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Northeast Region Girls Early Season Rankings 2024Published by
Union Catholic's Young Team Looks To Take Another Step Up At Nike Cross Nationals; Champlain Valley and North Allegheny Also Return Strong Groups By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Northeast Preview Union Catholic's 10th-place finish at last year's Nike Cross Nationals was a step forward from a debut last place finish in 2022. The Vikings are still on the move with a loaded sophomore class led by Paige Sheppard, a 2:07/4:43/10:26 performer in her first season of high school track last spring. Sheppard was 51st at NXN after winning the NXR Northeast title. Coach Mike McCabe, who has operated a top-flight track and field program for more than a decade and coached Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in high school, has left no stone unturned trying to find the secrets to success in distance running and cross country. That includes spending time talking to Herriman UT coach Doug Soles about training principles. "There is definitely some Doug Soles influence in what we are doing," McCabe said. "But talking to him also confirmed some things that we were already doing." In addition to Sheppard, UC's sophomore class includes Cayleigh Kaiser, Kayla Devine and Sophia Thompson, all of whom ran under 5:05 for 1,600 meters as freshmen in the spring. The next horizon for the Vikings is a top-five finish at NXN. There are some other proud programs in the Northeast that are also targeting a trip to nationals. Champlain Valley Union of Vermont brings back the bulk of its lineup and the Redhawks have history with NXN with three appearances. And North Allegheny, the top team in Pennsylvania, brings back the critical pieces of its fifth-place NXN team last year: seniors twins Wren and Robin Kucler. The team isn't as deep as it was a year ago but still holds potential to be one of the top teams in the region. New Hampshire's Oyster River, fourth at last year's NXR Northeast, brings back five and could also be a factor. Sheppard and Wren Kucler were the only two non-seniors in the top eight of last year's regional meet. But with a schedule change that separates NXR Northeast and Foot Locker Northeast by a week, more of the region's outstanding runners could attempt to double book the national meets. 1. Union Catholic NJ. The Vikings were recently named by DyeStat as the most complete girls track team in the United States, winning the John Dye Dual Meet Tournament. And distance running had something to do with that. The 10th place team at Nike Cross Nationals last year brings back five of its seven runners from that team. Sophomore Paige Sheppard enjoyed a spectacular freshman campaign that included an NXR Northeast individual title but also was the anchor of the national high school record 4x800 relay in the spring. Sheppard is becoming a star with enormous range and she leads a team that includes fellow sophomores Cayleigh Kaiser, Kayla Devine and Sophia Thompson. Juniors Emmy O'Hearn and Ella Solorzano, and another member of the record-breaking 4x800, Jimmiea King, also a junior, add depth to a team that is poised to keeping rising at NXN. 2. Champlain Valley Union VT. A Redhawks team that has paid its dues the past couple of years is poised for a big season in 2024. All seven members of last year's third-place team at NXR Northeast are back this fall and primed for a run at another NXN berth. CVU has been three times before to Portland, most recently in 2018. This year's team is led by senior Alice Kredell and juniors Lydia Donahue, Charlotte Crum and Audrey Neilson. Senior Annalise Wood is also an important returner. The Redhawks scored 33 points to win the Burlington Invitational over the weekend and rested Kredell. One significant change is that senior Estella Laird has transferred and is no longer part of the team. 3. North Allegheny PA. Senior twin sisters Wren Kucler and Robin Kucler are seniors and they have a final opportunity to lead their team all the way to Portland for Nike Cross Nationals. Last year, the pair helped the Tigers make a second consecutive trip to NXN and team performed tremendously to place fifth. The Nos. 3 and 4 runners graduated, but 5, 6 and 7 are back. Even if that means taking a small step back, North Allegheny remains in the hunt for a third consecutive nationals appearance. Seniors Kendall Lucas, Camille Swirsding and Elizabeth Pizon have valuable NXN experience. Already last weekend, North Allegheny won the Red, White and Blue Classic at nearby White Oak Park. 4. Oyster River NH. The Bobcats of Oyster River welcome back their top five from a team that placed fourth at NXR Northeast. The problem is that the three teams ahead of them also bring back most of their standout performers as well. Oyster River opened its season this weekend at the Bobcat Invitational and scored 28 points. Senior Mackenzie Cook was a minute ahead of her teammates, but junior Neely Roy, seniors Haley Kavanagh, sophomore Haley Bezanson and sophomore Madelyn Cook all finished in the top nine. This team needs all five to do well because there is a big gap back to Nos. 6 and 7. 5. Oliver Ames MA. The Massachusetts state champions graduated their top two from a team that finished fifth at NXR Northeast. But this team could remain on top in Massachusetts and get even better with a strong group of returners led by seniors Hannah Dupill and Braelyn Graham and junior Iole Apostoli. Another junior, Ashley Powers, and sophomore Devin Thomas, can shore up the top five and keep this team pointed toward a potential repeat in the state and top-five in the region. Massachusetts hasn't sent a team to Portland since 2011. WATCHLIST More news |
