Power Rankings for the weekend of 10/16/12

Oct 16, 2012

<h1 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "> The Louisiana Running Power Rankings </h1>   <a href="http://www.louisianarunning.com"><input alt="" src="http://cache.milesplit.com/user_files/114/301397_3785417189151_57759399_n.jpg" style="width: 700px; height: 400px; " type="image" /></a>   For the 2012 XC season Louisiana Running will be releasing a poll on Tuesday of each week detailing the top 10 composite teams in the state according to the opinions of our panel here at the LRC.        <div>  </div>

Boys Top 10

1. (0) St. Paul's - SPS finished 3rd at the Catholic High Invitational this past weekend. We keep them at number 1 however, with the continued improvement of Don Lipani (SPS#3) taking 19 seconds off his season best, paired with the absence of their 1st/2nd runner in Kramer Jackson (illness). With the team's season bests adding up to an average of 16:02 and consistently remaining within 5-10 seconds of this average each week, they remain the team to beat.

2. (+1) West Monroe - With a 16:01 avg. converted from 5K, we came close to putting West Monroe ahead of St. Paul's with their performance at Watson Ford last week. Not only were they faster in Mississippi but ran on the same course (Choctaw trails) - 1 week following SPS. At Chile Pepper however, they had a bit of an "off" peformance - averaging 16:30 for 3 miles (converted), which prompted us to give an edge to St. Paul's. TEAMS 1-4 are extremely close!

3. (+1) Jesuit - It's been an uphill battle for Jesuit all season with key injuries hindering their true potential. Being led by Neal Fitzpatrick's incredible 14:59, Jesuit steals the show at Highland Road Park with a 1 pt. victory over Episcopal and the current #1 SPS, which was one runner down.

4. (-2) Episcopal - Ran a full "top 5" at the Catholic High Invite. Although they continue to improve, their #5 had a bit of an off race, costing them the title at CHS. With solid races from ALL 5 runners, Episcopal could dethrone any of the teams seeded ahead - taking any of the team's runners above to falter in the least bit. It's just a shame Episcopal is a 2A team and won't be mixing it up in Nachitoches with the rest.

5. (+5) Ruston - have really come alive the last 2 weeks. Dropping their team average from 16:47 (Southern Arkansas Invite) to 16:21 this week in Atlanta, TX. The bearkats move up to #5 and are scheduled to compete at Walker this weekend. They will have a chance to prove they deserve this ranking, or not..

6. (-1) Parkway - had a good showing at Choctaw trails last weekend averaging 16:26 for 3 miles (converted). They move down this week however, with the rise of Ruston, and narrowly hang onto #7 after narrowly beating Walker in Mississippi.

7. (0) Walker - Averaged 16:32 (converted) last weekend. Came within 2 pts of Parkway and beat Catholic in the mud at Port Hudson in their last meeting.

8. (0) Catholic - Picking up steam with a 16:32 average at their home meet. They have the exact same team average as Walker. This weekend will be the proving grounds between a few of the top teams.

9. (-3) Brother Martin - 16:48 this weekend in Baton Rouge / 16:37 best case off of season bests..

10. (-1) STM - 17:00 (season best) team averages.

The Elite 5 Boys:

Enrique Soto - 15:46 5K (converts to a 15:06 3 mile) in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Neal FitzPatrick - 14:59 3 mile to run away with the title at Catholic High this weekend.

Christian Johnson - 15:23 @ Catholic

Brady Warren - Recorded a win at the MC Watson Ford Invite 2 weeks ago with a 16:07 5K (15:26 3 Mile).

Zach Albright - 15:29 @ Catholic.

Girls Top 10

1. (+3) Ruston - Much like their male counterparts, the lady bearkats have really started to round into championhip shape over the last few weeks. The last time we released a poll (2 weeks ago), they have averaged a 19:56 at Southern Arkansas Invite and a 19:51this weekend in Atlanta, TX. With a a very similar 2, 3, & 5 as Dominican and more of a front runner in Adaiza Austin (18:25 in TX) - the lady bearkats have climbed to #1 this week. Ruston will be at Walker Shootout this weekend. A North vs. South - Ruston vs. Dominican vs. St. Joseph(?) run may be in the cards.

2. (-1) Dominican - 20:15 team average this weekend with big race competition (CHS).Dominican drops this week from the uprising of their foes in the North. Very evenly matched on paper, it will be up to Dominican's 5th to set them apart if they are to gain a victory over Ruston. Top 3 teams could all easily flip flop.

3. (-1) St. Joseph. - 20:27 team average at CHS closing the gap on Domincan inch by inch, second by second.

4. (0) Fontainebleau - Lose to Mt. Carmel @ CHS, but with the absence of runners 4 and 5 (Courtney Smith and Caitlyn Moroney) we keep FHS at #4 this week.

5. (-2) Parkway - Have been running a majority of 5K's this season, averaging 20:19 for 3 miles (converted), paired with the front running of Allison Ringle set them apart from the teams below.

6. (+5) Benton - 20:42 team average (converted) for a win at the very muddy and wet Cowboy stampede in Lake Charles. With the only results we have on file for this team, their dominating score of 25 pts at this meet, along with the course conditions make them (potenitally) the most underrated teams on the poll.

7. (0) Mt. Carmel - 20:45 Average at CHS, 20:36 season best team average.

8. (0) SSA - top 5 present, 21:02 average at CHS.

9. (+2) Vandebilt Catholic - finds it's way onto the top 10 list with a 21:14 team average @ CHS good enough for a 6th placing. All teams that finished ahead of them t the meet can also be found above.

10. (-3) Menard 21:24 at Round table a few weekends back, 22:39 last week placing thier runners in positions 1,3,4,6,18 to cruise to an easy win in their home town - 32 pt score.

Elite 5 Girls:

Gabrielle Jennings - DNF'ed at CHS, but can't leave her off list as she is an honorable mention on the US rankings.

Allison Ringle - Didn't race this weekend(?), but like Gabrielle she is an honorable mention on the national rankings.

Adaiza Austin - ran 18:25 to win the Atlanta, TX Invitational this weekend.

Nicole Durham - won the prestigous Catholic High crown with an 18:38.

Hailey Hesterman - 19:05 3 mile (converted) at the Chile Pepper XC festival in Fayettville, Arkansas.

To help us ensure the most informitive polls please try to get your results in over the weekend to pat@louisianarunning.com.   Thanks!