Teams to Watch
Chattanooga Christian Boys
CCS is the overwhelming favorite heading into the DII-Small Schools meet on Saturday. They'll start the morning with a good chance to be the first boys team to win a state championship.
Led by Nintereste in front, CCS has averaged a 17:04 this season in their top five. That's 11 seconds faster than the next best teams. They'll likely have four runners in position for an All-State performance, giving them a great chance to bring home a state championship.
Webb School of Knoxville Girls
Led by senior standout Niki Naryani, the Spartans enter the DII-Small Schools meet as the heavy favorite as well. Lindsay Holliday has the second-fastest time in the division behind her teammate this season. Taylor Cosey has been right around 19 minutes all season, putting her in a good position for a top five finish.
The Spartans should put three runners in the top five of the meet, which means it's their meet to lose.
Signal Mountain Boys and Girls
On paper, Signal is projected to sweep the boys and girls meets in Division I-Small Schools. The girls are led by Mattie Parker, whose 19:04 ranks her first in the league this season. They've got a tight pack behind her as well, helping make Signal perhaps the biggest favorite of the weekend.
On the guys side, Signal Mountain has one of the tightest 1-through-5 spreads in Tennessee. Austin Wingfield leads the way (17:05), closely followed by Jackson Lillard and Noah Shriner. On paper, they're easily the team to beat as well.
Science Hill Girls
Jenna Hutchins gives the Hilltoppers an excellent chance to get on the podium. But Science Hill may just have a chance to win the whole thing.
Abbi Rountree and Destiny Haller have to lead the chase pack of Hilltoppers. And if those two have a good day, Science Hill has a chance to win it all. You know Hutchins is going to be out front with Neglia, but how many Hilltoppers can cut that gap in order to battle for a top 15 spot? That will be the difference. It'll be a tight battle with Brentwood and Houston, but the Hilltoppers have a chance to make things really interesting if their 2-through-5 runners pack up.
McCallie Boys
The Blue Tornado will be chasing TN No. 1 Brentwood Academy in DII-Large Schools. The Eagles have won four straight state titles, but this young McCallie team will be hungry to pull off the upset.
Led by Samuel Ligon and Dylan Zeller. If the race gets tactical at the start, those two could end up in the top five. That would give them a shot to make things interesting. Benjamin Niehause, John Arrowsmith and Dawson Carmack will be packed up as well. And if those three have a huge day, anything can happen. Packs win this time of year. McCallie needs a big day from their three, four and five to make things interesting.