Over 1900 runners from 85 schools will be competing in the Franklin County Invitational at the campgrounds at the Horse Park Saturday. Many of the state's best will go head to head with outside competition coming from West Virginia powerhouse Cabell Midland and Eaton and Madison from Ohio.
Class AA schools will be giving a good state meet preview with 5 of the top 6 girls teams and 15 of the top 20 individual girls in the race. Number 1 ranked teams St. Henry (Class A), Muhlenberg South (AA) and DuPont Manual (AAA) girls and AA #1 Owensboro Catholic boys headline the meet. AAA #3 St. Xavier and #4 Daviess County will challenge Owensboro Catholic.
Girls top individuals include defending AAA state champion Laura Steinmetz of Paul Dunbar, #1 ranked AA Suzanne Holt of Muhlenberg South and #1 A Kaitlyn Snapp of Danville. Defending A state champion Valerie Thomas of Trimble County and AA state champ Rachel Blank of Bell County should also be in the hunt. Chelsey Talley of Spencer County(#2 AA), Mary Grace Pelligrini of Manual, Annie Barry of Oldham County, Sarah Turi of Eastern, and Helen Hagg of Ballard also could be a factor.
Nathan Liversedge of West Jessamine and Ken Prater of Oldham County are the co-favorites. Willie Pollio of Owensboro Catholic, Aaron Poore and Cody Napier of Muhlenberg South, and Joel Wellum of Portland Christian should also contend.
Varity girls goes off at 11:15 and varsity boys at 12:00