Trinity/Valkyrie (KY) Invitational Preview

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Trinity/Valkyrie (KY) Virtual Boys Top 100

Trinity/Valkyrie (KY) Virtual Girls Top 100

 

MEET PREVIEW

The 2011 Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational has a lot going for it.  The oldest meet in Kentucky not to mention the biggest has made Louisville the place where several of the best from all the surrounding states meet to showdown.  This year’s version is no different with nationally ranked runners and teams from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Ohio in attendance.  In total close to 3,500 runners will roll on a super fast course with a great weather forecast projected.

 

                After the boys and girls Open Races start the day on Saturday, the showdowns begin.  The Varsity Boys Race will line up headlined by Cabell Midland’s Jacob Burcham (MileSplit US #6 on September 1st.)  Burcham swept the distance events at the 2011 West Virginia State Track Championships and was the 2010 Cross Country State Champion as well.  He represented the United States at the World Youth Championships in France running a 3:46 1500m and also ran 4:07 for the full mile.  All of that while he was only sophomore, so it makes perfect sense he is the early favorite at Trinity.  His only meet of the 2011 season saw him win by 34 seconds with a 16:08. 

               

Kentucky’s Jacob Thomson (MileSplit US Watch List on September 1st) fresh off his own distance sweep in track last spring at the Kentucky State Track Championship opened up his season with a win as well at Tiger Run in Louisville.  He crossed the line with a 15:32 for the win.  He followed that two weeks later at the Artesian Classic finishing second overall.  The winner was MileSplit US #2 Futsum Zeinasellassie who crossed the line 12 seconds ahead of Thomson.  Fourth place that day was MileSplit US #20 Andrew Diehn, so the next set of MileSplit US Top 25 rankings should see Thomson enter the list in the top 20.

               

Tennessee’s Brock Baker (AAA Pre-Season #1) rolled this past track season as well running 4:16/9:13.  He also defeated Thomson head to head in the 1600m at the Eastern Relays in Louisville in April.  In a sprint to the line, Baker edged Thomson by .68 of a second.  He has run one race this fall winning by 48 seconds with a 16:06.  The Carmel duo of Patrick Appleton and Daniel Williams have run 15:41 in the early season to put themselves in contention with the front group.  Kentucky’s Luke Weishaar (Oldham County) and Patrick Gregory (Butler) should show well on the fast Tom Sawyer Park course.

               

The team battle should see West Virginia Powerhouse Cabell Midland, IN #2 Carmel, IN #8 North Harrison, KY AAA #1 St. Xavier, TN #2 Bearden, and TN AAA #3 Brentwood all in the mix. 

 

                The Varsity Girls Race brings in the best overall team regardless of gender with the ladies of Carmel (Indiana.)  The group ranks #1 overall in Indiana with five girls who have all already run under the 18:53 mark this season.  They had a 17 second gap between 1 & 5 at the Hamilton County Invitational on August 30th.  Kentucky’s Class AAA #1 Assumption will roll out their actual top runners for the first time this season after running a partial squad at their first two meets.    

 

Kelcy Welch looks like the early favorite leading the charge for Carmel.  She will be surrounded by her fellow teammates up front as well most likely.  Kentucky’s own Maddox Patterson placed second last year with an 18:10.  She will look to win this year, looking to crack the 18 minute barrier for the first time.  Only a freshman, but she is already the two-time defending Class A State Champion.  Patterson will face off against her fellow Class A competitor Kaitlin Snapp for the first time this year.  Snapp was fourth last year in this race with an 18:11.  Kentucky State Record Holder and defending Class AA Champion Caterina Karas is always threat to throw down a smoking fast time with a career best of 18:11. 

 

The action will be intense and the races will be loaded.  Make sure to head out to Tom Sawyer Park Saturday in Louisville.  If you are not able to attend, KYtrackXC.com will be live on-site providing updates, splits, and results all day long.