19th Annual UTC PowerAde Invitational
UTC's Moccasin Bend 5K course will play host to its 19th annual UTC PowerAde Invitational this Saturday. In years past the field of teams competing read like a who's who of cross-country and this year is no exception.
The loaded girls field is lead by Northwest Whitfield's Shelly Taylor who will be going for her 4th UTC PowerAde Invitational win at the Bend. Taylor will be challenged by an outstanding field lead by the duos from Morristown West and Brentwood Academy. Haley Moody and team mate Tara Gietema fresh off of their first and second place finish in Knoxville should lead Morristown West to a second team victory this season. Brentwood Academy's Alyssa Mankin and Angela Fisher will be battling it out up front, but a lack of team depth will probably keep the 2004 State Champions in the runner up spot that they earned here last year. Kristin Holloway from GPS and Tiffany Palmer from Cleveland High should also be top ten contenders. Walton High School, the 2004 champions have been laying low so far this year but they are always a team threat.
The loaded 18-team boys race is wide open. The top-returning runner from last year is Clay Adams. Adams who placed 6th last year will be leading the Brentwood runners. Todd Smalling of Science Hill will look to build on his fast start to the 2005 season. Smalling and Adams look to be in a league of their own at this meet. After Brentwood and Smalling the 2005 UTC PowerAde Invitational is anyone's guess.