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November 03, 2012 @ Renaissance Park in Eminence, KY
Hosted by Henry County
Girls Championship
"Going for the Win"
Gabby Karas, defending state champion Class AA.... need I say more. The 8th grader will run this as hard or as easy as she wants to win on Saturday.
"Team Hunt".
In our third #1 v. #2 match-up of the weekend, you have South Oldham vs. North Oldham. For teams that are just across the county from each other they do not compete against each other that much. In the last head to head at the Dragon Invitational, South won 45-55. North was without #1 Erin Edmundson. The race Saturday is similar to Dragon size wise so the races are comparable. South will need their front trio Keightley Dudgeon, Grace Whitworth, and Erin Wilson at their best just as much as Marissa Lowe and Maggie Fiorito are vital to North. Each teams pack needs to not worry about each other as much as they do the rest of the region. If Brianna Wolken and Mary Robinson (Mercy), Sierra Poppell and Caroline Collins (Bullitt East), and Courtney Carrico and Emily Flaherty of Presentation are able to break up the groups from South and North this race is over for one of the teams.
The battle for third is a nice one as well between Bullitt East and Mercy. Each has strength at the top, so whoever can get their runners in the middle of South and North will have the advantage there. If 10 teams come to the line as is possible than Presentation or Martha Layne Collins would be state bound.
Boys Championship
"Going for the Win"
Trenton Fryman from North Oldham would be the logical choice here after a sub 16 as a freshmen, but a foot injury knocked him out after Trinity. He fought back and ran an easy 19:43 last week at Metro Meet of Champions. If he runs in the regional, he is a threat to win. If not, than his teammate Luke Tarvestad or one of the Dowdy boys from South Oldham will be the void in first. Devon Fielding from Collins has been coming on strong the last half of the year.
"Team Hunt"
Class AA #1 North Oldham comes in ready to defend their state title. They are possibility without #1 Fryman, but they have no shortage of depth (7 JV runners under 18:01 on Tuesday.) They will look to show this strong regional, they are the class of the field with Tarvestad, Nolan Ruhs, and Luke Cummins all in the top group Saturday. Projected second place finishers of Martha Layne Collins, South Oldham, and Bullitt East just do not have the depth to challenge North. Their 6/7 runners will be bumping back the others teams.
That being said the race for second is a great one with between South, Bullitt East, and Collins. South is nasty up top with the Dowdy's, East and Collins are more pack oriented.