Alexander/Asics meet preview
This 22nd Asics invitation invitational looks to be as good as years past. The course is slightly different this year, but it will prove to be just as fast if not faster. This meet has seen some Georgia's finest, from last year's Kamari Miller, Justin Watchel, Jenna Hutchins to all-time greats like Joe Thorne, Emily Reese, and Josh Brickell. This year's race looks to be competitive as ever.
Boys Teams
The Championship division has 34 boys' teams and every team is ranked in their respective classifications with some very solid out of state teams. 7A's number 1 ranked Mill Creek has been running great all year and Coach Christie's will have his team ready to go. They will definitely get a challenge from number 1 ranked 5A Decatur, West Forsyth, Blessed Trinity and out of state teams from Alabama James Clemens, Hoover and Tennessee's Ravenwood. If any of these teams don't have their A game, expect Denmark, Pace Academy, Lambert to challenge.
Boys Individuals
This year's race looks to be wide open with no heavy favorites. Joey Sandel of Johnson Ferry has the fastest time coming into this weekend with a time of 15:07. He should get challenged by Matthew Stratton from St. Johns Country Day of Florida, Ben Bergey of South Forsyth, Connor Henson of Columbia County, Bryson Gates of Creekview and Miles Ramer of Ravenwood. All of these guys have run under 15:30 this year. All of these guys should look out for Ethan Ashley of Denmark. Ethan has run a 15:34 this year, but earlier this season he ran 15:55 at Carrollton. Ethan has a 9:03PR in the 3200 from last season. This year's race has over 35 runners that have gone sub 16 this year and 131 that have run under sub 17.
Girls Teams
The girl's team race this year has a clear favorite and that is the The Bolles School from Jacksonville, Florida. All they have done this year is have 8 ladies run under 20 minutes. They are led by Jillian Candelino that has run 17:38 this season. If any team is to challenge Bolles it is likely to come from Blessed Trinity, Pace Academy or James Clemens of Alabama. All of these teams have posted great races this year.
Girls Individuals
Like mentioned in the team preview the meet favorite looks to be Jillian Candelino from the Bolles School. She has run 17:38 this season. The will get a challenge from Caroline Hood from Pace Academy, Kathrine Law of Jefferson. Also look out for Zoe Arrington of Tennesse HS. She has only run 19:41 this year, but ran 17:49 last season and is coming off a spring where she ran 10:41 in the 3200 and 4:56 for the 1600 last spring.
This year there will also be a college addition. There will be 26 colleges from junior colleges to DI schools participating. Georgia Tech, Florida State, Kennesaw State are sending their B squads, but there are plenty of good teams coming. Augusta a D2 powerhouse could win the whole meet. Some of the teams entered are, Western Carolina, Samford, Mercer, Emory, Berry, Columbus State, Clayton State, Wofford, Davidson just to name a few. We will plenty of alumni racing this weekend from these teams