KYtrackXC.com and Christian Academy in Louisville are pleased to announce the KYtrackXC.com 5K Showdown is back for the third year in a row. The event will be held on Friday, March 21st to open the Harry Greschel Invitational at CAL. The night will start at 7:00 PM to allow runners time to drive in.
Coaches can enter athletes by emailing Jonathan Grooms at kytrackxc@gmail.com, entry does guarantee acceptance in the event depending on the number entries. Runners should have XC PRs of 17:15 for boys and 21:00 for girls to be considered.
This is an official high school event in connection with the Harry Greschel Invitational on March 23rd. Out-of-state runners are welcome as well.
KYtrackXC.com 5K Showdown Girls Footage
KYtrackXC.com 5k Showdown Boys Race
Past Years Action
The inaugural race was held in 2012 with Foot Locker Finalist Jacob Thomson of Holy Cross leading the charge winning in a smoking fast time of 14:49.80 setting a then PR time. Butler sophomore Patrick Gregory finished 2nd with a sub 15 himself running 14:57.96. Six total runners went under 15:30 with an additional runner going under 16:00. The girls race was won by the host school's Hannah Herd with a 19:24.7 over North Oldham's Erin Edmundson with a 19:26.3.
2013 saw an expansion of the races with the addition of a 2nd heat of the boys 5K. 18 boys were set up in the fast heat all with XC prs under 16:26. 23 boys ran in the 2nd heat.
The night started with a boom as St. Xavier's William Mulloy and Trinity's Evan Lang chased each other around the track both setting new PRs and going sub 16 for the 1st time. Mulloy won the heat with a 15:52.49 over Lang's 15:55.53. 17 boys went 17:00 or faster in that heat.
The girls were up next with Kentucky State XC Record holder Gabby Karas taking the track. She took the lead from the beginning rolling through 1st mile in 5:25 and then onto the 2nd mile in 11:18. She crossed to win with a meet record time of 17:50.73. The next group stayed close throughout the race with Sacred Heart's Samantha Simms finishing 2nd in 18:18.01. Holy Cross's Karly Gawarecki was 3rd in 18:24.05 with Oldham County's Caroline Grogan right behind in 18:24.53. 8 runner went under 18:50 and 21 total under 19:52.
The boys race turned into a race of strategy with Patrick Gregory, Connor Sheryak, Connor Sorrells, Chris Striegel, and Daniel Southard leading the front group. Gregory, the 2012 runner-up pulled up the win with a 15:03 barely missing the sub 15 mark. Sheryak and Sorrells each were at 15:07 with Striegel at 15:12. Southard rounded out the top 5 at 15:28. The fast heat saw 11 runner go under 15:58 with an additional four under 16:10.
Top 25 Girls Times
Top 25 Boys Times