Girls:
1. (+2) Dominican - We said Dominican would be back to claim #1. Sure enough, they did this is in a huge way this weekend at the Round Table. It was stated in our preseason poll that DHS packed a powerful 1-2-3 punch in Meydrich, Sakamoto, and Barkemeyer. Apparently we neglected to mention punch #4 in Williams with Palermo not far behind to finish it off. With an average time of 20:03 and a 1-5 gap of 1:01, Dominican rises to reclaim #1. With their dominant performance at EHS, we are sorry to have ever doubted their reasons for being at the top.
2. ( 0) St. Joseph - Close on the heels of Dominican, St. Joseph finished a mere 13 points behind the #1. They might not have beaten Dominican at EHS, but they are definitely applying the pressure. One slip from the team above and this team could easily slide into the #1 position. SJA averaged 20:25 this weekend with a 1-5 gap of 1:04.
3. (+5) Parkway - Parkway opens with a full team in Shreveport (finally). They are led by the front runner Allison Ringle - one of the few who might be able to challenge Gabrielle Jennings. Along with a strong top 4 to compliment Ringle, Parkway rises in the rankings this week with a win at the muddy Calvary meet. The Parkway girls averaged 20:47 for 3 miles.
4. (-3) Fontainebleau - (21:07) Fontainebleau wins the Newman Invitational this week averaging 21:07 for three miles. They have a very good top 4, however, in a big meet situation they will be hurt by their 5th runner. A staggering 4:12 gap between 1-5 drops them from 1st to 4th this week.
5. (-2) Mt. Carmel - Dominated their home meet with a low score of 21 over the formerly ranked SSA team from week 2. They averaged 21:25 for 3 miles. 1-5 split of 1:30.
6. (+5) St. Thomas More - won their meet at Acadiana Park putting 5 in the top 11.
finished third at EHS with an average time of 21:24.
8. (+2) Episcopal - averaged 21:57 for three miles which was good enoug for 4th at home. Get the nod over 9th and 10th ranked teams because of Highland Park's slightly more difficult terrain.
9. (+2) Mcgehee - averaged 21:54 for three miles. This week they climb into the polls after an impressive performance at Audubon Park on Saturday.
10. (+1) Newman With the front runner Haley Johnson and a team average of 21:49, the Newman girls just slip in for ranking #10.
Power 5 Girls
Allison Ringle (Parkway) -18:27 for a win at Calvary Baptist recording the fastest time over the weekend.
Gabrielle Jennings (First Baptist) - Recorded an 18:57 at EHS. Won over a stacked field and continues to dominate all Louisiana girls she meets/races against.
Nicole Durham (Fonatinebleau)- 19:12 for a narrow win at Newman.
Celiaia Zaranger (Patrick Taylor) - 19:13 making Nicole Durham come from behind on the straightaway.
Kaitlyn Tanner from (Loyola Prep) 18:51 2nd to Ringle, beat Hesterman (who was on last week's power 5) by 13 seconds.
Boys:
1 (0) St. Pauls Top of the charts for the second weekend in a row. SPS won convincingly against a very competitive field at EHS without Lipani, averaging 16:19 over 3 miles.
2 (+2 )West Monroe - Opened their season at the Calvary Baptist Invite. WM moves up this week with a 16:13 team average and their top 4 under 16:25. It looks like they are not going to make it easy for SPS in Nachitoches.
3 (-1) Episcopal (16:38) - Relatively poor showings from their 1st and 5th men, still managed to place 2nd. It looks as though Jr. High runner Dunbar would have been their 5th runner.
4 (+1) Catholic (16:48 avg ) - Their 2nd and 3rd runners stepped up big time, but St. Cyr has not lived up to the promise he showed in track. Like Episcopal, it looks like their top Jr. High runner would have had a very good shot at improving their top 5. They were also without Cody Favaro, their #3 returner from 2011.
5 (+4) Parkway (16:46 avg) Opened at Calvary with a strong top four. Again, it was good to see what this team was finally packing.
6 ( 0) Brother Martin Brother Martin continues to be the rock at #6 with a team average of 17:00
7 (-4) Jesuit 16:56 - Placed 5th without S. Fitzpatrick, L. Fitzgerald, or Pettus. Could easily move up to 3rd if any of those three return at full strength.
8 (+2) STM 17:18 team average winning the Sargent Memorial XC Meet with ease.
9 (+2) John Curtis John Curtis, traditionally not a distance power house, moves into the top ten to much of some people's surprise this week. They are lead by freshman phenom Devyn Keith who gave the top guys at EHS a scare after his blazing first mile. His team will have to improve on their comparatively weak 5th man (18:44) if they plan to move up anymore.
10 (-2) STA- 17:20 average. With a few key runners not running well, this team is poised...if expectations can be met.
The Power 5
Kraemer Jackson (St. Paul's) - 15:23 at EHS for a second place finish.
Zach Albright (St. Paul's) - 15:27 at EHS.
Enrique Soto (Lakeside) - 15:26 at Calvary Baptist to win over Logan Pierce.
Neal FitzPatrick (Jesuit) - 15:23 outkicking Kramer Jackson to record the win at EHS in his first meet of the year.
Logan Pierce (West Monroe) - 15:40 in his opening meet. 2nd to Enrique.