Will the unique atmosphere of this meet be enough to push the times to the top of the rankings, as in past years?
It will be very interesting to see the times that come out of Hope Mills on Saturday, as the course may have been lengthened by 35-40 meters over last year; in light of the blazing times at the Providence Invitational, the Jungle Run might not dominate the rankings like it has in the past. Nonetheless, the special atmosphere of the night-time race, coupled with the large cheering crowds, can spur athletes to open their season with new PR's (and sometimes they stand up for the whole season). The Invitational Races are very difficult to predict at a meet like the Jungle Run; there will be some schools who run their top 7 in the championship and have their next 7 in the Invitational, while others have their top 7 in the Invitational. The final races of the night are the Championship races, and they should be very exciting to watch.
Girls Championship
Individuals to Watch
Pinecrest's Jennie Cunningham is best known for her work in the 800, but she has steadily improved as a 5K runner and shown flashes of great potential in longer track races. After early-summer surgery to clear up a beathing problem that greatly hindered her training from January on, she could be poised to make a big step forward. Indy Reid-Shaw (Orange) and Brenna Kate Grass (Swansboro) are both strong cross country runners and have very similar track times, so their competition will come down to who had the better summer. Chandler Borton (RJ Reynolds) make a big leap in her 3200 times through the winter season, followed by significant progress in the 1600 during the spring despite splitting time with lacrosse; that could foreshadow a breakout 5K season. Abby Verchick (Union Pines) might have been a little overlooked among a stellar freshman class last year, but all indications are that she is on the verge of a sub-19 season. Whenever Emily Vance (Overhills) is near the front, she has a chance to win; she is a tough competitor with good track speed and overall athleticism (she's a 5-foot high-jumper, too). Arden Vessie (Corinth Holders) has had a great start to the season, and she should spend some time in the lead pack, as well. Keep an eye out for Hana Ratcliffe (Durham School of the Arts), who struggled at times last season but has showed signs of great potential; this could be the year it all comes together for her.
Teams to Watch
Rumors persist of a strong freshman class for the Pinecrest Patriots, and we will get our first glimpse of that on Saturday; using only returning runners, though, they are the favorite to win this meet. Laney has been quietly building a strong girls' team, and they might be eager to display their talent this weekend and make a jump up the rankings; likewise, a solid Millbrook team is ready to start the post-Sammy George era by showing that they still have a good amount of talent. Those two teams will likely battle it out for second place, although Clayton and Lake Norman Charter could also be in the hunt.
(Using last season's times, including all teams in one race)
Boys Championship
Individuals to Watch
AJ Tucker (Cedar Ridge) is the defending 2A state champion and has the best returning time in the field. He will certainly be challenged by Philip Hall (Terry Sanford), who laid out of summer track for the first time in years to concentrate on his 5K training. If the race comes down to a final kick, go with the sophomore that has a 4:21 PR. Nikolaus Kreiling (Jordan) had a fantastic race at the Providence Invitational, running a huge PR and making him a potential winner on Saturday; teammate Daniel Beamer wasn't far behind him. Another runner who has made a big step forward is Dustin Sneed (RJ Reynolds); he and teammate Eric Royer will both be searching for top-10 finishes. Collin Loy (Southern Alamance) and Drew Navarro (Millbrook) are among the strong returning runners that will be near the front on Saturday.
Teams to Watch
Although they may not have a top-5 runner in the race, the Pinecrest boys rely on a tight pack for their success, and they could dominate against this field. Hometown teams South View, Terry Sanford, and Jack Britt will be fighting to defend their turf and keep as many top-5 spots as possible in the Fayetteville area. It looks like Millbrook and a much-improved RJ Reynolds squad will be the biggest threats to take hardware away from them.
(Using last season's times, including all teams in one race)