The first annual Eagle Invitational hosted by Franklin County High School at Waid Park in Rocky Mount saw of two of the state's top returning cross country runners in Cave Spring's Tim Smith and Radford's Nathan Brame. In possibly the first of a series of races during the season which Smith and Brame will see each other, it was the Cave Spring senior who picked up the early season victory over the defending Group A state champion. Smith, Brame, and Nathan Richards of E.C. Glass ran the majority of the race together, but Smith opened up in the last 600 meters to secure a 16:31 5K win on fairly challenging 5K course, while Brame and Richards both finished under 16:40 as well to round out the top 3 finishers. With three other teammates in the top 15, Richards and the E.C. Glass boys won the first Eagle Invite team title with a score of 49 points.
Despite being the lone athlete from her school in the race, Craig County's Jessica Alley did not mind running alone out in front in the varsity girls race as she pulled away from Kaleigh Wood (2nd, 21:24) of the host school Frankin County at the end for a winning time of 21:19. E.C. Glass ended up sweeping the varsity team titles as the Hilltopper girls nearly matched the boys with a identical score at 52 points.
Video: Girls Varsity - Boys Varsity - JV Girls - JV Boys