Three months of the cross country season culminates in six races at the state meet at the Kentucky Horse Park Saturday.
Nationally ranked Ron Duncan of Fleming County looks to end his high school career in style in the boys' AA race. Nathan Liversedge of West Jessamine, Willie Pollio of Owensboro Catholic, and Brian Mirrielees and Griffin Austin of Highlands will be shooting for the runner-up spot. Coming off a strong performance at the Meet of Champions and Region 5 meet, Casey Moore of Rowan County hopes to lead the Vikings to the state title. Owensboro Catholic was ranked number one most of the season and hopes to regain the top spot Saturday.
The AA girls individual race is wide open. Rachel Blank and Hannah Hobbs of Bell County went 1-2 at the Meet of Champions, but Sondra Nieporte of Lloyd and Kayla Hayes of Rockcastle and a rapidly improving Kelsey McCain of Pendleton County are all capable of breaking the tape first. Highlands has been ranked #1 all season and put six runners in the top eight at the Region 5 meet. Bell County, Lexington Catholic, and Rockcastle County look to make the title chase interesting.
St. Henry plans on taking another double this year in Class A. The St. Henry boys look unbeatable with the capability of putting five in the top ten led by Reggie Bieger and Gordy Dooley, and the Lady Crusaders just reload each year. Bishop Brossart and Hancock County's boys look to be running for second. Brandon Adkins of Pikeville could pull the upset in this race. Danville sixth grader Kaitlin Snapp has been the class of the small schools for the last month, however, St. Henry's Jenna Siemer, two-time defending state champion, trailed Snapp by only a few seconds at the Meet of Champions and will attempt to close out her career with a second straight title. Trimble County, recovering from a mid-season slump seems to have returned to form at the right time. Led by Jessica Sells and Valerie Thomas, Trimble looks to reprise last year's runner-up finish. Raegan Deaton of Green County, Danielle Hoop of Owen County and Rebecca Shelton of Model will be waiting in the wings if Siemer or Snapp falters.
The Lady Crimsons of duPont Manual and the Tigers of St. Xavier look unbeatable in AAA. St. X has turned in some nationally ranked performances this season and may put four in the top ten with Scott McClain, Brian Long, Thomas Davis, Sean Brotzge to walk away with the title. Trinity, Dunbar and Daviess County may have to settle for running for second. The feature of the race may be how fast Michael Eaton can cover the course. Having turned in a number of nationally ranked performances this season, Eaton looks to close out a stellar career and repeat as state champion. Daniel Murner of South Oldham turned in the fastest time in the regionals last week. If he can stay with Eaton for half the race, the times may be very impressive.
Manual's girls have been ranked #1 all year. Mary Grace Pellegrini was ranked #1 earlier in the year but Kortni Dukes of Scott is the favorite. Laura Steinmetz of Dunbar and Kim Grieshaber of Woodford County look to give Dukes a run for the title as Grieshaber closes out a stellar high school career. Ellen Daly of Assumption hopes to lead her team to the awards stand also.