Kentucky Track & Cross Country Coaches Association
Six major meets highlight the sixth weekend of the season, four of the meets having over 1000 competitors entered while #1 ranked St. Xavier and #4 Assumption take their teams to the national level at the Great American Cross Country Classic in Cary, North Carolina, this weekend. Individuals competing include Sacred Heart's Leah Ryan and Olivia Higdon and Fleming County's Ron Duncan.
Over 1400 runners from 44 schools are set to race at Greenwood's 14th Annual Gatorland Run. Three-Peat state champions Daviess Co & Sacred Heart, Greenwood\'s Michael Eaton, Drake Midgett, Nate Settle, Keela Osborne & Kaitlyn Potzick; Warren East\'s Zach Shuffett and Claire Herrington, Pulaski Co\'s Patrick Jenkins; Grayson Co\'s Chris Belcher; Owensboro Catholic\'s Willie Polio; Sacred Heart\'s Leah Ryan & Katherine Peterson; and former Greenwood great Rachel Hanson from Rossview of Clarksville, Tenn head the list of the many outstanding teams of runners. Eaton won an unprecedented third straight Trinity Invitational championship highlighting the 50th anniversary of the meet.
25 schools will compete at Woodford County Park in the Paul Dunbar Invitational. Kim Grieshaber (#5 AAA) of Woodford County, and host Dunbar's Laura Steinmetz and Colleen Davis, Sondra Nieporte of Lloyd and Kayla Hayes of Rockcastle County top the girls field while Antonio Marchi of Henry Clay and Justin Smith top the boys field. Paul Dunbar, Rowan County and Woodford boys are the favorites. Dunbar (#5 AAA), Lloyd Memorial (#2 AA) and Rockcastle (#4 AA) girls should have an interesting battle for the team title.
At the South Oldham Dragon Invitational at East Oldham Middle School, South Oldham's Daniel Murner, and Campbell County's Drew Harris, Brian Stevenson of North Oldham are the favorites in the boys with Kristen Miller of South Oldham, defending Class A state champ Jenna Siemer and Emily Fette of St. Henry, and Meredith Lemaster of North Oldham heading the girls field. South & North Oldham's boys highlight a local rivalry of former teammates while St. Henry and North Oldham is the girls favorite.
24 schools with 600 athletes will compete at the Scott Classic at Scott High School. #2 Scott with Kortni Dukes and # 1 Highlands girls who have five runners ranked in the top twenty in AA highlight the girls field. Louisville Eastern travels north to challenge Scott High. Blake Askin of Scott and Brian Mirrielees of Highlands lead the boys with #3 AA Highlands the favorite in the boys race.
The Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park will include four college races as a preview of the NAIA regionals and National championships. KHSAA AAA Region 2 & 3 will be held on the same course and provide those teams with the only preview of the regional site course. Trinity's boys led by Kenny Minogue and Ethan Short come off a strong performance at its anniversary invitational and #1 duPont Manual's girls with #1 Mary Grace Pellegrini top the girls field.
The Russell Invitational at the Fairview Athletic Complex will feature Fairview's girls.