North Carolina XC Predictions

4A predictions for individuals:

1. Jacob Laney. Top returner in 4A XC and 3200.
2. Caden Townshend. Will challenge for the win. 9:05 in the 3200 and won state in the 1600. Also part of a really strong program Weddington.
3. Krister Sjoblad. #2 returner from both XC state and 3200 state.
4. Raghav Gopalakrishnan. #4 returner from XC state and 3rd nonsenior in the 3200.
5. Chauncey Chen. Now that his team lost 5 seniors, it’s time for him and Caden to do their job and finish closer to the front to help their team do as well as possible. Also he was the 5th returner from state.
6. Tyler Surface. 3rd returner from XC but track results were not outstanding. Might be better at XC.
7. Gavin Hansen. 8th returner but is a front runner of a really good program Green Hope.
8. Nicholas Grace. Only 19th returner from state but 5th returner from the 3200 at the state meet.
9. Will Venable. 4:18 at the state meet and looking to lead Broughton to possible a state title.
10. Andrew Burrell. Was focusing more on the 800s, but he’s looking to be a new leader for Mount Tabor as they try to defend their title now that their top 3 are gone. 4:17 in the mile.

Actually, I think Mount Tabor will win again. They lost 4 guys including their top 3 from state, but they return 3 guys from state and 2 more guys who raced at RunningLane. One of those 2 ran a 4:18 in the mile and will likely place top 15 at state. I think they will have enough depth and talent to win.
And 9th place to 1st place is a seemingly huge jump.

I heard one of the guys in the post-race interview say that Mount Tabor doesn’t rebuild. They reload.

Tabor ain’t going to be good and no way the 4:18 guy going to be top 15.

4a teams weak this year.

BaySix Kickoff Classic 2022

nc.milesplit.com

BaySix Kickoff Classic 2022 - boys 11-12

MileSplits official boys 11-12 formatted results for the 2022 BaySix Kickoff Classic, hosted by Apex in Cary NC.

Link:nc.milesplit.com/meets/493868-baysix-k...

nc.milesplit.com

Noah Valyo and Krister Sjoblad Ready For ‘22 | BaySix Kickoff Classic

Tommy DeLaunay

BaySix Kickoff Classic

Link:nc.milesplit.com/videos/577774/noah-va...

Interview of the top 2 Athens Drive guys.
This team placed only 12 points behind Green Hope.

Another good news for them is they bring back 3 of their scorers for next year. They got a year to find 2 more guys and if they do they will be really good again.

Green Hope has the same top 4 that I expected them to have. Their #5 is a little too far back.

Broughton has some guys missing, including Venable.

Actually, #5 from Green Hope was their 6th man 2 years ago, so I predict that he will close that 4-5 gap. He also has 2 older brothers that were standouts on the team.

Christ School is also looking good. But they don’t race Tabor or Broughton at state.

They return Hanson, Reeves and 3 more sub-17 guys

I have to say that Cary Academy looks good this year.
They had the following times for a 3k:
9:27
9:34
9:35
9:38
Needs a number 5.

Actually, Green Hope’s #5 at the Kickoff Classic was their 2nd guy at the summer time trial.

Also, although Green Hope lost 4 seniors, remember that their 1 and 2 are back. If their top 5 race the way they should and Tabor can’t reload, Green Hope will win.

Green Hope’s got a decent top 7 for 2023 as well, although they won’t be as good as this year.
Returning 3k PRs for 2023:
9:40
10:03
10:14
10:27
10:29
10:41
10:54
There’s sure to be someone else sneaking in.

Green Hope actually has a really good team this year but they won’t make NXN like they did in 2017. They will get beat by Bolles, just like almost every other year.

I think they really underperformed at NXN 2017. They should have placed in the top 10 or top 15.
I remember Milton GA choking at NXR during that year.

Ardrey Kelly has their top 3 back for 2023.

green hope is sitting out their scorers

“Weddington is looking to reclaim the thrown atop the NCHSAA 4A classification, and it will take a big day from Townshend to get the job done.”

nc.milesplit.com

XC Top Ten Countdown: Boys' No. 3 Caden Townshend

Tommy DeLaunay

Defending 2022 NCHSAA 4A 1,600m champion Caden Townshend comes in at No. 3 on the pre-season countdown.

Link:nc.milesplit.com/articles/318684/xc-to...

Weddington has a strong 1-2 but XC takes 5 to score not 2

nc.milesplit.com

XC Top Ten Team Countdown: Boys' No. 2 Broughton

Tommy DeLaunay

The No. 2 boys\' team on the pre-season countdown are the Capitals of Broughton

Link:nc.milesplit.com/articles/318770/xc-to...

Can’t believe Green Hope is not listed in the “Who finishes as NC No. 1 boys team this season?”.

Most people picked Mount Tabor but they lose their 1-3 and another guy from their top 7.

They will still be good but Green Hope seems to have a better top 5.

The real quote was "Mount Tabor doesn't rebuild....they recruit....uhhhh I mean reload." That team's secret recipe is not a secret in NC.

Burrell transferred to Tabor before Fall 2021.

I think that NC is weak as a whole on the boys side this year.

I really don’t see any team making top 5 at NXR SE this year.