Girls Regional Rankings - 10/20/2022

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

With the regular-season invitational schedule having been completed and elite teams preparing for or already embarking on their postseason runs, the state and regional leaders have continued to build momentum toward their respective state meets.

But the return of four prominent seniors to their team’s already impressive lineups could only add more experience and depth during a part of the season when it is most valuable.

McKinley Wheeler finally made her season debut Oct. 15 for Saratoga Springs at the Burnt Hills Invitational at Saratoga State Park, finishing 11th in 18:32.2, helping the Blue Streaks produce a 30-46 victory against Bethlehem Central.

Saratoga Springs, the reigning New York Class A state champion, still has not showcased its top five runners in the same race together this season, with Emily Bush, Sheridan Wheeler and Anya Belisle taking three of the top four spots at Burnt Hills, but Alycia Hart not competing for the Blue Streaks.

Arapahoe, the defending Colorado 5A state champ, celebrated the return of Ava Escorcia on Oct. 7 at the Pat Amato Classic at Open Spaces Park.

Escorcia placed 11th in 19:11.7 for the Warriors, who triumphed without her Oct. 13 at the Centennial League Championships in Aurora by a 31-44 margin against rival Cherry Creek, which was without Addison Price and Kinley Wolfe.

Arapahoe, which has received significant support all season from juniors Karli Holmes and Lauryn Long, now has its senior trio of Ava Mitchell, Emily Lamontagne and Escorcia available for the postseason and an opportunity to secure a third 5A state title in four years Oct. 29 at Norris-Penrose Events Center.

Although Wayzata has been the dominant program throughout the season in Minnesota, led by Abbey Nechanicky, Teegan Anderson and Grace Mignone, the return of Maya Mor to the Minnetonka lineup helped the Skippers close the gap in a 29-49 setback Oct. 13 at the Lake Conference Championships at Gale Woods Farm.

Mor finished fourth in 18:19.41 in her season debut, trailing eighth-grade teammate Evie Malec, who took third in 18:17.09.

Mor, who has joined Avery Marasco-Johnson, Meredith Gilles, Claire Cashman and Malec in the Minnetonka lineup, could be the inspirational leader the Skippers need in their pursuit to secure an automatic berth Nov. 13 at the NXR Heartland Regional in South Dakota.

Lillian Nasta has raced twice in recent weeks for Cuthbertson High of North Carolina, making one of the strongest lineups in the country even more formidable, joining Stella Kermes, Charlotte Bell, Alyssa Preisano, Justine Preisano and Josie Schihl for the reigning 4A state champion Cavaliers.

Nasta placed fifth Oct. 6 at the Union County Championships by clocking 18:20.6 at McAlpine Greenway Park. She added another fifth-place finish Oct. 18 with an 18:24.6 effort at the Southern Carolina Conference Championships at Weddington High, with Cuthbertson securing a 24-48 victory against the host Warriors.

Cuthbertson is seeking a fifth consecutive state championship Nov. 5 at Ivey M. Redmon Park in Kernersville.

CALIFORNIA

1. Buchanan

2. JSerra

3. Los Altos

4. Newbury Park

5. Rancho Cucamonga

HEARTLAND

1. Wayzata MN

2. Olathe West KS

3. Minnetonka MN

4. St. Paul Highland Park MN

5. Dubuque Hempstead IA

MIDWEST

1. York IL

2. Prospect IL

3. Hilliard Davidson OH

4. Noblesville IN

5. Columbus North IN

NEW YORK

1. Saratoga Springs

2. Bethlehem Central

3. Cicero-North Syracuse

4. Fayetteville-Manlius

5. East Aurora

NORTHEAST

1. North Allegheny PA

2. Union Catholic NJ

3. Champlain Valley Union VT

4. Haddonfield Memorial NJ

5. State College Area PA

NORTHWEST

1. Jesuit OR

2. Summit OR

3. Lincoln OR

4. Boise Senior ID

5. Central Kitsap WA

SOUTH

1. Southlake Carroll TX

2. Flower Mound TX

3. Lucas Lovejoy TX

4. Klein TX

5. Dallas Highland Park TX

SOUTHEAST

1. Cuthbertson NC

2. Morgantown WV

3. Assumption KY

4. Marietta GA

5. Brentwood TN

SOUTHWEST

1. Niwot CO

2. Cherry Creek CO

3. Air Academy CO

4. Valor Christian CO

5. Arapahoe CO