Boys Picks:
Churchill over Northwest
Churchill over Whitman
Northwest over Whitman
Wootton over Damascus
Sherwood over B-CC
Sherwood over Magruder
B-CC over Magruder
Richard Montgomery over Quince Orchard
Blair over Clarksburg
Poolesville over Northwood
Poolesville over Rockville
Northwood over Rockville
Springbrook over Kennedy
Paint Branch over Seneca Valley
Paint Branch over Wheaton
Paint Branch over Watkins Mill
Watkins Mill over Seneca Valley
Watkins Mill over Wheaton
Seneca Valley over Wheaton
Girls Picks
Whitman over Churchill
Whitman over Northwest
Northwest over Churchill
Wootton over Damascus
Sherwood over B-CC
Sherwood over Magruder
B-CC over Magruder
Richard Montgomery over Quince Orchard
Blair over Clarksburg
Poolesville over Northwood
Poolesville over Rockville
Northwood over Rockville
Springbrook over Kennedy
Seneca Valley over Paint Branch
Paint Branch over Wheaton
Paint Branch over Watkins Mill
Seneca Valley over Watkins Mill
Seneca Valley over Wheaton
Division I
Maybe I am the only one, but I have been waiting all season to see a Northwest vs Whitman dual meet. When Whitman beat Northwest at the Peter Geraghty Invitational, I wrote it off as a fluke. Whitman again outran Northwest at the Oatlands Invitational last weekend. Scored as a dual meet, Whitman beat Northwest at Oatlands 27 to 30. Can it still be a fluke? Or is Whitman really the best team in Montgomery County? As long as Whitman has seven girls in front of Northwest's #5, then the answer is yes. A big day from one of Northwest's freshmen could knock Whitman back down and earn another division title for the Jaguars, but for now Whitman is deeper, more consistent, and the safer bet.
Division II
B-CC meets Sherwood for the first time since the B-CC girls won the Magruder Invitational by one point over Sherwood. However, if scored as a dual meet, Sherwood would have defeated B-CC 25-30 at the Magruder Invitational. I haven't seen Theresa Russell in the results lately which is worrisome because Sherwood does not have much depth, but freshman Grace McDonald seems to be stepping up nicely. I think Sherwood will get back at B-CC in this one.
Meanwhile, the Sherwood boys should cruise past Magruder and B-CC before they meet Richard Montgomery next week. Quince Orchard tackles Richard Montgomery this week and Sam Martin will get a taste of the killer QO trio of Spaulding, Laratta, and Lehner. I suspect Martin will be able to pick off at least one of the three but if not then the race is over. After the top four, it's up to James Ryan to not allow four or five gold jerseys to finish in front of him. He did a great job of that against Magruder, but RM is a different beast.
Division III
The Blair girls are still missing some pieces of the puzzle with Jenny Sholar and the freshman Calley Mayer-Marks missing races, but with Clarksburg's lack of depth, Blair should still be able to gain control of the division even if they are missing one or two of their varsity runners.
Meanwhile the Blair boys should have a close race against Clarksburg to stay unbeaten. Expect fast times on Clarksburg's course unless rain slows down the runners. Coach Caretti asserts the course is a full 5k, saying that today the course will be measured for the 100th time.
The Northwood girls will try to remain unbeaten against the villes, Rockville and Poolesville in what should be a close matchup. The Northwood girls have been flakey through their first three races, so there is no telling which team will show up. If Northwood packs three runners in the top four they will be almost impossible to beat. Poolesville on the other hand appears deeper and more consistent through five runners and could just as easily come away with two wins especially if they can get at least two runners in the top four.
The Northwood boys have beaten out the Rockville boys at the Magruder and Bull Run Invitationals although the two teams appear pretty evenly matched. Northwood is the favorite but Rockville could come up with something just as they did against Clarksburg.
Division IV
Kennedy hosts Springbrook in a matchup that will determine the female division winner, however I think Kennedy's winning streak will now come to an end. Springbrook boys and girls have to be the favorites after a decent showing at Bull Run.
