CROSS COUNTRY Tuneups help get runners ready

Several meets are slated as runners prep for the upcoming districts.
In two weeks, district cross country meets will be held. Some of the final tuneup races for that will be held this weekend.
Austintown Fitch will host the Federal League meet at Austintown Township Park at 8 a.m. North Canton Hoover and Massillon Jackson return to defend boys and girls titles, respectively.
Boardman's Jake and Rick Lape and Tim Weaver and Fitch's Ross Lenehan and Andrew Fontanarosa should be among the top contenders in the 5,000-meter run.
Top Spartans
Michelle Bristrica, Lauren Blase, Katie Sell and Katie Stoll of Boardman will challenge for girls team honors.
Salem's boys and girls return to defend MAC titles at the Quakers' 3.1-mile course with a 10 a.m. start.
Paul Shivers, Patrick Gorby, Ryan Griffin and Joe Shivers will try to repeat as champs, while Salem's Clary Deidre and Poland's Colleen Moran, the area's top two girls distance runners, renew their rivalry.
The Quakers' Liz Shivers, Erin Murphy and Kimberly Kentz and the Bulldogs' Lauren Fithian and Molly Noll should make it an interesting race.
The Tri-County League meet at United High at 4:30 p.m. will feature Leetonia's Melissa DiPanfilo, East Palestine's Elizabeth Kelvington and United's Emily Prosko in the girls run as the Golden Eagles defend their title.
East Palestine's Corey Chick is the athlete to beat in the boys race, with teammates Brad Weaver, Scott Wolfe and Ryan Hartford expected to challenge defending champ United.
Mooney's boys are defending Diocese champs for the meet slated at Canton Central Catholic at 10 a.m.
Good field
Colin Durina, Noah Brak, Sean Finnerty and Briah Stevens of the Cardinals, who placed second, fourth, third and fifth, respectively, last year, are back.
St. Thomas Aquinas is returning girls champ. Mooney placed third. The Cardinals' Andrea Firth and Angela Urchak and Ursuline's Tiffani Miller and Tiffany Walsh will contend.
Lordstown's boys and Badger's girls are the defending Western Reserve champs for the meet at 10 a.m.