North Laurel Invitational Preview: Area 8 Showdown

NORTH LAUREL/AREA 8 CHAMPIONSHIP

October 04, 2014 @ North Laurel in London, KY

 

The 2014 North Laurel Invitational will not be the same race as years past. This year’s course is going to be different from previous seasons due to construction on the school’s tennis courts. Despite the alterations, this should still be a very challenging and exciting event. The North Laurel coaching staff did an excellent job adapting to the situation and this year’s course may actually be an improvement for runners and spectators alike. “Although the course at North Laurel will still be considered challenging, the dreaded water tower hill has been moved to much earlier in the race. With the changes to the course it is more spectator friendly and will provide for a fast finish,” said Coach Rachel Gaynor. With a new course and some of Southeastern Kentucky’s best teams attending, this will be an invitational worth watching.

 

Boys Varsity

There are a handful of runners who have a legitimate shot at finishing first this Saturday at North Laurel. Based on projections, McCreary Central’s Tanner Carson has a slight edge over the rest of the field but by no means is he the clear cut favorite. Carson is the only runner to post a sub-eighteen time this season and is coming off two consecutive second place finishes. He has been running very well of late but he will have some stiff competition in Garrett Napier (North Laurel), John Bowling (North Laurel), Noah Brown (Casey County), Chase Williams (Casey County), and Hayden Wilson (South Laurel). Although he has been nursing a minor foot injury, Napier may be the biggest threat to Carson. Napier has run well in the past on his home course, posting a sub-eighteen time two years ago at the region championship and winning this year’s all-comers meet. John Bowling and Hayden Wilson have both ran their personal best times in recent weeks and should find themselves pushing Carson and Napier towards the front. The host team looks to be in control of the team competition with five runners projected to finish in the top twelve. It’s going to be a tough fight for second and third. Every point will count between Casey County, South Laurel, and McCreary Central. The fourth and fifth runners will have a huge impact, if one of them can step up then that might be enough to grab a spot in the top three.

 

Girls Varsity

South Laurel’s Sydney McWhorter looks as if she will continue her outstanding season and take home the girls title on Saturday. McWhorter has posted six top ten finishes so far this season and will be the only girl competing that has ran a sub twenty-one minute time this year. McWhorter may be the overwhelming favorite to take home first, but the rest of the top five is not so clear cut. Jenna Vaughn (Casey County), Mary Beth Melhuish (Madison Southern), Whitney Clements (Casey County), Alyssa Hamilton (South Laurel), and Holly Crouch (North Laurel) should all find themselves in contention for a spot in the top five. Vaughn ran her best time of the season at her last meet and looks to continue her momentum and possibly give McWhorter a run for her money. Clements and Melhuish have both been very consistent this season and have ran similar times; it will be very interesting to see which one can pull away and land a spot in the top three. Crouch and Hamilton both had very impressive performances last weekend at the Hillbilly run and should be in the pack towards the front. Another runner to keep an eye on is North Laurel’s Sidney King; she was a state qualifier in 2013 and could very well be a dark horse in this race. Casey County, South Laurel, and North Laurel all look as if they should be in the mix for the team championship, it should be a close finish.