2007 National Capital Rankings

Well, five weeks into the season and we are all set for the Conference Meets. Several teams have yet to compete, but from what we've seen so far, here is what to expect:

Midget Girls
1. Colonel By
2. Glebe CI
3. Nepean
4. Beatrice Desloges
5. Immaculata

From what we've seen this year Colonel By seems to have the top end talent to win the NC title. Glebe, Nepean and Beatrice Desloges will fight it out for the 2nd OFSAA qualifying sport. Colonel By is undefeated against Ottawa competition this year, but these are Midgets and many schools have not yet competed...always a surprise or two with the Midgets.
Individuals to watch - Katheine Tuck (Colonel By), Breanna Burton (Nepean), Julia Francki (Sir Wil) and a few others we've yet to see race no doubt.

Midget Boys
1. Glebe CI
2. Nepean
3. Hillcrest
4. South Carleton
5. Colonel By

Similar story with the girls, except for the top 2 teams. Glebe is undefeated against all Eastern Ontario High Schools this season winning meets in Port Hope, Ottawa and Brockville. Nepean was their closest competition at both the Gryphon Open and Thousand Islands Invite. As for the rest, it's like tossing dice. Only 5 teams have competed so far, but I'm sure there are others out there..
Individuals to watch - Andreas Carranco (Glebe), Gabriel Skupek-Martin (Louis Riel), Raid Naji (Glebe), Andrew Fawcett (Nepean)

Junior Girls
1. Garneau
2. All Saints
3. Cantebury
4. Gloucester
5. St. Peter

Newcomer Garneau defeated last years Midget Girls runaway Champs from All Saints at the Thousand Islands Invite, placing 4th and 5th repectively, with only 15 point separating them in the large field. Should be tighter at NC's. Cantebury, 2nd last year, have yet to compete this season, but have all 4 scoring runners returning in good form.
Individuals to watch - Anna Nativ (West Carleton) - '06 MG NC Champ and 17th at OFSAA last year, Emily Alexander (Ashbury), Emily Kemp (Nepean), Heather Slinn (Hillcrest)

Junior Boys
1. Glebe
2. Merviale
3. Gloucester
4. Sir Robert Borden
5. Hillcrest

Last years Midget Boys Champs from Glebe have experienced growing pains and the race will be much tighter this year. Last years NC champ, Kieran Hooey, is just returning from a fractured ankle, and #4 Phil Brougham has only run once this year due to injury. The team has only run together once this season, defeating Merivale by a single point at the Gryphon Open. Gloucester and Borden were a distant 2nd and 3rd to Glebe at the HawX Invite.
Individuals to watch - Stuart Wilson (Glebe) undefeated in against NC competition this year, Kieran Hooey (Glebe) '06 MB NC Champ, Tait Beck (Ashbury), Ben Gunn-Doerge (Immaculata), Yospeh Gregregi (Rideau), big win at HawX Invite

Senior Girls
1. Glebe
2. Merivale
3. West Carleton
4. Gloucester
5. Lisgar

This will be the tightest fight for the two OFSAA qualifying spots. Despite the loss of last years runner up Maddie Martin (stress fracture), Glebe is undefeated against Ottawa competition this year, winning the Glebe Open and HawX Invite (defeating Gloucester by a single point - although both teams were missing one of their top 4). West Carleton will be the sleeper in the group, having not competed yet this season, but having a solid top five. If they all show up (literally and figuratively) on race day, they will be tough to beat.
Individuals to watch - Lindsay Anderson (Colonel By) '06 JG Champ and OFSAA XC Silver Medalist, Karen Lenarduzzi (St. Matthew), Alex Bateman (Glebe), Amanda Harvey (Bell), Sarah Boyd (All Saints)

Senior Boys
1. Earl of March
2. Gloucester
3. Hillcrest
4. Merivale
5. Beatrice Desloges

Tight battle could form for the top three positions, with the Earl having an edge based on their convincing win in the Junior Boys race last year and the depth of their team (only 20 seconds separated 1-3 in last years JB's race). Add Nick Pateras (5th in '06 SB's race) to the mix and it looks like a winning combination. One point separated Gloucester and Hillcrest at the Thousand Islands Invite. Both teams have similar teams with 2 top runners and then a big gap before #3 and #4. Hillcrest gets the edge up front, but Gloucester's #3 and #4 are better. Hillcrest needs a big run from 3rd - 5th to unseat the Gator's for the #2 spot.
Individuals to watch - Ian Donald (Nepean) '06 JB Champ and OFSAA Bronze Medalist, Aiden Kennedy (Hillcrest) '06 SB Silver Medalist, Tim Huebsch (Gloucester)