AlabamaRunners

Girls
6A: MtBrook,Bob Jones,Mcgill
5A: Scottsboro,St. Paul,Ft Payne
4A:UMS Wright,PJP,Haleyville

Please fill in or add. Why do these top three win consistently? Public/Private? It's not like Hurdles with advantages in equipment and coaching .....there is something more at work here.

As the Dad of athletes that went to one of the schools you listed, I can say the 2 biggest factors in their success (I saw) were hard work and coaching.

@vaultersdad

You hit the nail on the head!

I think it's going to depend on how everyone recovers from what was essentially a year-long season for distance runners. On one hand, I think you can see a lot more faster individual times by those that ran XC, indoor, and outdoor. On the other hand, if those runners are not focused more on getting the base in during the summer as opposed to running road races, then you may see some injuries or burnouts.

Some distance runners (no matter how repetitive their coaches become) do not take the summer serious enough to help them in XC, or track. Now, more than ever since we have an indoor season, the summer base runs are much more important.

It's not like Hurdles with advantages in equipment and coaching .....there is something more at work here.

Coaching? I would say those schools have great coaching and yes even xc can come down to coaching.

Anyone got 3a 1/2a predictions

I think Montgomery Academy has to be considered in 1A-2A girls. I would consider Winfield, American Christian, TR Miller, and Bayside in 3A girls. In 1A-2A Boys, Hatton, Montgomery Academy, and St. Bernards look like they have a lot coming back. I think Cottage Hill and Montogmery Catholic are pretty strong in 3A boys. Randolph boys in 4A have to be considered with UMS. The common factors in most of the teams mentioned in the postings are coaching and the building of a team ethos. When the runners start to work together, they get better as a group and team success often follows.

Something else at work? Like the Templars? Alien influence? Ninjas?

Seems like any possible excuse is given except good coaching.

I got a great email today from a coach that is retiring from coaching. He spoke of athletes and how he helped them improve....not how many championships or awards he got.

4A-Beauregard will be shooting for the top 5, this year will be a rebuilding year since we lose 3 seniors on the boys side and two on the girls side. We will be gaining a few boys and a few girls. I will say that our boys and girls will be the diamonds in the rough and might surpise some people. As always, all we can do is sit back and watch the runners give it their best and fight all the way to state. Go Hornets!!!!!!

loremtr

Something else at work? Like the Templars? Alien influence? Ninjas?

Seems like any possible excuse is given except good coaching.

I got a great email today from a coach that is retiring from coaching. He spoke of athletes and how he helped them improve....not how many championships or awards he got.

@loremtr

Good one Centurion...but the answer I was thinking of, but nobody bit was........parents......

Oh the mythical parental involvement.....hmmm, good move there. Check and mate.

Looking at the results from the 6A XC and Track state meets, I'd argue that Mountain Brook girls will probably run away with team title. Boys could be a bit more wide open than years past.

2012 girls returning team score
al.milesplit.com/teamscores/2011/cc/hs/f/5000m?l=&....

I wanted to reply to the initial question " with the more at work here" believe me it's hard work from the athletes and the coaches. In order to build a successful program it takes time (years)in most cases so speaking from experience if your coaches and athletes work hard and you have the support from the parents and school, you will end up with a successful program and success to me is competing the very best you can.

leftcoastrunner

Looking at the results from the 6A XC and Track state meets, I'd argue that Mountain Brook girls will probably run away with team title. Boys could be a bit more wide open than years past.

Mountain Brook girls may very well do that.

The boys aren't that wide open for team honors, in my opinion. I think that Vestavia could make a strong statement, they only had 1 senior in their top 7. They had a couple from middle schools who ran State last year. McGill-Toolen, same thing. They also have solid depth under 17 minutes, both returning and coming out of the jr high ranks with great coaching to push it along. The top 4 teams from last year don't have the numbers coming back and up. Ballard can't carry Mountain Brook by himself.

@loremtr Nevermind the earlier comment, I figured out how to refine the numbers.