Region 6
Site (host): Masterson Station Park (Lafayette)
BOYS
The top challengers
1. Ryan Hendrix. Even if he doesn't win, Hendrix is likely to be the biggest riser in finishing position this season. He came in 14th last year with a time of 18:09.99 - more than a minute slower than his worst time in 2022. The Woodford County sophomore PR'd with a 15:40.47 at the Central Kentucky Conference on Sept. 27. That's the fourth fastest individual time in Class 3A and the seventh best among all KHSAA runners.
2. Noah Mathews. He came in fourth last year as a freshman - and was the second freshman to cross the finish line - but owns the second best time in Region 6. At the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational he ran 15:47.00, the seventh fastest time in Class 3A.
3. Philip Lamartiniere. The Tates Creek senior got a late start to the competition season, not racing until Sept. 24, but he PR'd in his second of three meets, finishing the Saturday Night Lights in 15:57.70. Lamartiniere is the defending region champ; he won with a time of 16:44.63 last October.
Fast facts: Tates Creek fielded the top two finishers last season but it was Lafayette that pulled out the team victory. The Generals did that despite not having a runner in the top four spots. ... Lafayette this year boasts four of the top 15 seeds, led by Gabe Smith (16:43.19), and seven of the top 20.
GIRLS
The top challengers
1. Addison Moore. The freshman out of Woodford County already boasts the ninth fastest time among all KHSAA runners, and the fastest PR in the 2026 class (18:19.12). She's won six of the seven races she entered this fall and is seeking her third straight region title. It's tough to see her extending that streak into the foreseeable future.
2. Anna Gedritis. She busted through the 19-minute barrier three times this season, capping her final regular season at Paul Laurence Dunbar with a her first victory in the FCPS XC Championships on Oct. 11. Her PR time (18:49.30) came at the Bluegrass Invitational and is the 15th fastest by an individual this season.
3. Ava Plumb. The Montgomery County junior boasts the fourth fastest time in the region this fall, earned at the Area 7 Championships a couple weekends ago. She ran 19:37.34 there but is seeded fifth here.
Fast facts: Avery Hutchison, a Lafayette freshman who owns the third fastest time in the region this season (19:06.11), isn't entered. She hasn't raced since the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on Sept. 17. ... Woodford County senior Maggie Twehues is seeded third with a seed time from her freshman season (18:50.04. Her fastest time in 2022 is 21:03.88, 11th fastest in the region this season.