adidas XC Challenge Preview

Girls Championship

National record holder Jenna Hutchins (Science Hill, TN Class of 2022) is scheduled to compete Saturday morning. According to MileSplit TN, it is not definite that she will be lining up to compete. If she does, she is the overwhelming favorite. She set the high school 5,000m national record last season clocking 15:58!

Behind her there is a pack of hungry runners ready for their moment in the spotlight. Coming up from Florida is defending FHSAA 2A state champion Bolles High School. Bolles is one of the most dominant team in Florida, as they won their 2020 state meet with only 18 points! They put their entire top seven in the overall top sixteen at the state meet, including a 2-3-4 finish. Their top three of Maddie Popp, Jillian Candelino, and Ella Mickler have all broken 18:25 over 5,000m. 

Coming up from Georgia is defending GHSA 4A state champions Marist High School. Marist won their state meet with only 30 points and return six of their top seven, including runner-up Ruby Little. Little, only a freshman at the time, ran 19:27 to lead her team to victory. There was a 60-second gap from second to third, but it was her teammates Johna Grisik and Kate Selover finishing 3-4. 

The Weddington - Cuthbertson battle makes it's next stop at adidas XC Challenge. Cuthbertson's Alyssa Preisano has been off to a great start this season, running 18:06 at Friday Night Lights. Cuthbertson put their whole top five in the top 20 of the race. Weddington was right behind them with two of the top seven overall. Weddington has been led by Elizabeth Ritter and Emma Jones this season. 

Friday Night Lights winner Caroline Murrell (Northwood) may be the favorite to take the win if Hutchins does not compete. She ran a new NC No. 1 17:55 at Friday Night Lights.

Molly Parker (Hoggard), Claire Paci (Greencastle-Antrim, PA), and Hannah Rae Shaffer (Cardinal Gibbons) are three names to watch as they could very well find themselves in the top three as this race progresses.