Runners Fit Mountain Invitational Preview

This Thursday, Unicoi State Park will gather 1900 runners for one of the largest weekday meets in the nation.  The weather turned a bit warm again, but crisp mountain air and hotly contested competition should make for a great day of racing.

With 3 region meets at Unicoi later this month, there is a heavy dose of teams from 7AAAA, 8AAAAA, and 7AAA checking out the course.  Numerous state ranked squads will lace them up.  Marist will be only be running their 2nd 7 for boys and girls as they prep for FSU this weekend.  East Jackson will sit Chase and Sue Ann to prepare for ASICS.  

The meet might help shake out some of the current state rankings:

Girls:
Flowery Branch - 3rd in 5A
North Oconee - 4th in 4A
White Co - 4th in 4A
Hart - 4th in 3A
Chestatee - 6th in 4A
Oconee - 7th in 4A
North Hall - 6th in 3A
Dawson - 7th in 3A
Banks - 7th in 2A

Boys:
North Hall - 2nd in 3A
North Oconee - 5th in 4A
Flowery Branch - 7th in 5A
Oconee - 6th in 4A
Chestatee - 7th in 4A
Dawson - 5th in 3A
Banks - 2nd in 2A
Jackson Co - 9th in 3A
Hart Co - 10th in 3A

Boys Individual - With Chase Kennedy sitting this one out to prep for ASICS, Jacob Poston of Dawson looks to be a favorite to win it, along with Isaac Hernandez (Johnson), Devan Crow and Tommy Johnston (North Hall), Anthony Potts (North Oconee) and Ivan Martin (Chestatee). There are many more great names to mention, but in short, it looks like you'll have to be under 16:50 or so to medal.     

Girls Individual - Audrey Honiotes of Hart Co comes in as the heavy favorite as she'll chase the lead golf cart around.  There is a talented pack behind her with Erika Plummer (Flowery Branch), Nicole Pachuta (Oconee), Frankie Muldoon (Dawson), and Jaelen Alexander (White Co).  Mackenzie Morse (North Oconee), Shannon Hoolahan (Flowery Branch), and Lindsey Grater (Chestatee) will also be up front.  It looks like 20:45 or so gets you a medal with several girls in the 19s in the top 10.