Several area teams among state's best in cross country

The first prep cross country rankings, according to gatfxc.com, are in and several northeast Georgia teams are among those being recognized.

The season begins for most teams this weekend.

In the Class AAA boys rankings, Flowery Branch is rated third with Chestatee ninth. Stephens County is ranked sixth.

In the AAA girls, Region 7-AAA teams Flowery Branch (3rd), White County (5th) and Chestatee (10th) all are coming off solid seasons in 2003. Elbert County is ranked ninth.

But the South and North Forsyth girls teams are considered among the best in the state in the all-classification rankings.

North Forsyth, behind junior and 2003 AAAA state champion Laura Mayo, is rated fourth overall and second in AAAA, while South Forsyth is ranked fifth overall and third in AAAAA.

The Towns County girls are ranked seventh in Class A.

In other boys rankings, Habersham Central is ranked ninth in Class AAAA. The Towns County boys are ranked 10th in Class A.