By Tyler Andrews/Score Atlanta
Marietta opened their season with a dominating performance in The Saucony XC Kickoff Classic this past weekend in Savannah. The Class AAAAAA No. 1 ranked Blue Devils raced to a 26-point victory and a five-runner average time of 16:09. They also claimed the top four individual spots as Ben Patterson won the event with a time of 15:48, followed by teammates Carlos Torres, David Savic, and Hayden Tullos.
Three teams make their debut in the Class AAAAAA rankings this week. No. 6 Grayson had a strong showing in Savannah placing third overall with an average time of 16:42. Archer, ranked No. 9, captured fourth place in the event coming in just behind Grayson with a time of 16:50. No. 10 South Forsyth finished in third place at the Bob Blastow Early Bird in Whitesburg, Georgia. They finished with a five-runner average time of 16:54.
After a second place finish at the Bob Blastow Early Bird, Forsyth Central makes the jump from No. 5 to No. 1 in Class AAAAA. The team ran an average time of 16:37, trailing only Milton (6A). Cambridge makes the biggest jump in the classification. The Bears come from out of the rankings to claim the No. 3 spot after running a 17:04 time at the Bob Blastow, which was good enough for sixth place. Also debuting in the rankings is No. 10 Winder-Barrow who ran an 18:01 average time at The Saucony XC Kickoff Classic.
Six of last week’s top 10 ranked teams in Class AAAA ran in the Saucony Battle of Atlanta in Hampton. Marist was the fastest AAAA time at 16:55, and their top runner Frank Pittman won the individual title with a time of 15:53. Their effort placed them second overall as a team at the event and earned them the No. 1 ranking in the classification. Sandy Creek cracks the top ten coming in at No. 9 after a five-runner average time of 17:43 at the Bob Blastow Early Bird.
Class AAA does not see any new teams in the rankings this week, but there is some shakeup at the top. Oconee County jumps from No. 3 to No. 1 this week after a 7th place finish at the Bob Blastow Early Bird. The Warriors finished with a time of 17:05. East Jackson stars Chase and Chandler Kennedy finished first and second individually at the 13th Annual Fall Runaway in Jefferson this past weekend. The two runners helped East Jackson to a second place finish at the event and an average time of 17:32, vaulting the school to a No. 2 ranking.
Bleckley County takes the No. 1 spot in the Class AA rankings after winning the Wesleyan Invitational this past weekend in Norcross with an average time of 18:06. Carl Ellis Corley won the individual event for Bleckley County with a time of 17:21. The team finished ahead of Class AA powers Pace Academy and Wesleyan.
North Cobb Christian was the lone new member of the Class A-Private rankings coming in at No. 8. The Eagles had a good showing at the Bob Blastow Early Bird finishing with an average time of 19:40. Athens Christian makes the biggest jump from No. 9 to No. 5 after running an 18:56 at the 13th Annual Fall Runaway.
Class A-Public sees no change in their rankings as many of the teams kick off their season next weekend.
Class AAAAAA
1. Marietta
2. Milton
3. Brookwood
4. Walton
5. Lambert
6. Grayson
7. Peachtree Ridge
8. Mill Creek
9. Archer
10. South Forsyth
Class AAAAA
1. Forsyth Central
2. Creekview
3. Cambridge
4. Alexander
5. Clarkston
6. Starr’s Mill
7. McIntosh
8. Flowery Branch
9. Allatoona
10. Winder-Barrow
Class AAAA
1. Marist
2. St. Pius
3. Whitewater
4. North Oconee
5. North Hall
6. Johnson-Gainesville
7. Buford
8. Chestatee
9. Sandy Creek
10. Pickens
Class AAA
1. Oconee County
2. East Jackson
3. Blessed Trinity
4. Westminster
5. Savannah Arts
6. Coahulla Creek
7. Dawson County
8. West Hall
9. Banks County
10. Jefferson
Class AA
1. Bleckley County
2. Pace Academy
3. Wesleyan
4. Holy Innocents’
5. Darlington
6. Union County
7. Berrien
8. Lovett
9. Social Circle
10. Vidalia
Class A-Private
1. Landmark Christian
2. Paideia
3. Hebron Christian
4. Galloway
5. Athens Christian
6. Providence Christian
7. Whitefield Academy
8. North Cobb Christian
9. Athens Academy
10. First Presbyterian Day
Class A-Public
1. Towns County
2. Jenkins County
3. Trion
4. Commerce
5. Lincoln County
6. Claxton
7. Montgomery County
8. Hawkinsville
9. Telfair County
10. Baconton Charter
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