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The Weeks That Were
In the past three weeks since our last update, we saw California begin to shape up, running at Clovis and Mt. SAC. Manhattan brought in the top teams on the East Coast, and the Midwest headed to Naperville to face off. For the rest of the country, it was about settling down into local competitions, as the District, League, and Regional Conference meets necessary to qualify for their respective State Meets became the focus. Survive and advance was the name of the game as we head into a State Meet Season that could provide some of the biggest thrills of the year. This weekend, Texas and Colorado will bring about changes in the MileSplit 50, as Utah kicks off in the middle of the week.
The rankings are easing into their final order ahead of Regional Qualifiers for the National Meets, NXN being the primary focus for the top teams. Here is where we stand.
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A Look At The Top
As the dust has settled on the Season, there are two teams clearly at the top. Mountain Vista (Colo.) finished third in 2023 and brought everyone back. Bethlehem (N.Y.) finished eleventh in 2023, losing their #4, but are adding in a new lead 8th Grader. Both teams have experience at Glendoveer Golf Course, and both are accustomed to the topography and climate of the Pacific Northwest Championship.
New York has the history, winning every single girls' team title since 2004, minus three. Colorado has the recency bias, putting all three teams on the podium in 2023. A case can be made for both teams. Bethlehem has raced three times this season in a significant fashion, while Mountain Vista has done so four times. At Bethlehem's best, they can put five girls ahead of Mountain Vista's fourth. But their weakness comes at the sixth position, which Vista has in droves. If anything happens to the top five for the New York Squad, they are in trouble. On the other side, Vista can afford a mutual off-day.
The next best team is Flower Mound (Texas), which is still in the running. They've been quiet since their win at Woodbridge. Bare minimum, if they are at the same level as they were on September 21st, they are a podium team. However, with a full two months of training, they could be even better, and threaten the top duo. We'll get a better view after the muddy State Meet ahead, this weekend. Behind them are two California teams, who tend to underperform at NXN. But looking at the history on the Boys' side of the competition, that isn't predetermined, and those two squads are some of the best in the nation when they're at their best.