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Girls XC is one of the most competitive here in the midlands. Over halfway into the season and we’ve got a strong contingency of ladies vying for the top spot. Heathwood Hall’s Madelyn Gomez leads this strong crew after finishing 8th overall at the Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic in a time of 18:55.52. Gomez is the current SCISA 3A leader after winning the state title last fall and winning the 1600m, and 3200m titles in the spring. Gomez is joined by senior, Mary Frances Iseman and 7th grader, Lydia Smith in their journey for the SCISA 3A title.
Jais Ward of Ben Lippen returns to South Carolina this season after competing for IMG Academy for the last two years. Ward was the third Midlands runner to cross the line this weekend with a time of 19:09.69. Ward will look to battle it out with Gomez this season for the SCISA title.
Westwood’s lowstick, Emma Ashley finished just 4 seconds shy of her personal record for a 12th place finish and 4th in the midlands at the Coaches Classic. Ashley is the current 4A Region 5 leader in a tightly contested team battle with reigning champions, Irmo lady jackets
Abigail White and Georgia Babcock of Chapin will make the 5A-Region 4 battle even tighter with Lexington as the Eagles earned a 3rd place finish this weekend in the International division. Whites time currently places her 4th in all of 5A.
Lexington’s Kendra Miles will look to add to her strong rookie season that resulted in a runner up finish at the 5A state meet last fall and a 1600m title in the spring. Kendra was the second fastest midlands runner at this weekend’s race in a time of 19:08.14. She will look to her teammates including sophomore Lydia Metz this season to help lead the wildcats after a runner up team title last season. Metz is no stranger to competition herself as she is the 6th fastest returner from last year’s state meet and led the Wildcats to victory at the Pelican’s Invitational earlier this season.
Caroline Timmons of Cardinal Newman has lit the field on fire this season with victories at the Palmetto State Invitational, Pelican’s Invitational, and Pelion/Strictly Running Invitational. She will look to battle it out with Ward and Gomez on the 29th at the SCISA state championships. Timmons 13th place overall in the championship division at the Coaches Classic Invitational.
| Season Best | Season Average | Power Rating | |||||
| 1 | Madelyn | Gomez | Heathwood Hall | JR | 18:23 | 19:01 | 1.500 |
| 2 | Jais | Ward | Ben Lippen | JR | 18:44 | 19:13 | 2.167 |
| 3 | Emma | Ashley | Westwood | SO | 19:07 | 19:17 | 3.333 |
| 4 | Abigail | White | Chapin | JR | 18:50 | 19:34 | 3.500 |
| 5 | Kendra | Miles | Lexington | 8th | 19:08 | 19:52 | 4.000 |
| 6 | Mary Frances | Iseman | Heathwood Hall | JR | 19:05 | 19:21 | 4.000 |
| 7 | Lydia | Metz | Lexington | SO | 19:32 | 19:54 | 5.833 |
| 8 | Caroline | Timmons | Cardinal Newman | JR | 18:47 | 20:04 | 6.200 |
| 9 | Lydia | Smith | Heathwood Hall | 7th | 19:20 | 19:59 | 6.250 |
| 10 | Georgia | Babcock | Chapin | FR | 19:22 | 20:10 | 7.571 |
Honorable Mentions: Kate Hoover (Ben Lippen), Bella Bonavilla (Chapin), Kendall Murray (Northside Christian), Laurel Walls (Lexington), Cameron Wicker (Mid-Carolina)
The Midlands XC Rankings takes into consideration head to head competition between midlands athletes at meets/invitationals. Rankings are based on a season best, season average, and place at meets/invitational with 3+ midlands teams, a total of 5+ teams, and consists of races where the top 7 athletes run under 18:00 (Boys) or 21:30 (Girls)
