Class AAA Boys
Teams:
Wow! Three teams this season would win the state championship in any other season, but only one can take home the title this year. The far and away favorite has been St. X all season long. They have been consistently ranked in the National Flo50 rankings and are currently #20. However, the Shamrocks from Trinity have been steadily improving and are at the best going into the state meet. Now, don't get me wrong St. X is a powerhouse with runners that have proven themselves and deserve all of the accolades they receive. However, this may be a little closer than some may think if the Rocks have a good race day. My final prediction is that the team score will be less than 15 points and there will be some point counting around the two mile mark and some anxious coaches. Beyond those two, this bad boy is wide open! I am going with a couple outside teams that may not be the most popular picks.
The Tigers did not run their best runner in Patrick Schaefer at the region meet last weekend and still posted a point total of 20. They had 6 of the top 7 (only losing the top place to Male's Dylan Allen). This group has shown that they will run together and they will do it very quickly. The team spread from 1 to 5 on season best is only 31.60 and they have done better than that at many meets. The pack is seemingly impenetrable. They are experienced, battle tested, and well coached. They have been in some of the biggest meets in the region at Palatine and Great American while racing some of the top teams in the country. Really I do not have a weakness in this group so far this season.
The Shamrocks have been methodical and well paced with their success this season. Led by Trevor Warren but legitimately having three other guys who can be the #1. The story for this crew will the #5 runner. Nick Lewis has been their 5 guy on season bests and was that way at the region meet. He was 16 second behind the 4 guy in Shane Williams. If he can close that gap and push the 2-3-4 gentlemen through the pack, they will be in good shape. I will be looking at the mile and a half to see where this pack is located. If they have infiltrated the St. X pack watch for them to keep working for position. This could be a very exciting two team race and I hope for everyone's sake it is. Go Rocks!
Mike Horan has yet again another group of solid harriers that will contend for a top 3 finish. The Eagles were third last year, and I fear for these guys that this is the best placement for this year. Three of the five scorers from last year's team return in Emerson Wells, Sam Ackerman, and Robert Thomasson and I am sure they want to avenge the placement last year. Sam Ackerman comes into the state meet with the #8 time run by a Class AAA boy and will be working to improve on his 13th place finish last year. I am going to take this little bit I get about Eastern to brag on the work that Coach Horan has done for the program and the sport. His tireless work with student athletes and providing the very best opportunities for his runners is to be commended and appreciated. I recognize there are coaches giving much of their lives to the youth in Kentucky, and Mike is a prime example of this work.
Ask me why I put Apollo here and I will tell you that I just have a gut feeling. These guys only had two runners in last year's state meet and this year took their region title in dominating fashion. Senior Colby Wiesman is returning to the state meet as is their #5 Jalen Taylor. The 2-3-4 runners will all be running at the state meet for the first time for Apollo. One key to this team is the Daviess County transfer Donta Millay. He was 18th last year and allowed Apollo to shore up that top 5 with a solid senior leader. Houston Gore and Ethan Dych complete the top 5 and have led this team to a promising state meet. If they want to get this top 5 finish, they need to tighten the pack and run as a team. A current 1-5 split of 1:20.14 is not going to lead to an optimal finish, but they have the promise of closing that gap and making a solid move.
Oldham County beat Eastern at the Region 4 meet so why have I put them in the 5th position here? The answer to me is their performance on the state course at the Lexington Catholic Invitational. They placed third to Trinity and Cooper while running their complete A team. Jacob Brizendine has exhibited the qualities of a #1 runner by leading his team all season long. His 15:57.56 at the region meet shows his ability. The team has a 1:02.95 1-5 split but when they ran the Horse Park that ballooned to 1:55.30 giving me a little doubt about placing them this high in my predictions. Either way, I know they have the ability to put themselves in contention but they must run as a team and beast the course that they were beasted by in early October.