Almost one-third of the boys championship run have already gone under 16:30 in their careers, while another huge group is right on the edge. I would expect a lot of personal bests to come out of this race. William Mitchell (Milbrook/North Raleigh TC) comes in with the fastest personal best of 15:24 from last season. Mitchell was 4th at the Carolina Liberty Freedom Invitational on the same course earlier this season. He was behind some runners that we will see again at the Monster Dash.
Jack Dingman (Northern Guilford) won the Freedom Invite by over 20 seconds clocking 15:37. Luke Ward (Hoggard) ran a personal best of 16:03 at the Freedom Invite where he placed 3rd. Elliott Kleckner (Croatan) is hopefully healthy and ready to get his first victory of the season. He was 4th at the NCRunners Elite Invitational. Ward's teammate Andrew Thompson ran 15:53 last season and will look to break 16:00 for the first time this season.
Josh Navarro (Millbrook/North Raleigh TC) has a personal best of 15:28 and his teammate Mitchell Payne has a personal best of 15:57. The North Raleigh TC has the potential go 1-2-3.
James Blizzard (Leesville Road) ran 15:37 at Jungle Run last season for a 3rd place finish. We have only see him run a 3000m and 3200m so far this fall and this is a great field to make your season debut with. Gavin Sweeney (Lake Norman) ran 15:39 last season at adidas Challenge. He ran 15:48 last weekend at the VA Elite XC Invitational.
Jay Shanahan (Durham Academy) has a personal best of 15:44 but his legs may be tired from the TISAC Championship Thursday, but if he's feeling fresh than he has a good of chance at winning as anyone. Ryker Mattioli (Durham School of the Arts) dipped under 16:00 for the first time at Hare & Hounds earlier this season and will only look to improve. Walter Sellers (Atkins), like Mattioli, dipped under 16:00 for the first time at Hare & Hounds. They ran 15:55 and 15:56 respectively. Aaron Rovnak (Franklin Academy) is a darkhorse to walk away with a win.
