In 1999, the top female teams consisted of Bingham, Rockford and Colonie Central. Most experts agreed, the title of nation's best belonged to Bingham of South Jordan, Utah, coached by Jeff Arbogast. The team went undefeated in 1999 and scored a decisive victory over perennial national powers Saratoga Springs (NY) and Campbell County (WY), in the inaugural running of the Great American Cross Country Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bingham sped to an astounding team 5K average of 18:13, the fastest ever recorded on an accurate 5K course.

Unfortunately, Bingham never faced top national powers Rockford and Colonie Central, leaving track experts to compare track times between programs with totally different seasonal orientations.  The major inter-regional team-to-team match-up last year was between Bingham and Saratoga girls' teams.

2000 will see the deepest group of girls' teams in recent years. Many of the top teams in 1999 return largely intact, and are led by returning Foot Locker Finalists.

Since most of the top teams from 1999 should still be in the hunt in 2000, we will start at the top. This group includes Bingham (UT), Rockford (MI), Colonie Central (NY), Campbell Co. (WY), San Lorenzo Valley (CA), and Saratoga Springs (NY).

Bingham was ranked # 1 nationally by Harrier Magazine in 1999. They return six of their top nine runners from last year's team, that averaged 18:13 and was proclaimed the best team in high school running history. Jeff Arbogast's team will be led by Laura Zeigle (17:25 5K, UT state champ, FL Nationals 10th, 4:50 M) and Jackie Zeigle (17:42 5K, UT state runner-up, 4:57 M), (left, Zeigles and their dad) but loses their next three runners. The 2000 team should also 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. However 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?

One team that never met Bingham in 1999 was an outstanding Rockford, Michigan team. The undeafeated team was led by the best one, two, three combo in the nation: Kalin Toedebusch, Emily Blakeslee and Linsey Blaisdell. However, the team lost sub 5:00 miler Blakeslee and two other important runners. Perhaps this was the best team in the nation in 1999, as some have suggested, but with the loss of three key runners, the team will not be as good in 2000. But, with a limited travel schedule, look for them to remain undefeated in 2000.

Coach Frank Myers, and his Colonie Central Harrier's from Albany, NY return four of their top five runners from their nationally ranked # 3 team from 1999. Colonie was the 1999 New York State Champion and may have the fastest three front-runners in the nation. Look for Kate Twarog, Nicole Susser and Ashleigh Borwell to run sub 17:50 on a quick course. Ashley Tremblay and Julie LaFranco, both excellent runners with sub 18:30 ability, will follow them, creating a challenge for any team.

Coach Orville Hess of Campbell County, WY has assembled another outstanding team that will rank with the best, and this school has produced the best. The 1999 Wyoming State Champions placed 4 runners in their state's top 10 and their 5th runner was 16th. Previously, nationally ranked # 1 in 1998 and # 4 in 1999, Campbell returns all top five runners, including Alicia Craig, left, (17:19 5K, 1st. WY State, 1st. Foot Locker West, 3rd. Foot Locker Nationals).

San Lorenzo Valley, coached by Rob Collins, was the California Division III State Champions and returns its entire top 7 and 5 runners, who placed in the state's top 20. Winner of Mt. SAC and the Stanford Invitational, this team is lead by sisters, Alejandra Barrientos (17:31 5K, 4:45 mile, 99 Footlocker finalist, California State Cross Country champ) and Raquel Barrientos. Younger sister, Raquel finished 4th in the state XC meet and improved her mile PR by over 20 seconds to 4:59 in 1999.  Ale, who was leading the country at both the mile and 2-mile distances, suffered a stress fracture in early June that deprived her of the California state and national championship competitions.   She is pictured above as she finished the anchor 1600 meters of SLV's US record setting distance medley at the Penn Relays last April.  

Saratoga Springs, the nation's top girls' program, will return to the front of the pack in 2000, after falling short to Bingham in the 1999 Great American Race of Champions and district rival, Colonie Central. No other team has matched the dominance of Saratoga Springs over the past 10 years with a national ranking no less than 5 of the past 9 years. They were previously ranked #1 in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997 and #5 nationally in 1999. The team will be led by Danielle Coon and a number of young emerging stars.

These six teams, all of whom were ranked in the top 6 in the nation, may again hold these positions in 2000, with a slight reshuffle in order. However, there is a group of teams that appeared to be just a year away from greatness in1999. If any of the first six slip, teams from this next group will certainly take their place. This group includes Eisenhower (WA), Bowman (ND), Manchester Central (NH), Middletown (MD), and Iowa City West (IA).

The leading team from the Pacific Northwest will be Eisenhower, which returns six of their top seven runners from the 1999 Washington State Championship squad. They won three state championships in the 1990's and the team is undefeated in 50 consecutive league meets spanning a 6-year period. Eisenhower was ranked #17 nationally in 1999, with a team that included three 9th graders. They lack a proven front-runner but expect one, most likely Laura Blount (5:07.22 and 10:59.99), to emerge from last year's talented group of runners,. This very tight pack of runners, with no visible weak link, should average under 19:10.

Is Cinderella going to the ball? If she does, she just may be from Bowman High School (enrollment 160) from Bowman, ND. Ranked #20 nationally in 1999 the school returns the top nine runners from a team that took seven of the top eleven 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 national best ever average of 18:13) but can they do this in one race? If so, expect this team to make it happen at Great American, where they will challenge Bingham, Saratoga, Colonie Central, Campbell County and San Lorenzo Valley. One more point to consider, this program has won 20 out of the past 21 state championships, a national record in a state that continues to surprise the running community with numerous nationally ranked runners.

Manchester Central, NH has been ranked in the top 10 nationally every year except once in the 1990's, and ranked #15 nationally in 1999 by Harrier Cross Country Report. They are the winner of 200 consecutive regular season meets since 1983, and won their 4th consecutive state title in 1999. Manchester returns their top 4 runners, including 2nd, 5th and 8th place finishers in the state meet. The team, coached by Joe O'Neil, will be led by Foot Locker finalist Codi Vachon.

Middletown (MD) won the 1999 Maryland State Championships for the 3^rd year in row, placing 5 runners in the top eleven. The '99-State Championship team consisted of three freshman and four juniors. They will be led by State Champion and course record holder Emily Buzzell, a sophomore. Buzzell was a member of the 1999 all freshman team and is the #10 returnee in the Northeast. Following close behind will be state runner-up and sister, Randy Buzzell (5:06.2), a senior. Rounding out the top five will be sophomore, Rocky Morgan (5:26.76,11:58.44), senior, Kathy Harrigan, and senior, Andrea Pope. Look for Middletown to go undefeated and earn a top ten national ranking in 2000.

Iowa City West was ranked #13 nationally last year. This team returns 6 of 7 runners, including their top five, from last year's team that lost by only 6 points to #9 nationally, Iowa City. They are led by Harrier Magazine all sophomore team member, Jeni Fruden. She has run 4:43.14 for 1500m and 10:11.47 for 3000 joining. Joining her in the top five are another two runners, who have run under 4:55 for 1500 and 10:45 for 3000.

There are two other teams that have different profiles from all the others. One, Iowa City (IA), lost their #1 runner, but still appears deep. The other, Hopi (AZ), is very young and appears on the verge of greatness, but may still be a year away.

Iowa City (IA) loses two of their top runners, including State Champion and Footlocker Finalist, Michelle Lilienthal. However, 5 members of last year's team, including freshman, Ali Kirch (4:58.64 for 1500), return. Joining this year's top seven will be junior, Kristy Moreno, who was the surprise of the spring track season, after running 4:59.79 and 11:03.2 for 1500 and 3000m. However, this team may also be a year away with two sophomores and a junior in their top 5.

Due to their remote location and limited travel, Hopi (AZ) has often been overlooked nationally. However, they may just be the surprise of the 2000 cross country season. Hopi was the 1999 Arizona 1A/2A State Champions. The school won 12 of the last 13 state titles (2nd place the other year) and has produced five state individual champs in the last 13 years. The team will be led by four super sophomores, who all placed in the top 10 in last year's State Championship. Their top runner will be Martina Goklish, Arizona State Champion. Coach Harvey Honyouti has a very good team in the making.

SUMMARY

The top girls' teams will likely include Bingham, Bowman, Campbell County, Colonie Central, Rockford, San Lorenzo Valley and Saratoga Springs.  The top girls will include Alejandra Berrientos, Anita Siraki, Felicia Guliford, Laura Zeigle, Alicia Craig, Erin Donohue, Michelle dela Vina, Kalin Toedebusch, and Sara Bei.