Once again, the Bob Firman Invitational showcases the best collection of talent any meet west of the Mississippi sees the rest of the year. This year's meet brings teams from eight separate states in, including two of the best boys teams in the land. The races always blaze, and this year's battle for the championship promises greatness.
Bob Firman Invitational - Meet Preview
In its sixth year of existence, the growth the Bob Firman Invitational shows continues to astound. Especially over the past few years, the meet was exemplified what it means to host a national class meet. Bringing in teams from all over the country, with a focus on the west, the meet brings the best together to race the best.
This year's staple race will be the boys race. With many Northwest ranked teams, and a few other ranked teams from California and Utah, the battle for the championship makes this meet a can't miss. Two of the top five ranked teams in the United States, U.S. #2 North Central (WA) and U.S. #5 Trabuco Hills (CA), square off in a battle of the big dogs. With both teams healthy and fully loaded with talent, nationally this race has a lot riding on it.
North Central beat a trio of great teams at the Great Spokane League Four-Way Dual Meet on Wednesday, needing to really race to beat all three teams. How that race affects this one remains to be seen. N.C. uses a pack like tactic to crush their opponents, so if Trabuco Hills hopes to beat N.C. then they need to put their top two ahead of N.C.'s number one. This could happen, with Trabuco's front man Riley Sullivan (Sr.) back in action. Sullivan teams up with the other Trabuco leader, FL West ranked Scott Blair (Sr.). The two have the capability to go 1-2 in the meet, however Sullivan's lack of racing may hurt him.
Two other teams that should challenge, especially if one of those other two teams falters a bit are, Crater (OR) and Gig Harbor (WA). Both squads have deep and talented packs, with Gig Harbor also having undefeated front runner Miles Unterreiner (Sr.). Both teams should challenge, but for now aren't at the level of North Central or Trabuco Hills.
Individually, a great battle between Sullivan, Blair, Unterreiner, Andrew Kimpel (Jr., North Central), Kelly Lynch (Sr., Mead, WA), and Luke Puskedra (Sr., Judge Memorial, UT) will ensue. All of these individuals are talented and tough. Puskedra's favored to win the race, after running some very impressive times a couple weeks ago in Utah. However, Unterreiner and Blair have beat other Foot Locker quality guys, while Lynch won the four-way dual in Spokane on Wednesday. The dark horse in the field will be hometown favorite Eric Fitzpatrick (So., Boise, ID). Fitzpatrick's rising stock only adds to the drama this meet always seems to create.
Defending team champion Gig Harbor returns on the girls side for another run at the title, although they lost their top two runners from 2006. '06 third place Boise will be in the mix, returning most of their top runners. The team to watch however, Southeast ranked Mountain Brook (AL), is traveling all the way across the nation to take on the best of the Northwest. Each team, plus last year's second place squad Davis (UT), which returns their top two girls, all have an equal chance of winning.
Candace Eddy (Jr., Davis) returns off of last year's Bob Firman individual win and looks to take home the top spot again. Her race won't be that easy, with the return of '06 second-placer Hailey Knettles (Sr., Judge Memorial, UT) and the addition of Mountain Brook junior Madeline Morgan. Also keep an eye on Katie Jamboretz (Fr., Boise, ID). Jamboretz' talent as a freshman is something seen out of only a few each year in the country. With so much depth in the girls race, expect times to be very fast.
The Bob Firman Invitational can't be beat. With great weather expected for this weekend (70 and cloudy), a talented field and a great course to run on, the meet delivers!