A momilesplit reader tipped me off to the girls Class 3, District 8 meet that on Saturday will feature four of the top Class 3 girls teams in Missouri.
Wow, it's deep, and this district deserves the attention. And keep in mind that the only automatic qualifiers for the Class 3 State Meet on Nov. 5 will be the top two teams and the top 15 individuals.
Teamwise, the district kicks things off with the returning Class 3 State champion in Kearney, ranked No. 8 in the entire state by Big River Running. Not bad for starters. Then add in Liberty North, Platte County and Smithville, and you can see that - talentwise - this is a tough district.
Individually, the district features Liberty North sophomore Sammy Laurenzo, the No. 3-ranked runner in Missouri by Big River. The only others ranked ahead of her are defending Class 4 State Champion Samantha Nightingale and another Class 4 runner, amazing freshman Hannah Long of Eureka.
But Laurenzo still faces a challenge from all the other fine runners in the race, starting with her own teammate, Stephanie Boan, who has been running well most of the year.
Now keep going down the statistics provided on momilesplit and see some other solid runners.
Here's Kearney's Olivia Franklin, the No. 14 ranked runner by Big River, and teammates such as Jasmine Edwards, Jessica Breyfogle and Jessi Allen.
And there's more: Katie Tuck, Katie Berger and Leigh Carlson lead the Smithville contingent.
As for Platte County, it features Montana Long, Sarah Regan and and Kaly Edwards.
Come Saturday, some or all of these runners plus a few others who perhaps are ready to run the race of their lives will qualify for the State Meet. Good luck to all