Region 4 AA Preview
Boys Preview
Individual Favorite: Nicholas Laureano (Lexington Catholic)
After busting out of the gate like a mad man with a couple great early season performances, Laureano ran into an injury issue which caused him to go through a rough patch in the middle of the season. But it looks like he his back after he won the Area 6 Championship on October 22nd with a 16:06. One of his teammates Joe Richey or Gavin Knies are his biggest threats to beat him.
Team Showdown
One thing is for sure, the word Catholic is going to be all over the top twenty of the final results. Class AA #2 Covington Catholic and #3 Lexington Catholic are going to throw down the gloves and go at it. Lex. Catholic can roll in 1-3 if all goes well with Laureano, Richey, and Knies. The question is when four and five follow and can Cov. Catholic get all five of their guys in between. That is what this race comes down to, if Jackson Laureano breaks up the Cov. Cath. pack than the race swings in their favor. If Cov. Cath. can put seven in front of Lex. Catholic’s fifth than watch out because this race just got really interesting.
Pendleton County and Highlands are solid at three and four in the team competition. Western Hills will battle cross county rival Franklin County for the fifth spot.
Predicted State Qualifiers
Teams: Lexington Catholic, Covington Catholic, Pendleton County, Highlands, Western Hills
Individuals: Alex Henn (Lloyd Memorial), Jaylin Wilson (Holmes), Camron Musk (Lloyd Memorial), Alan Royse (Bourbon County), and Joey Faulconer (Harrison County)
Girls Preview
Individual Favorite: Lauren Ossege (Highlands)
Never underestimate this runner; she is always there where she is expected to be. This Saturday expect to see her in the front not holding back at all. Torey Duncan (Lloyd Memorial) will play the role of chaser.
Team Showdown
This is a race of youth versus age. Highlands and a loaded middle school crew will dual it out with the Lloyd Memorial and the upperclassmen. Highlands has Ossege at one, Lloyd will then get three quick with T. Duncan, Sarah Duncan, and Danielle Hyman. Highlands will then bring in a couple. Highlands is struck a blow with the loss of 6th grader Karsen Hunter (not eligible to run in the post-season.) This could tilt the favorite title towards Lloyd Memorial.
Third and fourth place will be Lexington Catholic and Franklin County. Lexington Catholic has comfortable gap on Franklin, but is too far back on the top two to make a move for the win.
Predicted State Qualifiers
Teams: Highlands, Lloyd Memorial, Lexington Catholic, Franklin County
Individuals: Dove Denigris (Western Hills), Brooke Frederick (Harrison County), Alexis Tolbert (Pendleton County), Brittany Lunsford (Bourbon County), and Emilee Agee (Western Hills)