When – Tuesday, October 19
Boys Race – 4:00 PM
Girls Race – 4:45 PM
Where – “The Farm Course” at Kutztown University
Coverage – Follow @spotlightonberks on twitter for on-site/live coverage
This is the first year for the new District 3 qualifying standards. To recap, here is how to qualify for districts in the BCIAA:
Class AAA Girls – Top 3 teams and the top 9 individuals not on one of those teams
Class AA Girls – Top 4 teams and the top 12 individuals not on one of those teams
Class A Girls – Everyone advances
Class AAA Boys – Top 3 teams and the top 21 individuals not on one of those teams
Class AA Boys – Top 3 teams and the top 12 individuals not on one of those teams
Class A Boys – Everyone advances
Girls Preview
Governor Mifflin looks to be the top girls squad in Berks County. They have been solid all season, but in the past two weeks they have competed without team #1 and returning state medalist Kaitlyn Highduch (so). Highduch is an individual title contender, but if she is unable to run then the team race becomes a virtual tie between Mifflin and Exeter Township. Wilson may not be too far behind either. Those 3 teams are the top in Berks heading into the meet and will look to lock up the 3 automatic team qualifying spots at the District 3 Championships. The closest race of the day will be for the 4th team qualifying spot in class AA. Both Oley Valley and Schuylkill Valley were without top 5 runners this past week, but they could have simply been resting athletes. Fleetwood could also contend for that 4th team spot.
Here is how we project the team race to play out for District 3 team qualification:
Look for a 3 person race for the individual title. Wilson teammates Caryn Rippey (sr) and Katie Dallas (sr) join Kaitlyn Highduch as the individual favorites on Tuesday. Rippey and Dallas have alternated being team #1 throughout the season. When all three of these athletes faced off it was back in week 2 (at Wilson) and Dallas defeated Highduch by 4-seconds. Sydney Werner (jr, Conrad Weiser), Ava Lottig (sr, Oley Valley), and Lydia Drago (fr, Governor Mifflin) will all likely battle for top 5 finishes. Werner may be the #1 ranked runner in District 3 class AA this season.
Here is a look at 14 girls who we think could finish in the BCIAA top 10 (in alphabetical order – you make the call!):
Boys Preview
We’ve been high on Exeter Township all season and we’re not backing down from that now. They took home the team title at Ben Bloser and appear to have kept focus on the post-season all year. Twin Valley and Governor Mifflin are still very much in title contention. These three have separated themselves from the rest of the field and will earn the 3 automatic team qualifying spots for districts in class AAA. With 21 additional individual qualifiers in class AAA (boys) I anticipate that Wilson and Daniel Boone will also qualify enough individuals to score as a team at districts, with Muhlenberg also having a chance at team qualification. The battle between Tulpehocken and Kutztown in class A should be a good one. Tulpy is coming off arguably their best meet of the year at Berks Catholic this past Tuesday.
Here is how we project the team race to play out for District 3 team qualification:
Individually, Alex Holbrook (sr, Exeter Township) and Luke Seymour (sr, Schuylkill Valley) appear set for a showdown for the individual title. Holbrook was 3rd at Ben Bloser and finished 6th on the “Farm Course” at PTXC 12.2 early in the season. Seymour has several top 5 invitational performances on the season, including an impressive 5th place finish in the “White” race at Paul Short when he ran 15:38. Both could challenge the sub-16 minute barrier at Kutztown on Tuesday. Anthony Engle (jr, Twin Valley), Elijah Stoudt (so, Wilson), Zack Zerbe (so, Governor Mifflin), and Jack Sahaida (jr, Exeter Township) will all look to keep pace in a battle for a top 3 finish.
Here is a look at 14 boys who we think could finish in the BCIAA top 10 (in alphabetical order – you make the call!):
