Check out MileStat.com XC Invite & Third Battle Virtual Meets here!
Check out the Third Battle Invitational Preview here!
There has not been a single day quite like this in years for Virginia. Aside from MileStates and Foot Locker Regional week, we never get to see this many great teams and athletes competing on a single day. If that wasn't good enough, we also get to see them race against each other in some hotly contested races. And if that wasn't enough, we also get to see them race on the two fastest courses in the state of Virginia! Like we said, this weekend is going to be huge.
First up and the largest meet of the year (103 teams) is the MileStat.com XC Invitational. This meet is 10 teams larger then Oatlands and a whole lot faster. Due to increasing field sizes over the past few years, MileStat decided to move the race over to the USATF & UofR course. What that means is this is going to be one fast invitational. Though it has never hosted a major meet like this before, it is looking to be the fastest course in the state.
The meet will feature the top boys' teams from 6A, 5A, 3A, 2A, 1A, and VISAA all competing this weekend! All six of these teams will also be racing in the Varsity "A" race which will make this as close to a real state championship as we can get. On the girls' side we have the top 5A, 3A, 2A, 1A, and VISAA team also competing.
Individually, MileStat will feature nearly the entire top 50 individuals in the state this year and on this course we are about to see a lot of pr's.
The other huge invitational this weekend is the Third Battle Invitational. This meet is just over half a decade old and one of the premier meets in the state. The big races here will be between Drew Hunter and the clock and Weini Kelati against Rachel McArthur.
Drew Hunter has a real shot at breaking his own "in-state" State Record of 14:41 set back at MileStates 2014. He ran 14:54 last year and has been waiting patiently to throw down a beast time. This weekend and course, with the weather cooperating is the time to do it.
On the girls side we are going to see one of the most epic battles ever. Rachel McArthur, defending 6A State Champ, and Weini Kelati VA #1 will square off for the only time this season this weekend. This will be Rachel's first 5K race of the year and Weini's second. If you look at it from Rachel's perspective this is a huge opportunity to show the nation you are a true XC runner and ready to be the best in Virginia. If you look at it from Weini's perspective this is a huge chance to demolish your competition and show the nation you are the favorite for Foot Locker. Weini has run 17:11 twice this season and that time is just fractions of a second off of Caroline Alcorta's in-state State Record.
We also have a third large invitational happening this weekend hosted by Jefferson Forest down in SW Va. This meet will feature Libby Davidson and her E.C. Glass teammates who are favorites for the 4A crown. With no huge competition against her, this will be a big weekend for Libby to get back into racing form and get some confidence under her belt before she begins the long post-season season where she will face off with Weini Kelati four times in a row over the course of a month and half.