The promotion signs may be the only signs of mud-free in and around the course on Saturday
University of Wisconsin-Parkside; Kenosha, WI-
Schedule:
| 10:00 AM | Freshman/Sophomore Boys |
| 10:40 AM | Girls Championship |
| 11:25 AM | Boys Championship |
| 12:05 PM | Coach Fed Youth Championship - 3K |
| 12:35 PM | Freshman/Sophomore Girls |
| 1:10 PM | Junior/Senior Boys |
| 1:45 PM | Open Race |
Quick overview: What do you expect this time of the season in terms of the weather? It should be cold and windy which should make the course downright nasty as it did last year. The goal is to get to sunny San Diego in two weeks- so throw out any fast times. With the course being slightly altered, there is no chance of official records of time being broken.
Breaking down the races real fast-
This meet will see its usual suspects do its thing along with some surprises earning trips to nationals. MileSplit National talking heads give their take ----> HERE
Girls:
Katelynne Hart (Glenbard West) has never won a regional championship in two attempts. The approach has always been to qualify and not necessarily go full throttle. That could change this time around with NXN MW Regional record holder
Zofia Dudek of Michigan back in the mix. This could possibly be Dudek's final high school cross country race in the US. She is slated to go to Portugal for the Euro XC Champs the following weekend. Also, enter
Abby Vanderkooi of Michigan to once again make her return to California. Vanderkooi passed on NXN in favor of performing at her best in one national championship theatre.
Taylor Ewert of Ohio will attempt to qualify in her second double-double.
Riley Stewart of Colorado has been on a roll this season with a single loss to the great
Sydney Thorvaldson (WY) and if she dares to venture out here, expect her to make the team...
Tatum David (Richland Co),
Lianna Surtz (Rosary IL),
Ava Parekh (Chicago Latin), and
Sam Poglitsch (Wheaton South) are some of the key names locally to watch out for.
Boys: How hard will Josh Methner run? The state all-time 3-mile record holder from Hersey IL HS may just do enough to win as he has done on several occasions this season. It is a chess match because of someone like Carter Solomon of Michigan maybe trying to prove he is for real. Solomon is very good but has not competed outside of his borders like last year's national finalist Wolverine Evan Bishop. Michigan usually packs a wallop in Wisconsin. Others such as Jack Spamer and Brendan Favazza are names on the forefront. But then there is Caleb Brown of Ohio who may press things in a "rematch." Indiana state champ Gabriel Sanchez should be an easy choice to represent the Hoosier state. Locally, watch for Jared Kreis (Lincoln-Way Central) and Tyler Cushing (Bolingbrook) to take charge.
