North Union’s Joel Krebehenne (left) runs behind a pack of other athletes on the Richwood Lake trail during last year’s North Union Invitational. The Wildcats will host this year’s meet on Saturday.
(Journal-Tribune file photo by Sam Dillon)
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The North Union cross-country teams will be hosting their annual invitational on Saturday.
The race will start at the high school and weave its way around the school grounds, including the middle school, with the backside of the race skirting by the Richwood Lake before returning to the high school parking lot.
The race is the seventh in the Wildcats’ schedule and next-to-last event before they begin the post-season.
Though not having to travel to a distant location has its obvious benefits, hosting an invitational can present its own challenges.
“Staying home is a mixed blessing,” said NU coach Fred Holsinger. “We don’t have to travel, but we spend time planning, preparing and marking the course and recruiting volunteers. The kids are usually home by noon, so I know everyone likes that.”
The Wildcats have had some success this year, placing runners in the top ten of the majority of their meets.
Adam Brown has been the Wildcats’ best runner and as of last week set a new personal best that puts him under the 17-minute mark.
He will be joined by Dalton Skaggs, Brennan Griffith, Joel Krebehenne and Jacob Willis to compose NU’s top five.
Kamryn Rhodes has been leading the back for the Lady Cats. She also turned in her best time of the season last week and earned a top 10 finish.
Rhodes will be joined by Libby Ardrey, Ashlee Kohler, Grayson Plotner and Madelyne Liebler to round out the top five.
They also had their best performances last week against Dublin Jerome.
Despite the new personal best times, Holsinger believes his teams have more left in the tank.
“We have plenty of runners who are primed for a big showing at the MOAC, District and Regional meets,” he said. “Despite the heat, our top runners have been meeting my high expectations for them.
“We still haven’t had our best meet as a team yet, boys or girls. We have the ability to be among the top programs in Division II’s Central District, but it really does require our top fivee, both boys and girls, having their best races.”
With this week’s race being on ‘home turf,’ Holsinger believes it could give his runners a leg up on the competition.
“Running at home is important because our runners have a better understanding of when they need to kick and when they need to position themselves properly,” he said. “For instance, as we enter the lake trail on the west side, our runners know that they need to get in front of the pack since it gets very narrow.”
Hopefully that home field knowledge can put the Cats at the top of the podium. The races will begin at 9 a.m. at the high school.