Class A State Meet Preview: Private Schools Look to Dominate

Class A Girls

Teams:

This might be the closest race of the day as it pertains to the point spread between the top 5 teams. There are legitimately 5 teams that can take home the team title with a good day of racing. My prediction is that the top 5 teams are separated by 25 points when all is said and done. I see the the final team standings unfolding like this.


  1. Bishop Brossart


    The ladies from Bishop Brossart have a strong pack with only 1:08.79 spread on best times this season. They bested that with only an 18 second difference from 1 to 5 at the region meet where they beat Walton Verona by 17 points. The team is led by Maria and Amy Klocke but the next three are close behind. Watch the two mile mark at the Horse Park. If these ladies are close at that point, watch out! The only weakness is their 6th runner if we get into a close race.


  2. Walton Verona


    Walton Verona was runner up in Region 4 this weekend to the ladies from Brossart. It looks like the same thing may happen at State. Again we have a team with a decent pack, but this pack has a couple sections. The top two ladies Ashley Akins and Caileigh Waters placed 2nd and 3rd in the region. These two pull the front end of the team. Can the other three pull up with them and close the gap with Brossart? That will be the sign of a good day for the ladies from Walton Verona.


  3. Presentation


    If you haven't figure out the theme yet, pack running will be the name of the game here. Presentation brings in a pack that has a 1-5 spread of 1:02.40 based on best times from the season. At the Region 3 meet, this spread grew a bit due to good race from Olivia Brown and a time slower than season best for Alexis Barthmaier. Regardless, the team placed 5 runners in the top 8 at the region. Olivia Brown showed grit with a finishing kick to outrun Reese Ragland by 1.36 seconds. This fight will prove essential at the Horse Park.


  4. Morgan County


    Morgan County has the 1-2 punch of the Perry sisters. Kailee and Krista are both excellent runners in their own right, but together they give Morgan County an advantage that many teams would love to have. Kailee is current #1 in Class A and Krista is #15. The weakness in this crew is the fall off after their 3rd runner. If the fourth and fifth runner push their limits and move up in the crowd, Morgan County could challenge for the team title.


  5. Lexington Christian


    If LCA is to make a run at the championship they need the best out of their junior leaders. Eighth grader Anna Rupp (yes I am sure there is relationship...GO CATS) has busted onto the scene owning the 9th best time in Class A girls this season. She was region runner up to Owen County's Allison Bourne (Class A #3). But this is not a one lady crew. The 2-4 runners were spread by less than a minute at region with Kendall Hayes completing the top 5 runners in 22:53.81. Kendall needs to close that gap and run her heart out to help the team move up. She is fully capable to have a killer race and now is the time to do it. She was the 3rd place runner at last year's State Meet and needs another performance like that!

    WATCH the 2016 KHSAA State XC Class A Girls Race