NEW NATIONAL RANKINGS!!!
By David "Hawaiian Five-Oh" Taylor
TALK ABOUT A SHOCKER!
So, here is the scoop on what occured this last weekend and the rankings shakeup associated with it. Bottom line: Washington is setting a pretty high bar nationally in 2009!!
Henry Jackson ranked US#1!!!
With the stumble of Ferris the ranking committee turned their eyes to other Washington teams in the top 10 and had a shocker when they evaluated Henry Jackson's early season dominance. Already shocked at the 16:05 performance at South Whidbey with a 15 second spread they were blown away with the 7:36 average over 1.5 miles with a 2 second spread earlier in the season against Portland's renowned Jesuit High School!!! Additionally, they score 15 points in a team effort of 16:45 with another 2 second spread at a league jamboree meet. We in Washington knew they were really good this year, but opportunity had to allow them to be seen through the big red wave of Ferris, who had steamrolled competition as well. This team is amazing and no other national program has the early season pedigree that the men of Henry Jackson bring to the table.
Ferris reset at US#10!
Ferris goes to the Stanford Invitational and runs a bad race. The Ranking Committee knows they are better than that due to previous performances and resets them to 10th to regroup and start again. The week prior to Stanford, Arcadia (the winner of Stanford) also suffered an odd loss and was given the benefit of the doubt. They answered the call and we hope that Ferris does likewise and ascends the list as they work towards State.
North Central and Kamiakin US#15!!
North Central travels to the Bob Firman invitational without #1 runner Ben Johnson and loses. Fortunately they are not penalized too harshly and remain on the list at 15th tied with Kamiakin who has finally overcome their battle with the Flu. If you recall, despite being stricken they posted a 13:06 2.5 mile team average at the Highlander Invitational! They are primed and ready for this weekends mammoth Sunfair Invitational.
GLACIER PEAK RANKED US#7!!
Glacier Peak proves their ranking and more! A few weeks prior to Stanford they stumble from the flu and lose to Gig Harbor. They regroup, get healthy, travel to Stanford and post the second fastest team time of the day, finishing right behind US#4 Torrey Pines. As a result they are awarded with a US#7 ranking!! Way to go girls!
Shadle Park girls ranked US#3!!
After traveling to the enormous Mountain West Classic and destroying a field of 43 teams, as well as tieing an all-time team best average; the