CAVE LAKE FALL CLASSIC
October 25, 2014 @ Cave Lake Park in Monticello, KY
Hosted by Wayne County
With region right around the corner, this Saturday will be a good opportunity for teams to gain a little momentum and make some last minute preparations. There are several athletes that have a legitimate shot to make it to the State Championships and this meet will give them a chance to see how they stack up against some of Southern Kentucky’s best runners. The season is winding down but the competition is heating up.
Boys Varsity
The boy’s competition features two of the best runners from the Class of 2015. Garrett Faulkner (Williamsburg) and Jordan Carrington (Southwestern) have both had outstanding seasons thus far and they both are in contention to win their respective regions. The last time these two competed in the same meet was at the Greater Louisville Classic and Carrington edged out Faulkner by 36 seconds. Faulkner has won three out of his last five races and looks poised to make a statement at the 1A State Championships in a few weeks. Dalton Walden (Whitley County), Spencer Brainard (Southwestern), Cameron Howard (Wayne County), Zachary Tucker (Wayne County), Drew Bell (Wayne County), Landon Bond (Jackson County), and Scout Bundy (Jackson County) will all be battling it out for a spot in the top five. Walden won the Wayne County Invitational earlier in the year and he also ran his best time of the season at Cave Lake Park. Walden could very well give Carrington and Faulkner a run for their money. Wayne County has five runners that could make their way into the top five which explains why they are currently ranked #7 in Class 2A. Cameron Howard, Zachary Tucker, Drew Bell, Zachary West, and Matthew Coomer have all ran sub-eighteen times this season and should help push each other on their home course. Jackson County is currently ranked second in their region but a breakout performance from Scout Bundy could give them some momentum heading into next weekend. Bundy usually runs his best times towards the end of the season and he hopes to continue this trend on Saturday. The Cardinals of Wayne County look to be in control of the team championship. Southwestern and Knox Central should round out the top three.
Girls Varsity
Selina Mattingly, the young sensation from Williamsburg is the heavy favorite heading into this race. Mattingly has won four of her last five races and she also won this event last season. She obviously has the momentum and experience needed to repeat. Reese Helton (Corbin) and Kaeona Phelps (Southwestern) should be battling it out for second and third place. Phelps barely beat out Helton earlier this season at the Berea Invitational but Helton has a two second edge when comparing season best times. The rest of the top ten is wide open with Savannah Parmley (Wayne County), Nicole Hesse (Wayne County), Ashley Phelps (Southwestern), Jennifer Sawyer (Wayne County), Danielle Hickman (Corbin), Caseylynn Brooks (Knox Central), Abigail Schwarz (Williamsburg) all running similar times throughout the season. Parmley has been running well of late and could very well be in the mix with Helton and Phelps. Heese, a seventh grader, finished sixth earlier this season at the Wayne County Invitational and has been steadily improving throughout the year; she could be a dark horse in this race. Corbin looks to be in control of the team competition while Wayne, Whitley, Southwestern, and Knox Central will be in the mix for the second and third spots.