Rocky Grove Invitational - Meet Preview
Girls' Race
Meaera Shannon of Conneaut Area will look to continue her breakthrough 2018 season. The sophomore won at Cochranton and Commodore Perry and was fifth at the Sharpsville Invite; she dropped an 18:55 to win at Cochranton. She looks to be the one to beat at Rocky Grove on Saturday.
Saint Marys Area's Samantha Hayes, Lakeview's Claire Oliver, and Titusville's Shea Titus will be among Shannon's closest challengers.
The team race will be an interesting battle between Saint Marys Area and Lakeview, with Oil City and Titusville looking to get in the mix. Saint Marys is coming off a win on the D9 course at Ridgway, while Lakeview has proven to be a solid 1A squad, which recently took fifth at Sharpsville (all classifications).
Boys' Race
Grove City Area isn't bringing a full squad to the other "Grove," but top runner and PA#5 Jonah Powell is entered for Rocky Grove on Saturday. The senior, who we most recently saw take second at Foundation's Blue Race will be one to watch in this field, as he looks to get a tune-up in before the postseason kicks into full gear.
Hoping to give him a run for his money will be Jacob Eshelman of Franklin Area, who has quietly been having a terrific senior season. He was sixth at Sharpsville and should be worth watching for on Saturday. The Cochranton duo of Jac Cokley and Noah Bernarding, and Conneaut Area's Nick Temel are among the other strong runners in this field.
Cochranton is the team to beat with that strong top two and solid depth. They're out to prove they are still one of the state's best 1A teams. Cranberry (third at Ridgway last week) is another good 1A team in this field. McDowell and Cambridge Springs are also solid squads entered for Saturday.