Well folks, just because lunch will be over Saturday before AA and A run don't feel like all the excitement will be over. In fact, it's long from being over. This season has been a great one as the talent level just continues to grow and grow. I have really enjoyed covering AA for gatfxc.com this season and am looking forward to a fantastic finale on Saturday.
Boys Team
Westminster began the season as the front runner and from everything I've seen they we will be a tough bird to catch. They are headed up by William Barber and are running extremely strong. Can anyone beat them? Maybe, because nothing is ever for certain, but it will be extremely tough. Following Westminster comes a tough crew. Lovett ran a terrific race at Last Chance and has poised itself for a strong run. East Jackson's boys are coming off a hard fought win at region over North Oconee which ended up in a 6th runner tiebreaker. Right with them is Blessed Trinity who has has run strong all season. Second through fourth place can fall in any of these teams' hands. Looking in you have teams from Rockmart and Benedictine that have just come off impressive wins at region and could easily slip in on the podium if any of these teams falter.
Girls Team
This one could be a little tighter. The Lovett girls had the upper hand through most of the season, but the Westminster girls showed just what they had at Last Chance and had an impressive win. Lovett must dig down deep on Saturday, but I think the championship could be up in the air. If you think there's competition on the boys' side, well the girls' go even deeper when it comes to being on the podium. Blessed Trinity will be fighting hard for a return trip and appear to be running well. But looking to knock them off the podium is a trio of teams from 8-AA. They are led by Region champ Dawson who runs deep. Right behind them will be runner-up East Jackson and North Oconee who also placed in a tie which was settled by a 6th place tie-breaker With only four spots on the podium and a group of six teams that could easily appear there, this will prove to be a great race.
Boys Individual
Once again Ian Edwards of Jordan will be leading a group of young men on the course. Can he sit back like last year and make the move near the end to win again? Well folks like Leonel Ayala of Cross Keys, Tripp Hurt of North Oconee, and Brett Edmonson will be doing their best not to let this happen. Right in there with them look for David Daniel of Thomasville and Ian Wraga of North Oconee. Take my word this race won't be over and until it's over!
Girls Individual
Newcomer Sahara Fletcher has led the pack all year and will prove to be a tough one to run down. But will the talent AA girls has to lend, don't look for anything to be a sure thing. Lovett's duo of senior runners Elizabeth Rucker and Alexandra Horst will be in hot pursuit. Mixed right in with them all will be Lauren Kester of GAC, Maddy Walters of Dawson County, Sherri Blaylock of East Jackson and returning AA xc champ from the past wo years Rachel Greenwall along with her twin sister Rebecca Greenwall. Folks just be glad it has rained alot for if it hadn't these girls will be stirring up so much dust they would be hard to see.
So after the AAAA races are over grab a sandwich and get ready for a couple of more great, exciting races.