Meet: AAA Girls State Meet Predictions Location: Mineral Wells, WV Date: To be held October 29, 2005 Predicted AAA Girls Team Results What was once a one-team race now looks to have three contenders. I continually wonder if Morgantown has shown all its cards, though. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to that question. They did come into the season ranked 10th in a multi-state Southeast Region. Preston is their closest competitor and only fell to the Mohigans by two points at the Regional. Cabell Midland has really opened some eyes late in the season. They also knocked off Preston (though Preston wasn't at full strength) at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational. The way Cabell Midland dominated the MSAC and their Regional meet, they have to be considered a very legitimate threat in this meet. Elkins and North Marion will battle Parkersburg for 4th. Realistically, there is a first group of three, and a second group of three. 1. Morgantown 51 2. Preston 64 3. Cabell Midland 70 4. Elkins 126 5. North Marion 133 6. Parkersburg 143 7. Jefferson 182 8. Hedgesville 222 9. Capital 227 10. George Washington 234 Predicted AAA Girls Top 25 After a rough start, Keri Bland has established herself as the favorite to repeat as individual champion. Amber Riley and Kaylyn Christopher have each beaten Bland this year, with Christopher knocking her off at the Mountaintop Combo on September 24th. Maria Dalzot comes in ranked 5th, but I have to look at what she did in track season and how easily she was working up through the field in some meets where she was running on cruise control. She's definitely a threat to win the meet. Heather Saffel was at one point the top ranked runner. A rough couple meets down the stretch has dropped her down a bit. Brooke Boening knocked off Saffel at the Regional Meet, coming back strong off a mid-season injury. Monica Chase has been impressive in her inaugural Cross Country campaign. She's one that could move up. Hannah Henderson has been solid throughout the season. A hillier course would suit her better. Rachel Riley has posted a couple sub-20 times and could conceivably move into the top 5. Ashley Teets raced to the wire with Monica Chase at the regional meet and could move up. This year's race from 8 to into the 30's should be very tight. This is probably the deepest field we've seen. Here is the predicted top 25. Place Score Name Year Team 1 1 Bland, Keri 12 North Marion 2 2 Riley, Amber 11 Preston 3 3 Christopher, Kaylyn 11 Preston 4 4 Dalzot, Maria 12 Morgantown 5 5 Saffel, Heather 12 Elkins 6 6 Boening, Brooke 11 Jefferson 7 7 Chase, Monica 11 Morgantown 8 Henderson, Hannah 11 Nicholas 9 8 Riley, Rachel 10 Cabell Midland 10 9 Teets, Ashley 10 Preston 11 DeMarco, Lauren 11 Robert C. Byrd 12 10 Thomas, Alicia 11 Cabell Midland 13 Clemons, Ashton 9 Nitro 14 11 Winningham, Danielle 9 Cabell Midland 15 Yaeger, Courtney 9 Wheeling Park 16 12 Pettit, Allison 9 Morgantown 17 Van der Sloot, Jennifer 9 University 18 13 Berry, Emma 10 Morgantown 19 Hendrixson, Elizabeth 10 Fairmont Senior 20 14 Hamilton, Mariah 10 North Marion 21 15 Arthurs, Erica 12 Morgantown 22 Conneway, Rana 9 Hampshire 23 16 Moskal, Aubrey 10 Morgantown 24 17 Hamric, Jordan 10 Preston 25 18 Franklin, Tara 12 Jefferson