Region 4

Site (host): Union (Ryle)

BOYS

The top challengers:

1. Dixon Ryan. The two-time defending region champ is a senior at St. Henry. His seed time (15:58.30 at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational) is the fastest in all of Class A.

2. Nathan Ruth. Bishop Brossart's junior standout ran a PR of 16:05.30 earlier this month and has competed almost every weekend this season, finishing in the top five in eight of the nine races he's entered.

3. Jeff Stewart. A junior teammate of Dixon's at St. Henry, Stewart has not competed in this meet before but ran in the top 20 at last year's state meet. His seed time is 16:27.60.

Fast facts: Dixon was the runner-up at last year's Class A KHSAA State Championship. He ran about 27 seconds behind Beechwood senior Natnael Weldemichael, now running for Northern Kentucky University.

GIRLS

The top challengers:

1. Amy Klocke. Her times have been up and down throughout the year, but the Bishop Brossart senior ran an all-time best of 19:18.07 in mid-September. Her average over her October races is 20:38.76.

2. Mackenzie McMain. The St. Henry sophomore PR'd more than a year ago - 19:45.90 on Oct. 2, 2021 - but hasn't clocked under 20 minutes since. She's ran sub-21 minutes once in eight meets this year.

3. Lily Parke. The Beechwood freshman is officially seeded third (19:52.20) but ran a 19:45.74 last weekend at the KTCCCA Meet of Champions.

Fast facts: McMain and Klocke finished second and third, respectively, in last year's race to Bishop Brossart senior Claire Curtsinger. ... Parke did not compete in last year's regional.