Photo by John Roemer
1. Bethesda-Chevy Chase (Week One: #1): They finished 11th in the girls championship race at the Adidas XC Invite without one of their top runners, Virginia Brown. Their #1 ranking could be in jeopardy if she misses an extended amount of time, however.
2. Northern-Calvert (Week One: #2): They dominated another meet this past weekend at the Hood College Invitational. They could be closing in on the #1 spot.
3. Walter Johnson (Week One: #3): Their full varsity team finally got the chance to run together this past weekend at Oatlands and did not disappoint, finishing third in the varsity A race. The WJ/B-CC rivalry should be in full swing this fall.
4. Hereford (Week One: #4): Kelly Wesolowski turned in a great race in her first major cross country invitational, finishing second at the Barnhart Invitational. They've got their sights clearly set on a state title this season.
5. River Hill (Week One: #5): A strong showing at the William & Mary XC Invitational (second place in the varsity A division) keeps the River Hill girls not far behind the Northern girls in the 3A classification.
6. Urbana (Week One: #8): Freshman Sara Jarman led the deep, new-look Urbana team to a solid eighth-place finish in the varsity A race at Oatlands this past weekend. They're looking like this year's Frederick County favorites.
7. Howard (Week One: NR): Newcomer Ada Holtan has been huge for the Howard girls this season; with a stronger #5 runner, they probably could have beaten Hereford at the Barnhart Invitational. They still finished an impressive second, ahead of 4A North rival Dulaney.
8. South River (Week One: #7): They were the second-best Maryland team at the Hood College Invitational (fourth overall). We'll see them on an even bigger stage this weekend at Spiked Shoe.
9. Century (Week One: NR): One of the tightest 1-5 spreads at the Barnhart Invitational earned them a third-place finish. They look like Carroll County favorites.
10. Severna Park (Week One: NR): They finished just ahead of Whitman in the varsity A race at the Oatlands Invitational. Their showdowns with South River at the Anne Arundel and 4A East Regional meets should be very entertaining.