Mountain state runners will race across West Virginia and surrounding states this weekend putting their talent to the test among the country's best.
Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational
Hampshire will look to capture wins on its home course for both the boys and girls varsity races, as it hosts the Buffalo Wild Wings Invitational on Saturday.
Hampshire is among top contending teams in both races, with juniors Chris Lucas and Jayden Judy leading their respective sides.
Other top individuals expected to compete include: Jefferson junior Cameron Jennings, Spring Mills junior Nate Schneider, Hedgesville sophomore Dakota Johnson and Berkeley Springs junior Belle Harvey, an All-State finisher last year.
Among the teams expected to attend: Hampshire, Jefferson, Berkeley Springs, Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Musselman, Paw, Pocahontas County, Spring Mills and Washington. Additionally, the Keyser girls and Frankfort junior varsity teams will compete.
Capital Invitational, Camp Virgil Tate (HS, MS)
Capital will host its annual Raising the Bar Invitational at Camp Virgil Tate on Saturday.
In addition to Capital, Clay County and Ravenswood are scheduled to attend. Ravenswood sophomore Deshone Cooper is expected to lead his team's effort.
The events will start with the boys varsity race at 9 a.m. and the girls varsity race at 9:40 a.m. Middle school races will commence with the girls at 10:40 a.m. and the boys at 11:20 a.m.
Fairmont Senior Invitational
Fairmont Senior's Ethan Kincell and Doddridge County junior Carter Lipscomb, two of the top Class A-AA runners, will battle at the Fairmont Senior Invitational to be held at Apple Valley Golf Course on Saturday.
Other top individuals expected to compete in the boys race include: Fairmont senior runners Tyler Hayes and Logan Zuchelli, and Philip Barbour senior Noah Ward.
Top girls runners expected to compete include: East Fairmont junior Erykah Christopher, Fairmont Senior's Lydia Falkenstein, Notre Dame freshman Erin Frosch, St. Marys sophomore Erica Davis, and Doddridge freshman Emily Gola and Hailey Keith, among others.
Among the teams expected to attend: Fairmont, East Fairmont, Doddridge, Notre Dame, Philip Barbour, Robert C. Byrd and St. Marys.
The girls varsity and junior varsity races will begin at 11 a.m., with the boys varsity and junior varsity race to start at 11:45 a.m.
Approximately 225 female middle school runners will compete, in addition to 260 middle school boys. Below is a list of teams scheduled to attend:
Barrackville Middle
Doddridge County Middle
East Fairmont Middle
Kasson Middle
Keyser Primary/Middle
Mountaineer Middle Morgantown
Notre Dame Middle School
Philippi Middle
Pleasants County Middle
Rivesville Middle
Saint Francis Central Jr High
Sherman Middle
South Harrison Middle
South Middle
Suncrest Jr High
Taylor County Middle
West Fairmont Middle School
Westwood Middle
Middle school races will commence with the girls varsity at 8:45 a.m., with the boys varsity to start at 9:20 a.m. The middle school girls and boys junior varsity race will start at 9:50 a.m.
Gettysburg Invitational (PA)
The Keyser boys team will race beginning at 9 a.m. No other West Virginia teams listed among participating schools.
Great American XC Festival (NC)
A pair of talented Class AAA schools will visit Cary, NC to tackle the Great American XC Festival in Parkersburg and Preston County
Parkersburg senior Madison Trippett will match against some of the country's best after winning the 2018 state championship in 18:00.41. Preston County sophomore Allie Martin will join Trippett among top participating WV runners after taking fourth at last year's state meet.
On the boys side, Cole Friend, who finished seventh at state last season, will lead Preston.
Keegan Barnette, Benjamin Lake and Franklin Angelos are expected to lead Parkersburg.
Greater Louisville Classic (KY)
Putnam County rivals Hurricane and Winfield will together visit the 18th Annual Greater Louisville Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park on Saturday.
Hurricane senior Wyatt Hanshaw, who won the St. Mary's XC Festival in 16:07.70 on Aug. 31, will lead the Redskins. Winfield sophomore Matthew Scheneberg, who finished 10th at last year's Class A-AA state meet, is expected to lead the Generals.
On the girls side, Winfield freshman Rachel Withrow will pace the Generals effort, with Hurricane freshman Audrey Hall and sophomore Asha Bora expected to lead the Redskins.
Last Chance Rumble (OH)
Some of West Virginia's best will visit the Buckeye State when Cabell Midland competes at the Last Chance Rumble, hosted by Ironton (OH).
The Midland boys captured the 2018 Class AAA state championship, with the girls finishing runner-up.
Junior Sam LeRose (sixth) and sophomore Emma Jenkins (seventh) each earned All-State honors at last year's state meet. Among other top Knights runners competing will be sophomore Cooper Gibson for the boys and junior Brynn Smith for the girls.
Liberty Raleigh Invitational
Princeton and host Liberty Raleigh will be among teams competing at the Liberty Raleigh Invitational to be held at Lake Stephens in Surveyor.
Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Championships (OH)
A trio of talented Morgantown runners will lead the Mohigans girls at the OVAC Championships to be held at Cambridge High School.
Sophomore Lea Hatcher will lead the effort after finishing third at last year's state meet. Morgantown senior Athena Young and freshman Irene Riggs also rank among the Mountain State's top runners.
Senior Jackson Core, an All-State finisher last year, will pace the Morgantown boys. In addition, Oak Glen will compete, with sophomore Konnor Allison expected to pace the squad.
The girls varsity race will start at 10 a.m., with the boys to begin at 11 a.m.
Panther Last Chance Invitational
Lincoln County will host the Panther Last Chance Invitational on Saturday morning.
The boys varsity race will start events at 8:30 a.m., with the girls varsity to start at 9:10 a.m. Middle school races will begin at 11 a.m. with the girls 3K, followed by the boys 3K at 11:30 a.m.
Southern WV Clash, Bluestone State Park (HS, MS)
PikeView Middle School will race, with the girls 3K event to begin at 10:30 a.m. and the boys 3K to start at 11:15 a.m.
Preceding the middle school races, the girls varsity 5K will start at 9 a.m., with the boys 5K to follow at 9:45 a.m.
Wirt County Wetlands Invitational, Wirt (HS, MS)
Wirt County will host its 7th Annual Wirt County Wetlands Invitational on Saturday.
The events will kickoff with the boys varsity race at 9 a.m., with girls varsity, middle school boys and middle school girls races to follow.
PikeView/Concord Invitational
Wyoming East and host PikeView will race at Pipestem State Park on Friday night.
PikeView junior Erin O'Sullivan enters as the favorite after finishing eighth at last year's state meet.
The girls varsity race will start at 5:45 p.m., with the boys to follow at 6:10 p.m.