JESUIT'S BRADY MULLEN COMES THROUGH THE LINE AT THE WINGFOOT XC CLASSIC
WATCH THE LHSAA STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET LIVE ON MILESPLIT!
From the body of work that Jesuit's Brady Mullen and St. Joseph's Michelle Daigle and have put together this year...and for the last four years, it's not really a question of If they will win on Monday at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships, but rather by how much.
Is there a scenario where they wouldn't be on top of the podium at Northwestern State's Walter Ledet Track & Field Complex tomorrow? We certainly don't see one, but stranger things have happened.
Mullen's main competition will come from Brother Martin's Noah Mooney, who made him earn for most of last year's state cross country championship before fading at the end. That allowed Jesuit's Brady Monahan to move past Mooney and give the Blue Jays a 1-2 finish.
With Mullen and Mooney being seniors, Monohan looks to be the heir apparent to the Jesuit distance dynasty, and Coach Nick Accardo's team will have the depth to keep the streak alive.
As far as this year's state championship, another runner to watch is Parkway sophomore Brennan Robin, who--if he is able to stay healthy-- is well on his way to equaling--or even surpassing-- the accomplishments of Mullen.
Jesuit beat Brother Martin 18-42 at the District 9-5A Championships. Mullen, who committed to Harvard earlier this year, won with an impressive 14:36 on his last high school race at New Orlean's City Park. Monahan finished with a 14:56 and Mooney was third with 15:10.
The Blue Jays averaged 15:12 while the Crusaders finished with an average of 15:46.
No female distance runner in state has had a better season...and one could argue a better career... than SJA's Michelle Daigle. Even before her personal record of 16:56 at last week's D1 Region 2 Championships at Baton Rouge's Highland Road Park, Daigle has surpassed the lofty expectations that even her coach Mark LaHaye had for her senior year.
There is only one time in the MileSplit LA database faster than Daigle's 16:56 and that is former STA Malia Cali , who ran a time of 16:44 at a home meet during the early portion of her junior year. And although that early season meet was her best time of the year...and her career, she proved it was no fluke by running a 16:51 at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships.
Look for Daigle to go out with a bang and challenge that Cali's state meet best.
As for other girls to watch, the Ruston Bearcats and Mt. Carmel have a two each. Ruston freshman Eden Dawsey is ranked No. 3 and Hallie Hebert is right behind her teammate at No. 4. Stella Junius is ranked No. 2 in Division 1 and her Cub teammate Lucy Quintana is ranked No. 7. Others to watch include Northshore freshman Grace Keene, who is ranked No. 5 and Benton junior Claire Allen, who is ranked No. 6.
As for the team race, you can expect the Stickers to crowding the podium and hoisting the hardware for the ninth consecutive year as the greatest dynasty in Louisiana high school distance history will roll on Monday.
Other girls in Division 1 to watch include Baton Rouge's Lucy Thomas, who has battle back to the top after overcoming some early season adversity in dealing with injuries.
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