Charlotte-area 2020 private high school girls cross-country preview
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. AND
JAY EDWARDS
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO WATCH
Charlotte Country Day: Country Day has what Coach Matthew Elliott calls “the deepest team in school history,” with seven girls with the ability to break the 21-minute mark, including three who should break 19. Juniors Anna Maynard and Harper Shaw will lead the way for a team that should also benefit from newcomers juniors Linde Fonville and Parker Cranz, as well as freshman Kasey Cone. The Bucs (CISAA conference runner-up and fourth at states in 2019) will have a great chance to be one of state’s elite teams again in 2020.
Charlotte Latin: The defending CISAA conference champions return four runners who finished in the top 14 at the league championships and also in top 29 at the NCISAA 4A state championships. Junior co-captain Mary Schleusner (CISAA runner-up, sixth at state) leads a veteran lineup with sophomore Mary Cater Kiser (11th conference; 24th states), junior Madeleine Pease (ninth conference; 22nd state) and senior Maria Llerenas-Soto (14th conference; 29th state).
Davidson Day: The Patriots return four starters from a team that won the Foothills’ Athletic conference title including juniors Kate Fleming and Hannah Higbea, sophomore Winter Hamme and eighth grader Ava Brown. But Davidson Day should also benefit from newcomer Grace Galloway, who could emerge as the Patriots’ No. 1 runner, according to coach David Hall. Davidson Day has the depth to be a legitimate NCISAA 2A state contender. It was sixth last season.
Metrolina Christian: The Warriors return six of their top seven runners from a team that has won five straight Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC) championships. Eighth graders Annie Miller (MAC champion, 10th states) and Lillian Anderson (8th at MAC championships), sophomore Taylor Dixon (5th MAC), junior Liza Shuck (MAC runner-up, 4th states), and senior Skylar Guhl (7th MAC) give Metrolina Christian the depth and experience to win their sixth conference title in a row, and improve upon its eighth-place finish at the NCISAA 4A state championships in 2019.
Providence Day: The Chargers return their top five starters from a team that finished third in the CISAA conference and fifth at the NCISAA 4A state championships. Providence Day can lean on the experience of two-time all-state junior Ashley Horowitz (11th at state, fourth in CISAA championships last year) and senior Lindsay Smith (17th state; 7th CISAA), but should also benefit from newcomers, including freshman Morgan Boonshaft and Providence transfer Tate Arrington.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS TO WATCH
Madelyn Brunson, United Faith, Fr.: Falcons’ freshman proved she can hang with the best in the state, finishing seventh at the NCISAA 1A state championships as an 8th grader.
Jessica Church, Hickory Grove, Sr.: Lions’ all-conference runner makes a strong one-two punch with her younger sister, sophomore Olivia Church.
Anna Colyer, Gaston Day, Fr.: The Spartans’ top returning runner finished third at the MAC championships and 14th in the NCISAA 2A state championships as an 8th grader.
Sedona Dancu, Covenant Day, Sr.: Virginia Military Institute recruit was the Lions’ top runner last season. She finished 12th at the CISAA championships as a junior.
Alli Flannery, Metrolina Christian, Jr.: The 2017 MAC champion returns after missing time with injuries.
Ashley Horowitz, Providence Day, Jr.: Two-time, all-state runner will look to prove she is among the conference and state’s best (4th CISAA, 11th) again this season.
Olivia Jones, Charlotte Christian, Jr.: The Knights’ top returning runner had a breakout season as a sophomore (sixth at CISAA championships, seventh at states), and will try to build on her success this season.
Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, 8th grade: Warriors’ standout won the MAC individual title and earned all-state as a seventh-grader last year.
Mary Schleusner, Charlotte Latin, Jr.: The CISAA runner-up also finished sixth at states, and is a championship threat this season.
Harper Shaw, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: Bucs’ all-state and all-conference runner (fifth in CISAA, eighth at state last year) will set the pace with a team that has the depth to contend at any race.
Lauren Tellefsen, Lake Norman Christian, 7th grade: The Storm standout finished fourth at Carolina State Athletic Association (CSAA) meet while leading her high school varsity team to the CSAA title.
Sydney Wood, Cannon School, Sr.: The Cougars’ top runner looks to improve on a respectable 10th-place at the CISAA conference championships and 25th at the NCISAA 4A state championships in her final high school season.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS ON THE RISE
Morgan Boonshaft, Providence Day, Fr.: Chargers’ newcomer is top-rising eigth-grader in the state, after running a 18:05 to win the 13-14-year old age group at the Foot Locker South Regional last year.
Kendall Ficken, Charlotte Christian, Jr.: The Knights’ track star will now compete in her first cross country season ever, where she has the potential to compete for No. 1 spot, according to Charlotte Christian coach Mark Huether.
Linde Fonville, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: Bucs’ junior is an excellent middle distance runner for the Country Day track team (all-state 4 X 800-meter relay) and that should translate well onto the course (first cross country season ever) where Fonville should be a key contributor to deep team.
Grace Galloway, Davidson Day, Fr.: The Patriots’ freshman could be the top runner, helping a balanced team with five runners in the top 15 in the Foothills’ 2A conference last year.
Lucy Ratterree, Charlotte Latin, Fr.: Hawks’ freshman could have an impact for a veteran after being one of Latin’s top middle school runners.
NOTES
CISAA Conference
1. Metrolina Christian; 2. Gaston Day; 3. Gaston Christian; 4. Hickory Grove; 5. SouthLake Christian; 6. Westminster Catawba; 7. Concord Academy.
BY LANGSTON WERTZ JR. AND
JAY EDWARDS
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO WATCH
Charlotte Country Day: Country Day has what Coach Matthew Elliott calls “the deepest team in school history,” with seven girls with the ability to break the 21-minute mark, including three who should break 19. Juniors Anna Maynard and Harper Shaw will lead the way for a team that should also benefit from newcomers juniors Linde Fonville and Parker Cranz, as well as freshman Kasey Cone. The Bucs (CISAA conference runner-up and fourth at states in 2019) will have a great chance to be one of state’s elite teams again in 2020.
Charlotte Latin: The defending CISAA conference champions return four runners who finished in the top 14 at the league championships and also in top 29 at the NCISAA 4A state championships. Junior co-captain Mary Schleusner (CISAA runner-up, sixth at state) leads a veteran lineup with sophomore Mary Cater Kiser (11th conference; 24th states), junior Madeleine Pease (ninth conference; 22nd state) and senior Maria Llerenas-Soto (14th conference; 29th state).
Davidson Day: The Patriots return four starters from a team that won the Foothills’ Athletic conference title including juniors Kate Fleming and Hannah Higbea, sophomore Winter Hamme and eighth grader Ava Brown. But Davidson Day should also benefit from newcomer Grace Galloway, who could emerge as the Patriots’ No. 1 runner, according to coach David Hall. Davidson Day has the depth to be a legitimate NCISAA 2A state contender. It was sixth last season.
Metrolina Christian: The Warriors return six of their top seven runners from a team that has won five straight Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC) championships. Eighth graders Annie Miller (MAC champion, 10th states) and Lillian Anderson (8th at MAC championships), sophomore Taylor Dixon (5th MAC), junior Liza Shuck (MAC runner-up, 4th states), and senior Skylar Guhl (7th MAC) give Metrolina Christian the depth and experience to win their sixth conference title in a row, and improve upon its eighth-place finish at the NCISAA 4A state championships in 2019.
Providence Day: The Chargers return their top five starters from a team that finished third in the CISAA conference and fifth at the NCISAA 4A state championships. Providence Day can lean on the experience of two-time all-state junior Ashley Horowitz (11th at state, fourth in CISAA championships last year) and senior Lindsay Smith (17th state; 7th CISAA), but should also benefit from newcomers, including freshman Morgan Boonshaft and Providence transfer Tate Arrington.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS TO WATCH
Madelyn Brunson, United Faith, Fr.: Falcons’ freshman proved she can hang with the best in the state, finishing seventh at the NCISAA 1A state championships as an 8th grader.
Jessica Church, Hickory Grove, Sr.: Lions’ all-conference runner makes a strong one-two punch with her younger sister, sophomore Olivia Church.
Anna Colyer, Gaston Day, Fr.: The Spartans’ top returning runner finished third at the MAC championships and 14th in the NCISAA 2A state championships as an 8th grader.
Sedona Dancu, Covenant Day, Sr.: Virginia Military Institute recruit was the Lions’ top runner last season. She finished 12th at the CISAA championships as a junior.
Alli Flannery, Metrolina Christian, Jr.: The 2017 MAC champion returns after missing time with injuries.
Ashley Horowitz, Providence Day, Jr.: Two-time, all-state runner will look to prove she is among the conference and state’s best (4th CISAA, 11th) again this season.
Olivia Jones, Charlotte Christian, Jr.: The Knights’ top returning runner had a breakout season as a sophomore (sixth at CISAA championships, seventh at states), and will try to build on her success this season.
Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, 8th grade: Warriors’ standout won the MAC individual title and earned all-state as a seventh-grader last year.
Mary Schleusner, Charlotte Latin, Jr.: The CISAA runner-up also finished sixth at states, and is a championship threat this season.
Harper Shaw, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: Bucs’ all-state and all-conference runner (fifth in CISAA, eighth at state last year) will set the pace with a team that has the depth to contend at any race.
Lauren Tellefsen, Lake Norman Christian, 7th grade: The Storm standout finished fourth at Carolina State Athletic Association (CSAA) meet while leading her high school varsity team to the CSAA title.
Sydney Wood, Cannon School, Sr.: The Cougars’ top runner looks to improve on a respectable 10th-place at the CISAA conference championships and 25th at the NCISAA 4A state championships in her final high school season.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS ON THE RISE
Morgan Boonshaft, Providence Day, Fr.: Chargers’ newcomer is top-rising eigth-grader in the state, after running a 18:05 to win the 13-14-year old age group at the Foot Locker South Regional last year.
Kendall Ficken, Charlotte Christian, Jr.: The Knights’ track star will now compete in her first cross country season ever, where she has the potential to compete for No. 1 spot, according to Charlotte Christian coach Mark Huether.
Linde Fonville, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: Bucs’ junior is an excellent middle distance runner for the Country Day track team (all-state 4 X 800-meter relay) and that should translate well onto the course (first cross country season ever) where Fonville should be a key contributor to deep team.
Grace Galloway, Davidson Day, Fr.: The Patriots’ freshman could be the top runner, helping a balanced team with five runners in the top 15 in the Foothills’ 2A conference last year.
Lucy Ratterree, Charlotte Latin, Fr.: Hawks’ freshman could have an impact for a veteran after being one of Latin’s top middle school runners.
NOTES
- Charlotte Latin junior co-captains Mary Cater Kiser and Mary Schleusner are multi-talented athletes. Kiser also an elite level whitewater kayaker; Schleusner is a starter on both the Hawks’ basketball and soccer teams.
- Lake Norman Christian seventh grader Lauren Tellefsen comes from a family of runners, including her mom and Storm head cross country coach Anisia Tellefsen, who ran in high school and college and has competed in the Boston Marathon four times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). Lauren’s father, Paul Tellefsen, is also an avid runner having run the New York City Marathon in 1989. Lauren’s grandfather, Edward Wagner, who lives in Cornelius, has run the New York City Marathon nine times. Lauren’s older sister, Anna (sophomore at University of North Carolina), also loves to run.
- Metrolina Christian assistant coach Toni Dunn joins the Warriors’ coaching staff this year (boys/girls) after being the first girls’ runner in school history to earn all-MAC honors (2010, 2011). She was also the first MAC champion (2011).
CISAA Conference
- Charlotte Latin; 2. Providence Day; 3. Charlotte Country Day; 4. Covenant Day; 5. Charlotte Christian; 6. Cannon School.
- Davidson Day; 2. Hickory Christian; 3. University Christian; 4. Statesville Christian.
1. Metrolina Christian; 2. Gaston Day; 3. Gaston Christian; 4. Hickory Grove; 5. SouthLake Christian; 6. Westminster Catawba; 7. Concord Academy.
