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Northwest Region Girls Early Season Rankings 2024Published by
Jesuit, Lincoln Set Out To Make Return Trips To Nike Cross Nationals By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Northwest Preview The top two teams in Oregon, Jesuit and Lincoln, are the clear-cut favorites to contend for the NXR Northwest titles and the best bets to secure Nike Cross Nationals automatic berths. Last December, Jesuit make its 11th appearance at nationals and finished 15th. Lincoln made it for the second time and finished 20th. Both teams return their top runners. Emma Bennett of Jesuit won the state cross country title last year (6A) and finished third in the state track finals in the 3,000 meters. Ellery Lincoln of Lincoln was a revelation in the spring, running a mile best of 4:40.75 at the HOKA Festival of Miles, where she finished sixth. Jesuit and Lincoln have the depth and experience to make it back to NXN if the key players stay healthy. Challengers such as Montana champion Gallatin and Washington champion Mt. Si aren't far behind. Individually, returning NXR Northwest champion Emily Wisniewski has an opportunity to make it two straight. The North Carolina State commit is in line to win her fourth consecutive Oregon Class 5A title this fall. Sophomore Sophia Rodriguez and her older sister Victoria Rodriguez, of Mercer Island WA, senior Chloe Huyler of Lakeridge OR, senior Elektra Higgins of Peninsula WA and Latham West of Bonney Lake WA are all potential national finalists who could crash into the top five at Eagle Island State Park. 1. Jesuit OR. Jesuit gets the nod at No. 1 based on its victories over Lincoln at the Oregon state meet (by 14 points) and by finishing five spots higher at NXN. Emma Bennett, the reigning Class 6A champion, is one of the best runners in program history and she'll get a final chance to leave a lasting impression. Fellow senior Maura O'Scannlain could be a major factor in this year's team success. Sophomores Maeve O'Scannlain, Anya Augustine and Elizabeth Welsh are coming into key roles for a team that always has its sights set on nationals. 2. Lincoln OR. The Cardinals finished just a few points behind Jesuit at the Oregon state meet last year and then advanced to Nike Cross Nationals and finished 20th. Even with a couple of important pieces graduating, Lincoln is excited about the prospects of climbing higher at Glendoveer Golf Course in December. Start with sophomore Ellery Lincoln, one of the top freshman milers ever last spring, who has overcome and end-of-season illness and upped her mileage a bit this summer. Teammates Sophia Malinoski, a senior, and Elyse Henriksen, a junior, are close enough that Lincoln has a power trio up front. If Lincoln can get production at 4-5-6-7, with seniors Reiko Nitta and Sam Reid and sophomores Izzy Eggleston and Ava Dinsmoor filling those spots, the Cardinals could win the region. 3. Gallatin MT. None of last year's top 10 runners graduated, which means the whole pack is back and out to improve upon last year's fifth-place finish at NXR Northwest. Claire Rutherford, a senior and the two-time Montana Class AA individual champion, leads a team that could make serious push for an NXN berth this fall. Seniors Bella Determan and Isabel Ross both finished in the top five of the state meet last year. Juniors Avery Childre and Lila Pritham give the Raptors high quality performers through No. 5. But with so many returning athletes, it is likely there will be additional runners moving up the chain and into scoring positions. 4. Mt SI WA. Last year's Washington Class 4A champion brings back its top three and six of its top seven. Seniors Aleeya and Hailey Cossey were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the state championship meet. At regionals, Hailey was 22nd and Aleeya was 27th. Sophomores Ryan McLellan and Brighton Dance were in the scoring five as freshmen. Juniors Alexa Coughran and Ellie Kampschror also have state meet experience. Mt. Si did not compete as a team at NXR Northwest last year. Only the Cossey sisters competed there. 5. Summit OR. The Storm kept its long streak of Oregon state meet titles going last year, 15 in a row, by just two points over Crater in the 5A meet. Summit's young team is a year older and six of last year's top seven are back. A strong junior class includes Eva Dicharry, Skye Knox, Sophia Capozzi, Taylin Bowen and Kersie Knoll. Sophomore Elizabeth Connolly make is six girls who ran under 19:40 last year. WATCHLIST More news |
