Girls Coundown to XC Day 4: St. Francis

What really separates the top 4 from the rest of the teams in the girls' countdown is very high team track rankings in both the 1600 and 3200. Take the Troubadours, for example: they had 4 returning girls under 5:10 (which only one other team can claim), 5 under 5:20, and 8 under 5:30. In the 3200, which you could argue isn't this team's biggest focus, St. Francis is nonetheless returning their top 11 runners, with 7 of them clocking faster than 12 minutes. Cate Joaquin led the way in both events, and she should be considered a co-leader of this team along with Isabella Fauria. In 2018 the Troubadours stumbled at the state meet, finishing 8th, but they only had one senior on that squad - and, in fact, only one junior as well (Fauria). They're projected to have two in the top 7 this fall, which means this squad could be even stronger come 2020. If they can close up their 3-7 runners on that lead duo (and spring results strongly suggest that is already happening), this team will be formidable in November.