Oberod Invitational - Meet Preview
A few Chester County squads will head down to Delaware for the Oberod Invitational on Saturday.
In the boys' race, we'll get our first look at West Chester Henderson, Downingtown West, and Unionville in an 5K.
Henderson (PA#9) looks like it will be without top runner Spencer Smucker, but will likely be led by Calvin Pash on Saturday. For PA#5 Downingtown West, Evan Kaiser and Tyler Rollins will be a pair to watch, but the team looks to have some great depth and a number of boys could emerge. Cole Walker and James Conway should lead the way for Unionville, which will be an intriguing boys team to keep an eye on.
Kennett freshman Gavin Maxwell is a young runner with some good potential in this race.
Tatnall's Brendan Balthis was the Delaware state runner-up last fall and is also the defending Oberod Invite champion, so watch out for him.
In the girls' race, PA#9 Unionville will run its first 5K of the season after picking up wins at the Oakbourne Relays and the Cherokee Challenge, a couple "off-format" invites. PA#25 Madison McGovern, along with the much-improved Marcella Krautzel should make some noise. McGovern took second at Oberod last season.
The defending champion is Tatnall (DE)'s Keelin Hays, a talented junior. She'll be the heavy favorite, but McGovern is capable of giving her a good challenge.
Reagan Flannery and Grace Mucha, both from Downingtown West, are a pair of sophomores that will compete for high finishes on Saturday as well.