2019 Nike Valley Twilight Invitational - Storylines to Watch

By Michael Newman

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The second year of the Nike Valley Twilight Invitational should be better than the first. Lights will illuminate the fabled LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course east of Terre Haute on October 5. The meet gives the chance for High School runners to test their fitness on this challenging but fair course.

Add in that some of the top cross-country programs in the Midwest will be attending should make this night memorable.

Here are some of the things that you should watch for in the two Championship races.

MEET INFORMATION

GIRLS RACE – 8:30 PM EDT

Beavercreek ready to make a delayed statement

This is the opportunity that the defending Ohio D1 State Champions never got a chance to make last year. The change of schedule of the Ohio forced the Beavers to make a choice and they chose state instead of the Nike Cross Regionals.

Beavercreek is on a mission this fall. It has showed in their early season races. They will be the favorite in this Saturday’s race because of a strong pack in the front led by Taylor Ewert and Savannah Roark. Ewert, who verbally committed to the University of Arkansas on Thursday, led four Beavercreek runners in the top 10 at the MSU Spartan Classic on September 13. They finished second last week at the McQuaid Invitational in New York but that was without Ewert.

The one noticeable thing about that race is that their split from the pack went down to 94 seconds to the over two minute spread that they have at MSU. The Beavers have the top runners in this race where they could place four runners in the top 12. The key to watch is how much closer their fifth runner gets to the pack.

This team is one of the top squads in the nation. They could show how tough under the lights in Indiana.

Is Yorkville the team to challenge Beavercreek?

The Illinois school had high expectations when they scheduled this meet. The injury bug has hit the Lady Foxes in the first half of this season. They will not be at full strength in this meet. Kailey Fox has not raced this fall with a hip injury. She is scheduled to step to the line for the first time in the open race in this meet.

Current #2 runner Anna Hunter will not race due to a minor injury. Yorkville still has the talent to challenge for a top finish led by Helena Kleronomos, Hailey Simmons, and Sara Klemm. It is not how they wanted it to be, but it could be a blessing in disguise for some younger runners to get a chance in a big race.

Indiana schools in the mix

Three of the top five teams in Indiana according to INCCStats.com are in this race and could be a factor as one of the top three teams in this race.  Top ranked Zionsville is coming off a convincing win in their conference meet led by the individual win from Katelyn Wasson as well as five runners in the top 10 with under a 60 second split on that group. Keep an eye on this team in this race.

Perennial Indiana power Carmel is ready for their state series meets to start and that could show in this race. The Greyhounds finished second to Ft. Wayne Carroll two weeks ago at the Riverview Health Invitational and won their conference last week. They have done this without their top runner Phoebe Bates who has not raced since September 3. A healthy Bates in the race could put Carmel into a top three team finish.

#5 Columbus North ran on this course two weeks ago when they won the Conference Indiana race. The Bulldogs ran a 36 second split in the process. Moving that pack up closer to the front in this race could get this team in top three team contention.

Other schools to watch

Dupont Manual KY looks be the top team to challenge the five aforementioned squads. Currently ranked #2 in their state, the Crimsons were the top finishing Kentucky school at the Trinity/Valkyre Invitational on September 21 placing sixth overall. Freshman Jessica Secor has been the top runner for the team and could finish in the top 10 individually.

The individual race favorite is?

Even though Beavercreek’s Taylor Ewert has only raced at the MSU Spartan Classic on September 13, she remains the favorite in this race with teammate Savannah Roark close by. Ewert has been tuning up for the championship months of November and December and could get close to the 17:00.6 record set by Judy Pendergast in 2015.

BOYS RACE – 9:00 PM EDT

Combs emerging as the favorite

The 2018 season did not end the way that Luke Combs wanted. After finishing 10th at the Nike Valley Twilight Meet, the Lapel High School senior finished 27 in the Indiana State Meet. He bounced back to finish 13th at the Nike Midwest Regionals. He took a step up during the track season to finish third in the 1600 Meter Run in his state meet running 4:13.70 for the distance.

His race two weeks ago at the Riverview Health Invitational has people taking notice. His time of 14:56 was 28 seconds faster than his nearest competition. He has won three of four races that he has entered this fall.

York one of the team favorites

It has been a bumpy early road for the Dukes after they were ranked among the top 10 teams in most of the national pre-season rankings. Their race at the Peoria Richard Spring Invitational was a rust-buster as the first race for them in the year. Three of their runners fell in the first mile last week at a muddy Palatine Invitational but still found a way to place fourth.

Their third race of the season could be a breakout race for this Illinois team. The Dukes will have their full lineup ready to race led by the return of Ethan Kern who will be racing for the first time this season. Kern, who qualified for both the NXN and Foot Locker Nationals, will lead a pack with Sam Ayers, Daniel Klysh, Michael Moriarty, and Colin Hill close by. We could get an indication of what this team brings for the rest of the season in this race.

Carmel will make it close

Indiana power Carmel should be the closest competition for York in this race. The Greyhounds, currently ranked #2 in their state, is coming off a third-place finish at the Riverview Health two weeks ago and came back to win the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference last weekend. Freshman Kole Mathison has stepped up as the team’s top runner followed closely by Grant Moon. Their top five split in last week’s race was 47 seconds. That will need to come down to challenge for the race championship.

Other teams to watch

Trinity in Louisville, Kentucky is the top ranked school in their state and could be a factor in this race. The Shamrocks finished third at the Trinity/Valkyre Invitational behind Providence Day NC and Mason OH. Nick Lewis leads this team and could finish among the top 10 individuals. Their top five split was 77 seconds and will need to come down if they want to leave Indiana with a top three trophy. Fishers IN and Noblesville IN are ranked third and fourth in their state and will challenge for a top spot. Beavercreek OH is ranked #5 in D1 in their state and is the top team from Ohio in this race.