DNJ All-Area girls cross country team for 2017

Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Siegel freshman Marilyn McCarthy is one of the finalists for All-Area Girls Runner of the Year.

With the area's top two runners over recent years having graduated last season, the door was open for a new batch of cross country girls to step up.

That's exactly what many did, particularly Daily News Journal All-Area Runner of the Year finalists Marilyn McCarthy, Camille Smith and Rachel Strayer.

Strayer and McCarthy helped lead Siegel to a fourth-place finish at the Large School state meet.

Smith guided Central Magnet into its first season in the Large School division (after winning the A-AA state team title last year) and helped the Lady Tigers capture the Region 4 championship and finish ninth at the state meet.

Strayer, a senior won the Region 4 meet (20:19.10) and placed 12th at the state meet (19:32.98). McCarthy, a freshman, was second at the region meet (20:39.10) and 14th at the state meet (19:37.29).

The consistent Smith finished fourth at both the region (21:26.38) and state (18:58.22).

The All-Area Runner of the Year will be announced at a ceremony near the end of the school year.

The All-Area Girls Cross Country teams include:

FIRST TEAM

Breja Hooks

Oakland, Jr.

Why chosen: Finished third at the region meet (21:11.71) and 22nd at state Large School meet (19:56.71).

Marilyn McCarthy

Siegel, Fr.

Why chosen: Placed second at the region meet (20:39.10) and 14th at the state Large School meet (19:37.29).

Samantha Ouellette

Central Magnet, 8th

Why chosen: Burst onto the scene with a sixth-place region finish (21:45.64) and 27th-place finish at the state Large School meet (20:07.81).

Camille Smith

Central Magnet, Sr.

Why chosen: Placed fourth at the Large School state meet (18:58.22) and at the region meet (21:26.38).

Rachel Strayer

Siegel, Sr.

Why chosen: Won the Region 4 meet (20:19.10) and was 12th at the state Large School meet (19:32.98)

SECOND TEAM

Kendall D’Oliviera, Siegel, Jr.

Hannah Dye, Riverdale, So.

Emma McLaughlin, Siegel, Sr.

Sarah Sneed, Riverdale, Jr.

Kerrigan Walls, Central Magnet, So.

Central Magnet cross country coach Allen Nichols.

Coach of the Year

Allen Nichols, Central Magnet

Why chosen: The Lady Tigers not only moved up to the Large Division, but also did so without former state champ and Gatorade Runner of the Year Taylor Cuneo, who decided to focus her attention on track and field. Still, Nichols' squad won the Region 4 title and finished ninth at state.