Cross country runners tackle Richland Invite on Saturday

In high school cross country this fall, everything up until now has been preliminaries.

With Saturday’s 47th annual Richland Invitational at Carmichael Middle School, things start to get serious.

First, it’s a chance for all of the Mid-Columbia Conference teams to run against the powerful Greater Spokane League squads, as runners get a chance to feel out their competition in preparation for regionals later this month.

Second, this is where many runners kick it up a notch as they get ready for the postseason.

There are numerous races Saturday, starting with the 9 a.m. citizens run over the 3-mile course. There are also middle school races and runs for freshmen/sophomores, juniors/seniors and junior varsity divisions.

But the marquee races — the 3-mile Division I runs — will start at 1:55 p.m. with the top boys, followed by the top girls event at 2:30 p.m.

“He was sick Saturday, Sunday and Monday, so we opted out,” Kamiakin boys coach Matt Rexus said. “We definitely need a free weekend meet-wise after Sunfair (in Yakima last weekend).”

Instead, the top boys in the elite race will include Justin Janke of North Central, Matthew Watkins from Jackson of Everett and Peter Hogan of Bishop Blanchet. All three have times ranked among the state’s top 20 in the 5,000 meters.

The prerace girls favorite has to be Central Valley’s Briegan Bester, who ran an 18:08.52 at the Sundodger.

She’ll be challenged by Mt. Spokane’s Micaela Kostecka, Central Valley teammate Kearan Nelson and Walla Walla’s Erika Leinweber, the top runner in the MCC.

This story was originally published October 9, 2015 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Cross country runners tackle Richland Invite on Saturday."