MileSplit50 Girls Team Rankings Countdown

No. 6 Beavercreek

Analysis: Due to an unfortunate set of weather-related events, Beavercreek wasn't able to attend last year's NXR Midwest Championship -- rain on the Ohio state course forced the championship meet to get pushed back a week and ultimately it was put up against the national regional on back-to-back days. So we can't be sure what would have happened -- could the Beavers would have challenged for a top-two finish, or would they have been left out of consideration for a wildcard? No matter. This year presents an even greater chance for Beavercreek -- coincidentally enough, the Midwest is as talented as its ever been. The Beavers return No. 1 Taylor Ewert -- who ran the third fastest 5K time in Ohio history last year and became just the third athlete to break 17 minutes on state soil -- but around her are three more seniors and an experienced junior in Juliann Williams. Jodie Pierce, Savannah Roark and Kendall Hobbs will provide the kind of depth that will make Beavercreek competition not only in Ohio, but on a course like Terra Haute come regional season. And the expectations will be high. Based on PRs from 2018, Beavercreek returns with the seventh-best average (18:13.58), though the 1-through-5 spread remains an issue (2:46.90). So will depth at the sixth and seventh positions. 

Biggest question: Health and load management. Can the Beavers remain healthy, fit and in-form heading into the big meets? 

You can be sure head coach Howard Russ will be managing his squad like a hawk this season, as he knows what qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals can mean for a program -- both individually for a team of athletes who've been yearning for the opportunity and from a school district perspective. Not only will Beavercreek try to repeat as state champions -- which was a huge accomplishment in 2018 -- but this team will be looking to score beyond states, too.