On the boys' side, a bevy of Northwestern Region teams will square off sans the region favorite, Forest Park which is in Florida this weekend. However, it should be an early indication of who the other 3 teams will be to represent this region at Great Meadows on November 8. In the AA arena, a slightly depleted Tabb squad will take on Fort Defiance while Page County and Madison County square off. For individual boys' competition, favorites will be host Albemarle's Hari Mix, Justin Hatch and John Horst from Christiansburg (although word has it that the latter may be injured) and Robert E Lee junior Dawit Lagesse. Top Class A ranked Todd Somers of Page County will be trying to make a statement that he deserves to be in the cream of the crop rankings. Other top ranked runners include Millbrook senior Joel Hanlon, the senior-freshman Fort Defiance combo of Owen Parkinson and Michael Clifton, Madison County harriers Travis Hunnicut, Michael Coleman and Chuck Love, Stuarts Draft senior Brad O'Neil and Page County junior Nathanial Nelson.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- Over 60 schools will assemble Saturday in the hilly foothills of the Blue Ridge for the 2003 running of the Albemarle Invitational hosted by Albemarle High School. The meet brings together a unique blend of AAA, AA, A and private schools. Featured will be the top ranked girls' team in the state, Western Albemarle led by the Fanning and Stafford sisters, Jessica, Tasmin, Samantha and Kelsey, all ranked in the top AA top 15. Hoping to stay close will be Brooke Point and Colonial Forge from the Commonwealth District while they all will likely be chasing top ranked Kirsten Hagen of Christiansburg. Kristen Novara of Millbrook will also likely be in that mix somewhere.