VTHSXC.COM Vermont HS Boys Cross Country Poll Results - Sept. 12, 2022
Boys Overall Top
1.St Jay
1.U32
3.CVU (CA*)
4. Essex
5. SB
6. Montpelier
7. Midd
8. BFA
9.BHS
10.MMU
Comments:
The Burlington Invite, last Saturday, on the flat and fast Hardack Course in St. Albans offered quick times and helped clear up the statewide rankings situation, if only a little bit. The race confirmed that St. Jay is indeed one of, if not THE, team to beat this season. The #1 Hilltoppers even without, newcomer and likely top three runner, Charlie Krebs narrowly outpointed #3 CVU who were led by a dominant race winning run by Matt Servin. While #1 U32 was idle they did manage to garner enough votes to share the top ranking with the Hilltoppers. An interesting caveat was the inclusion of Craftsbury Academy, despite not yet having raced, on some ballots as the #3 team in the State. CA continues to garner respect from the coaches despite keeping their powder dry and training through the early season races. The Chargers are slated to race this coming Saturday at the U32 Invite but who knows when we will actually see their top five in action. #4 Essex remains well within striking distance and with top returner Luke Miklus coming back from injury the Hornets are likely to move up the rankings as the season develops.
At this point the rankings have a distinct two tiers. While the top 4 -5 teams don't have much between them they all look to be a step or two ahead of the next five teams. 6 Vermont teams will punch a ticket to the New England Championships (U32 Boys won last year) and as of now the battle for that last spot looks to be exceedingly tight. #5 SB has tight pack but will need them to move up together if they are to threaten the top 5. #6 Montpelier has a very good top three runners but currently lack the depth to challenge #1 U32 in D2 or to crack the top 5 statewide. Smart, Merrill-Triplett and Rivera give this team big potential but its a team sport and it takes five to win the big trophies. The voters were all over the place in spots 7-10 with #7Midd, #8 BFA, #9 BHS and #10 MMU all garnering support. Don’t look for things to clear up much before the 9/24 Manchester Invitational brings all of the best teams in Vermont and many of the best in New England together in the first big regional race of the season.
The individual race is shaping up to be a Matthew Severin (CVU) and “everybody else” show. The tall guy with the trademark bandana ran a superlative 15:37 to absolutely decimate the field at the Burlington Invite. Until someone(s) significantly raises their game everyone else in Vermont is running for second.
VTHSXC.COM Vermont HS Girls Cross Country Poll Results - Sept. 12, 2022
Girls Overall Top 10
CVU
U-32
Burlington
Essex
MMU
South Burlington
Harwood
Middlebury
St Johnsbury
BFA St Albans
Comments:
Another week of high school cross country in the books and another win by the CVU girls. The ladies from Hinesburg were dominant in their victory at the Burlington Invitational (held in St. Albans!) over the weekend and cemented their place atop the coaches’ poll for a second consecutive week. Prior week’s challenger, U-32, was idle. Perhaps the Raiders were resting up for their home invitational this weekend. No matter the reason, the coaches saw enough from CVU to keep them as #1 in the coaches’ power ranking with U-32 remaining in 2nd.
CVU made no question of who would win on Saturday, as the red singlets were all over the top 15 from the gun. Alice Kredell was once again their low stick as she crushed the Hard’ack course in a smoking 18:53 time. Kredell along with teammate and classmate, Estella Laird, once again showed to be the best 1-2 on the course as Laird finished in 3rd place overall. Neilson, Rohrbaugh and Crum finished out the scoring with 9th, 11th and 12th places respectively. CVU’s 6th and 7th runners displaced plenty for good measure. Peeking at the JV race, should strike a little fear to opposing teams as the CVU next 7 would have placed quite well in the varsity race. Sorry to point that out coaches!
As mentioned, U-32 was idle so we will need to wait to see what they can do in their second race this weekend. The season is young and anything can happen. Be sure that the Raiders will concede nothing no matter how good CVU looked this past weekend. They may not have the depth of CVU, but strong front running will keep them in the hunt.
The rest of the power rankings are very much still in flux. Burlington jumped Essex this week as they handily outperformed the Hornets. Gillian Fairfax, who finished a sharp 4th overall, led BHS. The junior poses a threat every time out, but the team will need to step the pack up to make a move for either CVU or U-32 by years’ end.
Despite dropping to 4th in our power rankings, a keen eye will take note that the ladies from Essex were without their #2 and #3 runners. Be sure that this battle will be much closer with those runners back. A definite positive for the Hornets was the strong showing of senior Scarlett Stimson. She seems to be returning to form after an injury riddled junior campaign. She gave a go at Alice Kredell early, and you can be sure that it won’t be the last time that Stimson takes a shot to sit atop the podium.
MMU, South Burlington and Harwood round out the top 7in the power rankings. All three were a stone’s throw from the 3rd place Hornets. In a slight alteration from the old football saying, us cross country folk like to say, “any given Saturday '' as high school cross country can be volatile over the course of the season. While CVU is top dog for now, all of these teams will be looking for weaknesses and will prepare for their shot at the top by year end.
In the individual race, Alice Kredell has shown no hint that she will be letting up any time soon. She is clearly the one to beat until someone makes a move. Speaking of making moves, Stimson of Essex was very impressive on the Hard’ack course. After a 5th place showing the week before, she may have opened some eyes. At the very least, Kredell will have no room to let off the gas. Kredell’s teammate Laird is among the favorites if the state championships were today. Teammates as competitors in a big race is always intriguing, as each knows the other so well. BHS’ Fairfax and BFA’s freshman sensation, Kaitlyn Lumbra, rounded out the top 5 from the weekend. MMU’s Tess Drury may very well be Kredell’s top threat, but we will need to wait to see another battle as her team did not compete at the Burlington Invite. She was closer to Kredell at Essex than Stimson was this past weekend. Ginger Long from U-32 will remind folks this weekend that she too is one to watch.
It is worth pointing out that the Hard’ack course is quite flat and fast. Those familiar with the state championship course in Thetford will quickly tell you that it does not fit that description. How will this past weekend’s results translate to Thetford? Well, that is why we run the races sports fans.