Mississippi Weekly Preview - Week 8

It is going to be another busy week in Mississippi.

Monday

The Cathedral Invitational kicks off for another year. Twenty four teams with 497 athletes will line up on the Cathedral home course. The top athlete for the boys is Ryan Skates, Cathedral. The home team athlete is currently at 16:44.33 over a 5K course and I am sure he hopes to improve on that time. For the girls it is Julia Stradinger, Jackson Preparatory who has run 19:48.98. If the weather is nice look for some fast times.

Tuesday:

Houston High Invitational is a small meet for some schools to get another time in before the Regional meets. Austin Simpson, South Pontotoc is currently the top boy registered to run at 18:44. In the girls division it is Maggie Moody, Myrtle with a time of 22:39.

Also on Tuesday is the Tupelo Spartan Invitational for Home School teams. Top athletes registered are Jack Hamilton, Tupelo Spartans for the boys and Bella Hamilton, Tupelo Spartans for the girls.

Thursday

The first ever Camp Shelby XC Challenge is set to run. This meet is for Home School teams. Top athletes registered are Caleb Gibson, Hattiesburg Forerunners for the boys and Ally Davis, Hattiesburg Forerunners for the girls.

The Okatibbee Clasic Invitational is on for Thursday also. This meet will be run on the so called fast track course with the finish line on the lower and faster part of the course. Clay Olson will lead his Madison Ridgeland boys into this event with a time of 18:06.63. On the girls side Emma Claire James, West Lauderdale will lead talented field with her 20:07 time.

The Saint Martin Invitational is now ready for adding your athletes. Due to a small error no events were selected but now that problem has been corrected and teams can register.

Saturday

Faith Academy's Boardwalk Challenge has several Mississippi teams scheduled or tentatively scheduled to run. East Central, Saint Patrick and Saint Stanislaus have not entered athletes yet while Our Lady Academy and Harrison Central have entered athletes. If East Central runs they come with top runner Christian Balcer with his 15:56.88 time.

Madison Central XC Festival will feature a number of the top teams in Mississippi over a tight course that will call for some tactical racing. Jacob Britt, Brookhaven will lead his team against a talented team from Bartlett, Tn. This could be a great team race on the boys side. For the girls Shana Sellers, Pearl High will lead a fast field over this great course.

Pontotoc XC Invitational: North state powers will collide here. With a large school and a small school divisions Brock Kelly, Tupelo Christian and Walt Johnson, Oxford High will not meet at this meet but both should provide for some fast racing on the blazing fast course. In the girls large school race Madison Jones, Saltillo and Jessica Cartwright, Hernando will square off again. It should be an interesting race.