What a great weekend of High School Cross Country running for Kentucky athletes. Across all of the meets, we saw incredible times, dominant performances, and a lot of fun. Let's give a quick breakdown of the action from this weekend.
Class 1A Boys
Grant Greenwell and the Bethlehem boys make a statement. This team last year finished 4th at the state meet after coming in as the projected runner-up. Additionally, they lost superstar Isaac Riggs to the Collegiate ranks leaving many questions about this roster. Those questions were answered this Saturday at the St. Xavier Tiger Run where Grant Greenwell ran 15:29.99 to finish 2nd. After that performance, Greenwell is one of the favorites to win the individual title and his Bethlehem Eagles are now the favorites to win the Class 1A State Title.
Also, James Gurley is back. After being injured all track season, the Louisville Collegiate Senior threw down a 15:18 to finish 7th at the Central Kentucky Run for the Gold. He's back, he's healthy, and he will battle with Greenwell to take home that Class 1A State title.
Class 1A Girls
Kennedy Moughamian and her Lexington Christian team are going to be serious problems in the Class 1A ranks. Moughamian ran 18:04 at the Run for Gold Saturday leading her team to a dominant victory. Lexington Christian is looking to defend their State Championship from last season.
Lily Parke from Beechwood is still dominant. Being from Northern Kentucky, Parke has run on two very difficult courses to begin the season compared to the flat, fast nature of the courses at Tiger Run and Run for Gold. That said, Parke ran 18:48.50 on Saturday at the Ryle Invite taking 1st. She also won the Moeller Primetime meet last weekend. Just like last season, it will be Moughamian versus Parke to take the individual team title.
Class 2A Boys
Thomas Nelson still has a superstar. Thomas Nelson has a history of producing top individual talents such as Riku Sugie, Lane Hoyes, and Jarrett Mattingly. Daniel Filiatreau is ready to take on that challenge this season. Filiatreau finished 5th at the Run For Gold meet in Elizabethtown this weekend in 15:17.50. That time is good enough to be #1 in Class 2A and he should be in contention to bring home that State Championship in Early Novemeber.
Mark Reinhart is going to be AWESOME! Just a Freshman at Lexington Catholic, Reinhart ran a 15:46.80 on Saturday at the Run for Gold. Watch for him to move up the Class 2A ranks this season and over the next 4 years.
Class 2A Girls
Baili Hoten is the Name to watch in Class 2A this season. The Thomas Nelson Junior ran a 17:47.10 on Saturday at the Run for Gold winning the meet by 17 seconds. After winning the cross country State Championship as a Freshman, Hoten was defeated last season by Caroline Beiting at the State Championship. With Beiting graduating, all eyes should be on Hoten. Watch for her as the Season unfolds.
Lexington Catholic is very good. Catholic had two Top 10 finishers at the Central Kentucky Run for the Gold on Saturday with Abigail Turner finished 3rd in 18:04 and Anna Dawahare finishing in 8th in 18:18. Moreover, their 3-5 all came in under the 20:30 mark. With the high end talent of Dawahare and Turner combined with the consistency of the back of their pack, Catholic should find themselves firmly in the State Championship conversation.
Class 3A Boys
Lafayette has the best Duo the State of Kentucky has ever seen. At the Central Kentucky Run for the Gold, Lafayette's Xavier Richardson and Van Weimer did the unthinkable. Coming into the day, no team in Kentucky history has ever had two runners who both ran under the 15 minute mark in the same season let alone in the same race, however, that is exactly what Lafayette did Saturday night. Xavier Richardson ran 14:44 which is good for the 4th fastest 5k ran in KY history on the grass surface. Additionally, Weimer ran 14:48.20 which is good for the 7th fastest time in KY History. That duo will have to special this season for Lafayette to repeat as Champions.
Trinity is the deepest team in the State. At the St. Xavier Tiger Run, Trinity put their entire top 7 under 16 minutes. Their 1-5 spread was less than 16 seconds and their 1-7 spread was less than 27 seconds. After being upset last year by Lafayette, Trinity has come back with a vengeance and is looking like the team that were the hands down favorites last season. Their depth will be a serious problem for any team in Class 3A as Trinity looks to reclaim the State Championship.
All eyes will be at Seneca Park on Saturday where Trinity and Lafayette will hold a Dual meet giving us a look into where they are right now.
Class 3A Girls
Susanne Estepp looks poised to break out this season. Estepp has been on the edge of the Top 10 in the Class 3A ranks for the last two seasons. This year however, she looks like she is ready to challenge Addison Moore, Mabel George, and the other top 3A runners. Estepp took 1st at the St. Xavier Tiger Run with an 18:26.62. She will race again on Saturday at the Mason County Invitational.