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Friday, September 12, 2008
Hitting Stride
Greater Louisville, KY
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By: Josh Cook
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Photo(s) By: Betty Coffman
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Area cross country teams pick up speed as the season begins.
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Assumption and Sacred Heart will likely battle it out once again for the AAA team title. The schools finished 1-2 last season.
"Last year it came down to them and us and this year it could easily be that also. We'll have pretty decent teams," says Assumption coach Barry Haworth.
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This could be a historic cross country season at Christian Academy and Portland Christian.
The Centurions, last year's runner-up in the 2007 KHSAA Class A State Cross Country Meet, should have a shot at their first state title.
Meanwhile Portland Christian Eagles junior Justin Wellum, who was fourth last year in Class A as a sophomore, could contend for an individual state title, which would be the first in the history of the school’s program.
Those are just two things to watch as the cross country season begins to pick up speed this month before hitting its stride in October, then crossing the finish line in November.
Here are some other teams and individuals to watch this season:
BOYS
CAL finished 24 points behind champion St. Henry, which graduated many of its top runners, in the state meet at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington last season.
The Centurions return three runners who finished in the state’s top 26 - junior Jared Burnett and seniors Thomas Simpson and Isaac Turner. Also back is senior Jon Blinkhorn, who had an off race at State, but consistently runs with Simpson and Turner.
"We are pretty optimistic about the upcoming season," CAL coach Lowery Stallings said. "The guys are working very hard to see if they can improve one step."
In AA, North Oldham returns junior Justin Roenigk (20th at state last year) and sophomore Colin Grandon (29th). The Mustangs were seventh last season.
DuPont Manual is the favorite to repeat in AAA led by David Hamm, Eric Jeter and Perry Finley. All three finished 21st or better at last year's state meet.
“They’re seniors, so they are on a mission,” says Manual coach Debra Moore, who returns seven of her top 10 runners from last year. "It's going to be an especially exciting season.”
Shelby County could also make things interesting. The Rockets are fueled by junior Stacey Eden, who was sixth at State last season.
Oldham County senior Joe Mallek, who was fifth at last season's state meet, could make a run at an individual title this year.
"Joe Mallek should be one of the top runners in 3A this year," Oldham County coach Kirk Thomas says. "His best race of the season occurred at State last year where he set a huge PR. He beat several runners that he hadn't been close to beating all year that day, and we're hoping he can pick up at that level of running this season."
Others to watch for are Male senior Steve Mize, South Oldham senior Jacob Law, Trinity senior Brian Hancock and St. Xavier junior Jackson Carnes. The Shamrocks, third last season, and the Tigers, fifth last year, should also figure in the state mix. Others teams to watch are Male and Butler, who were seventh and eighth respectively at State last fall.
Over in Southern Indiana, Floyd Central has won five straight sectional titles and regional titles in four of the last five years. The Highlanders will be strong again behind seniors Sam Mires and Justin Hodge.
Others to watch across the Ohio River are Silver Creek senior Brendan Chwalek and New Albany junior Jason Holcomb.
GIRLS
Kentucky Country Day junior Angelique Ciliberti finished seventh in Class A last season and she could contend for a title this season. CAL, ninth last year, could be a player in the race for the team title.
In AA North Oldham, which was third last season, should make a run for the team championship. Leading the way for the Mustangs will be senior Erin Overcash. Also worth watching is Mercy senior Megan Mitchell.
Assumption and Sacred Heart will likely battle it out once again for the AAA team title. The schools finished 1-2 last season.
"Last year it came down to them and us and this year it could easily be that also. We'll have pretty decent teams," says Assumption coach Barry Haworth.
The Rockets return their top four scorers from the state meet, led by seniors Ellen Daly and Hillary Raidt and juniors Allison Riedling and Sara Davis.
"We have the potential to do quite well, but our success will hinge upon several factors," Haworth said.
The Valkyries could have something to say about that with the defending individual state champ, sophomore Emma Brink.
"I have been coaching 18 years at Sacred Heart, and Emma has the best aerobic capacity of any runner I’ve coached," Sacred Heart coach Rick Heim says.
Also back for Sacred Heart is senior Emme McAtee, who was sixth at the state meet. Brink and McAtee finished 1-2 in the 3,200-meter run at the KHSAA Class 3A State Track Meet at the end of May.
Others to watch include Oldham County senior Annie Barry and South Oldham sophomore Jessie Murner as well as the DuPont Manual team, which finished fifth at State last year, led by junior Elizabeth Anderson.
In Southern Indiana, New Albany won the sectional and regional last season and the Bulldogs return a few runners from that team, including Stephanie Cave, Kimberly Condra and Saisha Rairdon.
Others to watch are Henryville senior Katie Spellman and Jeffersonville sophomore Megan Blackburn.
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