PREVIEW: Front Runner XC Championships

Registration help: www.milesplit.us/pages/Online_Meet_Reg_Instructions

Schedule:
4:30 Girls Varsity HS

5:10 Boys Varsity HS 

5:45 All JV HS

6:45 Awards

 *Meet is sanctioned for GA schools* 

Last Year

Signal Mountain senior and current Taylor Luthringer dominated the girls race at the 2016 edition of this meet. Luthringer, who now runs for the University of Tennessee, paced the field with a 19:03 winning time.

She was followed by junior Carley Braman, who ran 19:38

Braman will be a key contender in this year's race. She's the top returner from a deep field a year ago. 

Kathryn Vradenburgh was the only other runner to break 20 minutes, finishing in 19:57 for third place.

In the guys race, Thomas Porter and Chase Faudi raced to the line. And in a close finish, Porter took the title.

But the freshman Faudi was only a second back of the veteran Porter. 

Faudi's 16:26 here a year ago will bring him lots of confidence going into Thursday's race. Walt Douglas, Ben Tabor, Cole Bullock and George Arrowsmith rounded out the top six. All four of those guys were sub-17 minutes as well.

Baylor took the team title in the girls race, finishing with 47 points. They averaged 20:44 with a small spread of 1:07 between the first and fifth runners.

Area rival Girls Preparatory School was second with 81 points. They were able to average 21:09 to secure the runner up spot ahead of Heritage High School.

McCallie edged out its arch rival Baylor in the boys race. The Blue Tornado finished with a 91-103 victory, averaging 17:42. It will also return most of its top runners from that winning team.

Virtual Meet Preview: Individual Race

Both varsity winners from last year are gone. So the race for the individual title on Thursday is wide open for the taking.

In the girls race, there's a clear favorite from out of state who will be looking for a big personal best.

Gracie O'Neal, a sophomore from Gordon Lee High School in Georgia, will have a great shot at the individual championship. She's run 18:19 this season. And on the fast course at this meet, she has a chance to be sub-18 at the line.

Top in-state competition includes Lesley Green, Sydney Tabor and Kathryn Vradenburgh. Green is looking to run in the high-18 minute range for the first time this season. Her season best is 19:09.

Tabor and Vradenburgh should also have a good chance to be in the low-19 range, with a shot to even break that barrier. With good weather on this fast of a course, anything is possible.

The boys race includes three runners with a good chance to break 16 minutes. Edimo Nintereste, Jonathan Boyd and Chase Faudi are all separated by just 10 seconds in the virtual meet preview. Nintereste has the season best at 16:02. If he takes care of business, he will break 16 minutes.

Faudi was close to 16 minutes a year ago when he finished second, so his experience on this course may play a key role. His teammate Boyd has run 16:07 this season, and looks primed to break that 16 minute mark as well.

Virtual Meet Preview: Team Battle

Baylor looks like the favorite to repeat as the girls team champion. The Division II power is projected to be the only team in double digits.

The rest of the field is in a tight pack around 100 points. Signal Mountain, Rhea County and Northwest Whitfield are all in play for a top two or three finish.

Baylor's tight spread gives them the advantage. Five of its top 18 runners are projected to finish in the top 20. 

The boys race will be a tight one. Stone Memorial and McCallie are set to battle it out. 

Stone Memorial has the advantage 44-53. All of its top five runners are projected to finish in the top 20.

McCallie has an even tighter spread. Their top five is projected to finish seven through 15 in the projections using season best times this year.

It's a dead even race going into the meet, given the familiarity that McCallie has with this course at Baylor. That should be a close battle down to the wire as the top 20 runners cross the line.