Large field going to Maplewood for annual cross country event

MECCA — The 16th annual Maplewood Invitational cross country meet will be today at the high school. The boys race begins at 5:30 p.m. with the girls following at 6.

Twenty-six teams will compete: Badger, Berkshire, Bristol, Cardinal, Conneaut, Garaway, Gilmour Academy, Girard, Grand Valley, Heartland Christian, Jackson-Milton, Garrettsville Garfield, Jefferson, Warren JFK, LaBrae, Lakeview, Lakeside, Lowellville, Maplewood, McDonald, Pymatuning Valley, Ravenna, Sandy Valley, Strasburg-Franklin, Ashtabula SJP and Warren Harding.

McDonald’s Jerry Dugan placed second at last year’s meet to lead the Blue Devils to the boys team title. Maplewood, Gilmour Academy, Berkshire and Sandy Valley will compete with McDonald for this year’s team title. Dugan and Maplewood’s Tom Bottorff and Eric Rupe will be among the challengers for the individual title.

Defending champion Berkshire should be among the favorites for the girls title thanks to the return of last year’s winner, senior Alex Bowers. Gilmour Academy, led by Bekka Simko, is also a strong contender. Individual to watch include Jefferson’s Mikayla Hamilton and Connie Collins of Sandy Valley.