When: Saturday, Sept. 15
Where: Cherokee High School
Course Length: 3,200 meters

By Kevin Cranston
Runningco.com Writer

Senior Race (11:40 a.m.)

Moorestown’s Brianna Rogers, the Cherokee junior race champion in 2006, Cherokee’s Alison Weeks, Lenape’s Miya Johnson and Erika Griffith, Our Lady of Mercy’s Jenna Peacock and Moorestown’s Allison Tetreault. Any one of these girls could win this senior race.

Based on how strong the field is, I don’t think anyone will get away early. This is the type of race that could come down to who’s got the most left come the final straightaway.

Junior Race (11 a.m.)

After playing soccer her freshman and sophomore years, Southern’s Jillian Smith will be running cross country this fall. And according to meet director Chris Callinan, Smith will be racing on Saturday. Enough said.

Although there will be a number of talented girls in the race, including Hopewell Valley’s Clare Buck, who won the Cherokee sophomore race last year, Lenape’s Alivia Royds, Millville’s Lindsay Bertulis, Haddonfield’s Bria Altieri, Timber Creek’s Meghan Arnold and Williamstown’s Maria Ruiz, I don’t think any of them can hang with Smith.

Last track season, Smith was the Meet of Champions winner in the 800 in 2:08.80. She also went 4:46.87 in the 1,600. And even though Saturday will be her first-ever high school cross country race, she’s the one to beat. She’s just that good.     

Sophomore Race (10:20 a.m.)

This should be a quality race between Kingsway’s Chelsea Ley, Eastern’s Alexandra Davis and Haddonfield’s Marielle Hall. All three were SJTCA All-South Jersey selections in 2006, which is proof they can all compete. All three also placed in the top 50 in the 2006 Meet of Champions, with Davis taking 26th, Ley 32nd and Hall 46th, respectively.

I’m going to give the nod in this one to Ley, the 2006 Cherokee Challenge freshmen race winner. But Davis and Hall won’t be far behind.

Lenape’s Caitlin Orr could also be a factor.

Freshmen Race (9:40 a.m.)

A freshman race at the first major meet of the season is impossible to predict, so I’m not even going to try. But one girl that could grab the title is Delsea’s Felicia O’Donnell, who won the middle school race last year at both the Cherokee Challenge and South Jersey Open.