The Top Challengers

1. Dixon Ryan: Last year's Class A runner-up through eight races has averaged a finish time of 16:31.25, nearly a full minute faster than he ran in sloppy conditions last year and about 26 seconds faster than last year's winner, Beechwood senior Natnael Weldemichael. Ryan's PR, 15:58.30, came at this year's Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational and is the only sub-16 minute 5K time posted by the St. Henry senior in his competition career. He's seeded first overall after running a 16:37.47 in the KHSAA Region 4 meet last weekend.

2. Nathan Ruth: The Bishop Brossart junior is seeded third due to his KHSAA Region 4 time (16:42.24) but he owns the second fastest time this season (16:05.30) and has placed in the top three in his past six races, only once not finishing as the runner-up. His and Ryan's best times are the only marks by Class A runners this season that rank in the top 30 statewide (26th and 28th, respectively).

3. Maddox Donovan: A third-place finish in the KHSAA Region 5 meet snapped a two-race win streak by the Nicholas County sophomore, and his time (17:32.92) there nearly fell outside of the top 20 seeds. Donovan twice in his last four races has posted sub-16:20 marks, including a 16:11.14 PR on Oct. 8, so don't discount his chances to run near - or at - the top.

4. Jayden Marr: Prior to winning the KHSAA Region 2 meet last weekend with a PR time of 16:42.24, Marr had finished no better than sixth in a race this season. He doubled his career 5K victories with that achievement, and the Green County sophomore is seeded second overall. That time is 10th fastest in Class A this fall; however, it was Marr's fourth straight competition in which he improved his time by about 10 seconds. That's a sound track record.

5. Isaac Riggs: The Bethlehem sophomore's time of 16:25.30 at the Louisville XC Classic ranks fifth among Class A runners this fall, but it's the only time in his last four races that he posted a sub-17 minute mark. His runner-up time in KHSAA Region 2, 17:18.76, seeds him eighth coming into this race.

Teams to Know

1. St. Henry: The Crusaders' average time, 16:47.73, ranks ninth in the state regardless of class. After winning every Class A team title from 2002-2012, St. Henry went through a dry spell before defeating Villa Madonna, 59-89, for last season's crown. Their season average score is 588, making the Crusaders one of two Class A squads ranked in the top 15.

2. Highlands Latin: It's the other one with a top-15 showing statewide, coming in right at No. 15 (625). Clayton Nau, a junior, leads the three Highlanders with sub-17 minute PR times (16:48.80).

3. Villa Madonna: The Vikings' average time is 17:17.47 and they rank 25th statewide with an average season score of 937. Junior Adam Kolar and sophomore Ethan Martin are within fractions of each other in terms of PR times (17:04.40 vs. 17:04.81).