Week 1 dual meets were surprisingly predictable. Only the Kennedy girls proved me wrong last week in defeating Paint Branch, but it was hardly an "upset." They had a fifth finisher at the dual meet that they did not have at the Magruder Invitational. Week two predictions only get tougher.

As always, please email results to webmaster@mocorunning.com following your meets so I can keep the standings updated.

Girls Standings
Walt Whitman 1-0 Walter Johnson 1-0 Northwest 1-0 Sherwood 0-1 Damascus 0-1 Churchill 0-1		Wootton 1-0 B-CC 1-0 Blair 1-0 Gaithersburg 0-1 Quince Orchard 0-1 R. Montgomery 0-1		Rockville 1-0 Clarksburg 1-0 Magruder 1-0 Poolesville 0-1 Springbrook 0-1 Einstein 0-1		Blake 1-0 Kennedy 1-0 Northwood 1-0 Seneca Valley 0-0 Watkins Mill 0-1 Paint Branch 0-1 Wheaton 0-1
Boys Standings
Churchill 1-0 Walter Johnson 1-0 Northwest 1-0 Sherwood 0-1 Damascus 0-1 Walt Whitman 0-1		Quince Orchard 1-0 R. Montgomery 1-0 Gaithersburg 1-0 Blair 0-1 Wootton 0-1 B-CC 0-1		Einstein 1-0 Clarksburg 1-0 Poolesville 1-0 Magruder 0-1 Springbrook 0-1 Rockville 0-1		Blake 1-0 Paint Branch 1-0 Northwood 1-0 Seneca Valley 0-0 Watkins Mill 0-1 Kennedy 0-1 Wheaton 0-1

Boys Predictions Sherwood over Landon Churchill over Landon Churchill over Sherwood Northwood over Paint Branch Northwood over Seneca Valley Northwood over Wheaton Paint Branch over Seneca Valley Paint Branch over Wheaton Wheaton over Seneca Valley Wootton over B-CC Wootton over Gaithersburg B-CC over Gaithersburg Magruder over Einstein Quince Orchard over Blair Blake over Kennedy Poolesville over Springbrook Poolesville over Rockville Springbrook over Rockville Walter Johnson over Whitman Walter Johnson over Northwest Northwest over Whitman

Girls Predictions Churchill over Sherwood Northwood over Paint Branch Northwood over Seneca Valley Northwood over Wheaton Seneca Valley over Paint Branch Paint Branch over Wheaton Seneca Valley over Wheaton Wootton over B-CC Wootton over Gaithersburg B-CC over Gaithersburg Magruder over Einstein Quince Orchard over Blair Kennedy over Blake Poolesville over Springbrook Poolesville over Rockville Rockville over Springbrook Walter Johnson over Whitman Northwest over Walter Johnson Northwest over Whitman

Division I

Let's start with the girls for once. Whitman hosts Walter Johnson and Northwest on Wednesday this week. I can only think of one girls' team in the county who can tangle with these three elite county teams at this point in the season (Wootton?). The host team Whitman looks like the losing team in this matchup with a couple of key injuries, but I wouldn't count out Whitman's Anna Ryba to get the individual win on her home turf.

While nearly all mocorunning fans are predicting a Northwest repeat at the county championship, both the Gazette and the Washington Post like the Walter Johnson girls. We could call this the battle of the media outlets, but this one is all about those girls out there on the Whitman cross country course. We will just have to wait and see which media outlets actually show up to watch it.

The Northwest girls won the Magruder Invitational without top runner Britt Eckerstrom and shelled Sherwood 15-50 at home last week. The Walter Johnson girls dominated the Woodward Relays and looked strong in taking second place at the Howard County Invitational without one of their top runners Maria Moersen. This will certainly be the matchup of the week if all three of these teams go at each other with full force. I think Northwest is going to win it, but the WJ girls are going to see what they are made of.

The Walter Johnson boys may not get to train through this meet like they did last week against Damascus's 'b' team, but they will still win whatever they do. Last week I predicted that you shouldn't count on Andrew Palmer to compete, but he proved me wrong and competed. This week he is fully focused on his first major invitational at the Maymont XC Festival in Richmond. Whitman's #3 Michael Harder is also injured, otherwise the matchup between Whitman and Northwest might be closer. Northwest should take this one from Whitman.

Division II

Last week I traveled to Wootton to see how well the Wootton boys matched up against a tough Richard Montgomery team. They did not dissappoint, although they still fell short of the win. This week should be the week where the Wootton boys cash in. Both B-CC and Gaithersburg are weaker than they have been in many years, and if Wootton is ever going to capitalize, now is the time.

Likewise, B-CC and Gaithersburg girls are rebuilding this year, and the Wootton girls should be able to take them with ease.

Division III

The Magruder girls should have no problem staying undefeated against Einstein this week.

The Magruder boys, on the other hand, are questionable. With Nicolas Escobar and Jared Brody down, they were a vulnerable victim against Poolesville last week. This week they face a tough Einstein team. On Einstein's home course with multiple Magruder runners questionable, the meet is difficult to predict but advantage goes to Magruder.

The Poolesville boys should continue to roll, but the improved Rockville girls may meet their match against the Poolesville girls. This meet is almost too close to call but mocorunning will go with the Poolesville girls to take the win with a little more depth.

Division IV

Northwood should continue to roll by taking out SV, PB, and Wheaton. Their boys should essentially wrap up the division this week with a quad meet win since Paint Branch may be the toughest opponent in their divison.

The Northwood girls, on the other hand, still have a challenging matchup with Kennedy on their schedule next week. Northwood should dominate the quad meet this week, while Kennedy should be able to take down Blake in a close one.