutive years.  2000 team will be lead by Senior Natalie Rasmussen (8th WA state, 18:35 5K, 11:05 3200) and Emily Picinich (24th WA state, 19:03 5K, 5:29 1600).  Team adds 11:45 3200 runner who will skip fall soccer to run XC.  Coached by Ed Santos

The youth in this race is amazing as Spartanburg will field a team with three frosh, two of which ran sub 19:45 as 8th graders.  Track times are almost non-existent for this team as the majority either play soccer in the spring or they haven't had their first spring track season.  But the youth of this team was good enough to win South Carolina's 4A State Championship meet in 1999.  Also state champs 4 of past 5 years and state champs or runner-up ever year over the past 7.  10th best team in the south in 1999, as ranked by The Harrier's Report.  Coach Eileen Kilbreth's team has one of the tightest packs in the nation with only 21 seconds separating its top 6 runners.

North Carolina 4A State runner-ups in 1998 and 1999.  State champs in 1990, 1992 and 1995 and four runner-ups.  Finished in state's top 5 in 8 of the past 10 years.  Returns top 6 runners, including two all state runners Kristin Stroupe (4th in NC state, 18:48 5K and 11:35 2 mile) and Lindley Swartz (8th in NC state, 19:04 5K, 2:25 800).  Coached by Randy McDonough.