By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM
Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter
Runners
from all over Kentucky hit Horse Park near Lexington for the state cross
country championships.
The
Highlands Bluebirds and Ladybirds teams have good shots at state titles. They
come into the meet with Class AA, Region 4 championships. It would mark the
seventh for the Ladybirds and first since winning three in a row from 2002 to
2004. A state title would be the third for the Bluebirds and the first since
1985.
Both teams
have tapered off the workouts this week. That included two days off. Head Coach
Brian Alessandro, a 1998 Highlands graduate, has employed that strategy personally
before running marathons (26.2 miles) in places like Louisville and Houston.
“It cuts down their mileage so they’re rested for
Saturday,” Alessandro said. “Rest is something I don’t think people
give enough of their athletes.”
Alessandro
and the runners did not seem concerned about the course at Horse Park. The
course has some rolling hills. Highlands ran at Horse Park a few weeks ago
winning the Lexington Catholic Meet.
“It’s a forgiving course,” said Cam Kruse, Highlands senior. “It’s less harsh than some. You couldn’t
ask for a better place for a cross country meet.”
Alessandro
said North Oldham and South Oldham will be the main challengers in both races.
The South Oldham Lady Dragons have won the last four AA titles. They won Region
3. They’re top three runners in the region meet were sophomore Erin Wilson (fourth
in 19:37.92), senior Grace Whitworth (fifth in 19:39.25) and junior Keightley
Dudgeon (sixth in 19:56.31).
“Really at the state meet, it’s all about placing,” Alessandro said.
“It doesn’t matter what your time is as long as you place well.”
The times
of the three top Ladybirds came out lower than South Oldham’s top three. Freshman
Molly Mearns won the Class AA, Region 4 meet in 18:36.9 with sisters Lauren
Ossege, a freshman, and Sydney Ossege, an eighth-grader, comin in second and
third at 18:40.4 and 19:10.7 respectively.
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