Black Friday is known as the day of notorious shopping sells across the state of Kentucky.  This does hold true, but for the running community it is a night and morning of traveling to North Carolina.  For most areas of the state it takes close to twelve hours to arrive in Charlotte for Foot Locker South or Cary for NXN Southeast.  Kentucky’s best is split on the boys side between the races, whereas the girls all headed to Charlotte this year.

Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional

Kentucky has one team attending this year’s NXN regional in Cary.  St. Xavier, AAA Runner-Up is competing as Louisville X Running Club.  MileStat, Virginia’s MileSplit site made a virtual meet based on the team entries using the runners best times from this season and St. Xavier is 13^th overall.  The Tigers will need their front trio of Connor Sheryak, Zach Beavin, and Austin Carter running side by side in the top 20 to any damage in the team race.   They also have a squad going in the Boys Open Race.

Individually, AAA Runner-Up Jake Wildenmann from Trinity and teammate, Sam Meredith are making the trip.  Wildenmann should be able to mix it up with the front leaders.  If I remember right from last year, Wildenmann was in the front pack with a mile to go until injury forced him out of the race.  It would be awesome to see Jake qualify for Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon on December 4^th.

9:00 AM - BOYS OPEN RACE STARTS

106  Andrew Bartholomai            12 Louisville X-Tre            

107  Chip Raque                    12 Louisville X-Tre            

108  Eric Beyerle                  11 Louisville X, Go            

109  Charlie Hammon                13 Louisville X, Go            

110  Max Mudd                      14 Louisville X, Go            

111  Andrew Parola                 13 Louisville X, Go            

112  Jimmy Paul                    12 Louisville X, Go            

113  Chris Saldana                 12 Louisville X, Go            

114  Vincent Stephen               12 Louisville X, Go 

10:20 AM - BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE STARTS

196  Jake Wildenmann               11 Una-Ky-Louis, Lo            

197  Sam Meredith                  12 Una-Ky-Taylo, Ta

 93  Zack Beavin                   12 Louisville X, Go           

 94  Austin Carter                 11 Louisville X, Go           

 95  Aaron Graves                  11 Louisville X, Go           

 96  Mark Johnson                  13 Louisville X, Go           

 97  Sam Lewis                     13 Louisville X, Go           

 98  Nick Reader                   13 Louisville X, Go           

 99  Connor Sheryak                13 Louisville X, Go  

11:00 AM - GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP RACE STARTS

Foot Locker South Regional

No Kentucky runner has qualified for the trip to San Diego since Michael Eaton won Foot Locker South in 2005.  Emma Brink, 4-time AAA State Champion was close last year with her 13^th place finish running a best time of 17:40.  Brink has a serious shot at finishing in the top 10 Saturday based on her improved running this year.  In the past years she has always hovered around 18:20 or above during the season.  She went under 18 twice this season including running a 17:44.  She has the speed to hang in the notoriously fast opening mile at Foot Locker South and she should be able to come back strong in mile two.  The third mile will be a test to see if Emma can hold her ground and not lose any spots especially if she is in eighth or ninth.  Emma Brink is clearly one of the greatest female distance runners in Kentucky history, but a trip to San Diego would go a long way to establish her as THE best ever.  

Class AAA Champion Evan Ehrenheim and AA Champ Jared Skrabacz should have the best shot on the boys’ side of hitting the top 10 barrier.  Typically the tenth spot hovers around the 15 flat mark.  This would be an 18 second PR for Evan and 35 seconds for Jared.  McAlpine Greenway Park is a super fast course and allows many athletes to PR big time, so 15 flat is not out of the question for either of them if they have a good race. 

The top 100 fastest 5K times during the 2010 cross country season by high school runners within the Foot Locker South Region states. Runners currently registered for the Foot Locker South Regional are highlighted in BOLD.

Boys - https://va.milesplit.com/articles/56228

Girls - https://va.milesplit.com/articles/56219 

118 athletes from Kentucky are registered to run in a full slate of races from the Seeded Race to the Open 5K.  Good luck to all and make Kentucky proud!!!!

Full List Below: