Boys Picks:
Sherwood over Richard Montgomery
Springbrook over Blake
Springbrook over Paint Branch
Springbrook over Seneca Valley
Blake over Paint Branch
Blake over Seneca Valley
Paint Branch over Seneca Valley
Kennedy over Wheaton
Walter Johnson over Wootton
Walter Johnson over Whitman
Wootton over Whitman
Clarksburg over Northwood
Churchill over Damascus
Einstein over Poolesville
Einstein over Blair
Poolesville over Blair
Quince Orchard over B-CC
Quince Orchard over Gaithersburg
B-CC over Gaithersburg
Girls Picks:
Sherwood over Richard Montgomery
Springbrook over Blake
Springbrook over Paint Branch
Springbrook over Seneca Valley
Paint Branch over Blake
Seneca Valley over Blake
Seneca Valley over Paint Branch
Kennedy over Wheaton
Wootton over Walter Johnson
Whitman over Walter Johnson
Whitman over Wootton
Northwood over Clarksburg
Damascus over Churchill
Poolesville over Einstein
Blair over Einstein
Blair over Poolesville
B-CC over Quince Orchard
Quince Orchard over Gaithersburg
B-CC over Gaithersburg
Division I
The Northwest girls clinched the division I title in dramatic fashion last week when they defeated Whitman 27 to 28, but there may still be excitement in division I when Whitman, Walter Johnson, and Wootton collide for a three-way matchup at Cabin John Park. Four of the top five girls on Mocorunning's week 5 individual rankings are from Walter Johnson and Whitman. Anna Bosse of WJ is currently ranked #1 with the help of a strong performance at the Bull Run Invitational two weeks ago, but teammate Camille Bouvet proved last week that she is still capable of beating Bosse on any given day. Anna Ryba has been making a case that she is top dog in Montgomery County and indeed she is the only runner who remains unbeaten against Montgomery County competition this season.
A reasonable winning time for this course would be 19:30, given that Bosse ran 19:35 with little competition on this course last year. I believe that would be a new course record. The course will be muddy and eroded, but times will balance out with perhaps the strongest field of girls to ever race on this course.
The point system utilized in the mocorunning ranking system is time-based. One second equals two points. If Bosse wins in 19:30, the ranking system would predict Ryba to finish in 19:31, Alexandra Phillips to finish in 20:03, and Camille Bouvet to finish in 20:05. That seems reasonable that Bosse and Ryba would pull away from the pack with Bosse outkicking Ryba in the parking lot, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see Bouvet and Phillips right there in the end.
I don't mean to discount Wootton completely as I think they will defeat the WJ girls and give Whitman a good race, but I think the individual battle is the story here.
The Whitman girls will race in the Eastern States Championship at the Manhattan Invitational this weekend while WJ will race in a separate race.
Division II
The Sherwood boys should not have much trouble securing the division title against Richard Montgomery this week. It will be interesting to see where Sam Martin falls in with Jackson Reams and Kyle Tockman after Martin conquered Quince Orchard's trio last week.
The Sherwood vs. Richard Montgomery girls meet is pretty much a toss up and should be a close one.
I have twice picked the B-CC girls to lose and both times they prevailed. It is interesting to look back now and see that not only have they won three dual meet matchups but also the Magruder Invitational and Paul Short white race. It's time for me to stop underestimating the B-CC girls.
Division III
I am so excited for the Einstein, Poolesville, and Blair meet that I have already written the recap.
Three undefeated boys teams clashed in a colossal showdown of monumental importance in Kensington, Maryland on Tuesday. Mocorunning was on hand to witness the history. Eric Holmstead from the town of Poolesville rode onto campus in a great yellow school bus and obliterated the long-standing Einstein cross country course record with a jaw-dropping time of 13:46. The Titans would not be broken as they would claim five of the next six positions to sweep division III. The lowly performance of the Montgomery Blair boys was offset by the dominating performance of the she-Blazers. The talented young freshman Morgana D'Ottavi completed the race unchallenged in 20:37, boosting her confidence after last week's demoralizing loss to Abbey Daley. The freshman phenom will be heavily favored in two weeks to lead her team to its second Down County Consortium cup, the most coveted prize in all of Montgomery County.
Division IV
Springbrook, boys and girls alike, will wrap up the division with wins over Seneca Valley, Paint Branch, and Blake.
Name
Comments
Monday, October 04, 2010 01:50:49 PM
KP - an entertaining recap, but i would like to point out that Einstein did not win Division 3 last year, Poolesville did.
Jason
Monday, October 04, 2010 06:47:50 PM
LOL... sherwood haha
Monday, October 04, 2010 09:44:05 PM
Are you sure you meant 13:46 for Holmstead's time?
Tuesday, October 05, 2010 10:32:13 AM
He did say jaw dropping.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010 06:51:19 PM
Spot on kp, spot on! Wow, i have to say, you made some really good predictions
