Team Battles Abound - Girls Manhattan Letter Race Previews

Teams at the Top:  Mendham 90.0, Ursuline 89.4, Walter Johnson 88.0, Colonie 82.2, Suffern 82.0, Warwick 78.6

Runners with Hops: Daphne Banino (Ursuline) - 131, Rachel Miller (Mohonasen) - 126, Loghan Hughes (BFA) - 122, Brianna Carter (Peekskill) - 113, Leyla Kvaternik (North Andover) - 110, Alyssa Dovico (Warwick) - 101, Isabelle Senfaute (Walter Johnson) - 100, Payton McGeough-Gamache (Colonie) - 99, Stella Gassman (Ursuline) - 99, Ava Augustine (Mendham) - 98

Overview:  Usuline's Daphne Banino doesn't usually finish 3rd in a race, but two weeks ago at in the Six Flags-B face she faced off against the top runner in NY and the second fastest in NJ. On Saturday she should be in the lead here, But Mohonasen freshman Rachel Miller has also been posting great results including the seventh fastest time at the Chenango Valley Pre-States a few weeks ago.  Mendham placed 5th in the NJ Shore Coaches meet merge after winning the B race, so they might be the favorite here. But Walter Johnson won the Great American-Red race and is rated close behind. Ursuline could be ready to break out if it can fashion strong enough depth behind Banino. Colonie and Suffern are building up their squads just a little ways back.