The competition is always fierce and the times always fast at the Wendy's Invitational, and this year should be no exception. Cool, dry weather should elevate the performances of the runners, although the SAT may rob teams of their full strength and limit what we can learn about them. The meet has almost become a "border war" between North Carolina and South Carolina, with a sprinkling of Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia teams thrown in. Teams can only enter one of the varsity races (Open, Invitational, and 3A), and the remaining runners go in the Freshman/Sophomore or Junior/Senior individual races. The Open race at Wendy's (supposedly a level below the Invitational) is as competitive as many full invitationals.
Invitational Boys
Invitational Girls
Open Boys
Open Girls
3A Boys
3A Girls
Invitational Boys
Teams to Watch
Assuming everyone is at full strength (and that is probably not true), Chapel Hill is again the favorite, though they will be hard-pressed to repeat last year's feat of having their top 5 under 16 minutes. Expect a solid challenge from Mount Tabor, who did not race in the cool weather two weekends ago and has been gearing up for this meet for three weeks. The best South Carolina contender is Mauldin, who looks like last year's Tabor team: a little weak up front, but a very tight pack. T.C. Roberson should be in the top 5 if Cole Rains is healthy, and vastly-improved East Chapel Hill lurks right behind them. The next group of teams is incredibly close on paper: Spartanburg (SC), Dobyns-Bennett (TN), Ardrey Kell, Wando (SC), Etowah (GA), DeKalb Lakeside (GA), and Dorman (SC) are separated by less than 30 points total in a virtual meet. That is going to be incredible to watch at the finish! Dark horse: Myers Park has underperformed this year, but they always seem to contend when it starts to matter.
Individuals to Watch
NOTE: some of these runners may be taking the SAT and miss the meet.
This field lacks a truly elite, breakaway runner up front, but that should only intensify the individual competition. It might be too much to ask for any of these guys to match Blake Williams' 15:25 from last year, though. Mitch McLeod (Chapel Hill) has the best time and ran very well at WakeMed two weekends ago, barely edging cross-town rival Sam Miner (East Chapel Hill). Expect George Oliver (Mount Tabor) and Madden Souder (Ardrey Kell), both of whom ran their best times in hotter weather, to be right in the front group, as well. If Cole Rains (TC Roberson) is healthy, he is certainly a candidate to break 16. South Carolina offers Michael Lantz (Ridge View), while Chris McElroy of Dobyns-Bennett will put Tennessee into the top 10. Chris Reeder (Chapel Hill) should join McLeod in the front group, with a good shot to be a top-5 runner. Keep an eye on Andrew Gawryluk (Wando), Josh Copus (Mount Tabor), and Bret Freed (Spartanburg), who should all be able to drop significant time off their season bests.
Virtual Boys' Invitational Race
Invitational Girls
Teams to Watch
Ardrey Kell leads the strong 4A West contingent in this race, and they are the favorite in this race; having not raced all-out since the Seahawk Invitational three weeks ago, they should be primed for big times. Expect Watauga to reassert their status as one of the best teams in state history, as the Pioneers haven't run in a big race since late August, while fellow 4A West contenders T. C. Roberson are battle-tested and will fight for a top 5 spot. Chapel Hill's girls impressed at the adidas XC Challenge, and they could turn this into an all-North Carolina top 4. Standing in the way of that sweep are Wando (SC) and DeKalb Lakeside (Georgia). Two other 4A West teams, Myers Park and Providence, will battle with Mauldin (SC) and Dorman (SC) to get into the top 10. Defending champion Bishop O'Connell (VA) hasn't turned in big times this week, but returns three of their top 5 from last year and should perform well. Dark horse: although West Johnston shows up as the 12th team in a virtual meet, they are better than that.
Individuals to Watch
NOTE: some of these runners may be taking the SAT and miss the meet.
Defending champion Kaitlyn Kramer (Ardrey Kell) hasn't quite put it all together yet this year, but this could be here breakthrough race. Teammate Sydney Foreman has turned heads with her performances, and the Ardrey Kell girls will be running on what is essentially their home course. Of course, you can never discount last year's 4A state champion Darby Middlebrook, who hasn't really been tested so far this fall. Meredith Kilburn (Fort Mill SC) is the best runner from out of state with her 18:37 clocking in warmer weather. Brooke Gordon (T.C. Roberson) has improved steadliy this year, and she is knocking on the door of a sub-18 time. If all goes well, could there be 3 or more girls under 18 minutes? Tristan Van Ord (Chapel Hill) has looked very good the last two weekends. She will be challenged by a quartet of runners from other states: Megan Wetterhall (Lakeside GA), Laura Miller (J.L. Mann SC, 18:31 PR), Georgia Compton (Wando SC), and Anna Todd (Spartanburg SC, 18:44 PR). Keep an eye on Hannah Barbour (Watauga) and Devin Nihill (Bishop O'Connell VA), both of whom have been under 19 before, while Kathryn Hayes (West Forsyth NC) and Lauren Pollard (West Johnston) are shooting to get there.
Virtual Girls' Invitational Race
Open Boys
Teams to Watch
The most exciting team battle of the day might be between Hilton Head (SC) and Cary, who are projected to tie in the virtual meet (below). Hardin Valley (TN) and depth-oriented Eastside (SC) are also top-5 quality in this race. Don't count out a Northwest Guilford team that has looked uncharacteristically vulnerable this year, but has a history of showing up at the right time in the season.
Individuals to Watch
Jack Manesiotis (Hilton Head) will be the favorite in the first race of the morning (and the coolest temperatures of the day). Bakri Abushouk (Cary) is the fastest returning runner among NCHSAA schools and has run solid times this fall, but we're still waiting for that big race. With the first group of runners likely to be well under 16 minutes, expect brothers Will and Aaron Templeton (Hardin Valley) to be in the thick of the top 10 race, along with Trevor Grant (Lambert). After a long summer of track competition, Carl Walton Jr (Northwest Guilford) has struggled the last few weeks, but his 800m speed may be a big asset here. Expect the Weddington trio of Hunter Roark, Tanner Glackin, and Matt Burns to work their way into the top 10 to secure the team win.
Virtual Open Boys' Meet
Open Girls
Teams to Watch
Eastside is second only to Wando in the South Carolina rankings, and they look like clear favorites in this race. Hardin Valley (TN) and Hilton Head (SC) should battle for second. Keep an eye on a Davie girls team that was very strong at the end of last year, but has underperformed so far this year (and having a 1 in your team score helps!). South Mecklenburg, Lake Norman, and Lambert (GA) will also have their eyes on top 5 finishes.
Individuals to Watch
Davie's Anna McBride continues to run well, having posted a 17:51 on the fast MacAnderson Park course in Statesville (with the nearest competitor two minutes behind). This is her kind of course, fast with great room for kicking, and another sub-18 time is likely. The first chase pack should be under 19 minutes, with Leanne Zimmer (Lambert), teammates Caroline Duer and Olivia Svacha (Eastside), Madelin Talbert (South Mecklenburg), and Hannah Feiten (Hardin Valley). Don't be surprised if Talbert, who has struggled a bit this season, breaks out of this group on home terrain to finish third.
Virtual Open Girls' Meet
Boys 3A Race
Teams to Watch
This is no second-string event; in fact, the best time of the day may come out of the 3A race. Weddington looks like a strong favorite, but they will surely be challenged by an East Rowan team that wants to establish themselves as NCHSAA 3A contenders. On paper it looks like Jay M. Robinson and Marvin Ridge will be nearly equal in this race, and the winner of their battle gets third place. Carson will be right behind them, looking to move up into the top four, while Abingdon (VA) wants to do the same.
Individuals to Watch
Jonathan Bivens is the closest thing to a sure bet that you'll find Saturday. At 15:38, he is the only runner in the field that has broken 16 this year. Cole Honeycutt (East Rowan) will be leading the chase pack, along with Clifford Buck (Robinson) and Hunter Roark (Weddington); the three of them are likely to join the sub-16 club after this race. Drew Buckley (Marvin Ridge) and Tanner Glackin (Weddington) are in the next group, along with Buckley's teammate Alec Lane. Brett Vangsnes (Broome SC) has the potential to get into the top 5 in this field. After those runners, the times drop off a bit but the crowds increase, which should lead to an interesting finish.
Virtual Boys 3A Race
Girls 3A Race
Teams to Watch
Charlotte Catholic has gotten progressively better after a slightly disappointing start to the season, and now ranks in the top 10 for all classifications. Their girls are the favorites for this race, but Marvin Ridge is also improving and will give them a run for their money. Surprising Jay M. Robinson will most likely be running for third place, and will have to get through Weddington to earn that. Lurking behind those four teams is a talented North Lincoln squad that is a bit of a mystery at this point, having run on slower courses so far this season.
Individuals to Watch
Mallary Price (Weddington), who has improved dramatically over her career, is the favorite to win this race. She will be closely tailed by freshman sensation Natalie Andrejchak (Robinson), who stunned observers around the state by skipping right past the 19's and going from 20:32 to 18:36 at the Weddington Invitational. Those two appear to be head and shoulders above the other runners, and could be the only two below 19. Charlotte Catholic teammates Jamie Vezolles and Margot Corcoran both have their eyes on the top 5, as does Nicole Pappalardo (Marvin Ridge). Pappalardo, who moved to North Carolina from California this summer, leads a trio of Mustangs that want to finish in the top 10. Nearby Cuthbertson is led by Madison Simmons; keep an eye on Savannah Fornshell of North Lincoln, as well.
Virtual Girls 3A Race