District 3
Location: Pike County Fairgrounds (Bowling Green)
Teams in Attendance
Bowling Green, Christian, Clark County, Elsberry, Hallsville, Highland, Mark Twain, Monroe City, Montgomery County, Palmyra, Principia, Valley Park, Whitfield
Christian High junior Mercedes Schroer has received a big boost by getting moved out of Class 3. After duking it out with Kylie Goldfarb over the last two seasons, she entered this season has a heavy favorite for the individual victory. While she hasn't exactly been her dominant self - and hasn't been racing near as much as she did in previous years - she is still undeniable whenever she steps on a course. With a season best of 19:42.71 on this same course last weekend and a season average of 20:17.67, she's still the best bet for the win Saturday and could very well be rounding into form after that sub-20:00 last Saturday. Schroer will have to hold off two Class 2's best in Grace Buschling and Lyric Ford, but if she runs anything like she did during her sophomore year, the Class 3 State XC Champion should be able to pull in the win at Bowling Green.
The Bowling Green girls are an interesting bunch as they currently sit as one of the major players to end Fatima's unprecedented state championship streak. What they do on Saturday will be telling as they should handily earn the district win on their home course. Clark County and Palmyra are the next closest contenders, but they are well back of the Lady Bobcats.
The boys individual race is also quite the humdinger as veterans Nathan Frazee and Bramwell Havi fight to hold off freshman newcomer Ronan Hardwicke. Frazee is no stranger to the bright lights as he was a state champion on the track this spring and has finished 5th, 12th, and 6th in his three trips to Oak Hills. Havi is also strong both on the track and on the course, particularly coming into his own in cross country this fall after a successful track season. He's looking to lead his crew to an team title and take down Frazee in the process. Don't forget about Christian's Harwicke, though. An Ultimate Speed Academy product, Hardwicke has been flying in his freshman campaign and could burst onto the scene this postseason.
Top 2 Teams and Top 5 Individuals (Prediction)
Boys
1. Nathan Frazee - Clark County
3. Ronan Hardwicke - Christian
5. Corbyn Harper - Clark County
Teams
1. Principia
2. Bowling Green
Girls
1. Mercedes Schroer - Christian
2. Lyric Ford - Montgomery County
3. Grace Buschling - Clark County
4. Meghan Kniess - Bowling Green
5. Megan Mcmillen - Bowling Green
Teams
1. Bowling Green
2. Clark County