Prep Cross Country | Jackson Five aims for state 4A championship

The preseason and current No. 1 teams in the country will square off at the state cross country championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco on Saturday.

To call the 4A boys race, featuring top-ranked Jackson (according to this week's Harrier Super 25 poll) and preseason No. 1 Ferris (currently ninth), a colossal event does it an injustice.

"I kind of look at it like the BCS championship," Jackson coach Eric Hruschka said. "It's amazing that a top team in the nation won't win our state championship."

Jackson, which finished second last year after being ranked No. 1 in the state going in, won the WesCo South and Northwest District 4A championships.

Dual winners Mitchell Briggs (league) and Blake Nelson (districts) lead the Timberwolves, who aren't getting caught up in the hype.

"I try not to pay too much attention to the Internet," said Nelson, a surprising district champion after being hampered with a calf injury. "You never really know until you race on the same day [against ranked teams]."

The margin between another runner-up finish or becoming the first non-Greater Spokane League school to win state since 1986 could come down to Nathan Calacat, Connor Frederickson and Sean Roe. Each would be the No. 1 runner on almost any team in the state, and collectively they help form the Jackson Five — the west side's most intimidating running quintet.

"We kind of saw this [quality depth] after we had 10 guys run 4:30 in track and 10 or 11 guys run 10 minutes in the two mile," Hruschka said.

But the disappointment of 2008 still lingers in Mill Creek.

"The GSL guys always run their best at the state meet," Hruschka said. "We have to run our best Saturday. We are one of many west side teams that have tried to do this. Hopefully with some luck, we can."

State cross-country meet

Saturday, Sun Willows Golf Course (3.1 miles), Pasco

Race schedule: Wheelchair race, 9:30 a.m.; 1B/2B girls, 10 a.m.; 1A girls, 10:30 a.m.; 2A girls, 11 a.m.; 1B/2B boys, 11:30 a.m.; 1A boys, noon; 3A girls, 12:30 p.m.; 4A girls, 1 p.m.; 2A boys, 1:30 p.m.; 3A boys, 2 p.m.; 4A boys, 2:30 p.m.

Returning team champions: 4A — Eastlake girls. 3A — North Central boys. 2A — Sehome girls, Sehome boys. 1A — King's girls, Lakeside boys. 2B/1B — Northwest Christian (Lacey) girls, Northwest Christian (Lacey) boys.

Returning individual champions: 4A boys — Mack Young, Redmond. 3A girls — Andrea Nelson, Shadle Park. 2A girls — Allison Cutting, Sequim. 1A girls — Maddie Meyers, Northwest School.

Seattle-area 4A, 3A contenders: 4A boys — Mitchell Briggs, Jackson; Dylan Hopper, Cascade; Kenny Krotzer, Auburn Riverside; Mack Young, Redmond. 4A girls — Anna Dailey, Garfield; Minna Fields, Stanwood; Alexia Martin, Kent-Meridian; Devin McMahon, Redmond. 3A boys — Joel Ambo, Bellevue; Drew O'Donoghue-McDonald, Seattle Prep; Trevor Thompson, Lindbergh; Michael Williams, Bellevue. 3A girls — Lindsay Benster, Mercer Island; Clarkie Hussey, Lakeside; Tansey Lystad, Juanita; Amy-Eloise Neale, Glacier Peak.