When the racing starts this morning at the Bourbon Cross Country Course in Paris, the Owensboro Catholic Aces will have a full team running, while Trinity will send one runner to the KHSAA Class 1A State Cross Country Championship.
During last week’s Class 1A, Region 1 race in Bardstown, Catholic’s Joe Fusco led local runners in the race as he finished seventh with a time of 18:05.80. Fellow Ace Austin Martin finished a few spots behind him in 10th.
Trinity’s Jacob Howard is the lone Raider in Paris as he finished 12th in the region last week with a time of 18:50.31.
Fusco and Martin are also soccer players for the Aces and they’re ready to continue their athletic seasons.
“Going into the race tomorrow I’m just excited to be there and thankful that we even got to run this year,” Fusco said. “I’m going to run the best I can, help the team, and run for my best friend Logan (Davis) who passed away in the summer and is an inspiration for everything.”
Martin has a tough opponent that he’s looking out for — himself.
“My mindset is mainly just to beat my last time,” he said. “If I beat myself I will be happy.”
Neither Fusco or Martin fell pressure going into the race despite their solid finishes in the region.
“I’m sure I’ll run pretty well and I’m just here to have fun and run with a great group of guys since my soccer season is over,” Fusco said.
Martin agreed.
“I don’t feel too much pressure, my last race was my first meet I’ve ever ran so I was definitely more nervous before then,” he said. “I think the last race will give me good momentum for tomorrow.”
Both runners said the key for today is to stay focused and control what they can control.
The Aces and Howard will hit the starting line at 10:25 a.m.
Local runners competing in 1A State Championship
BOYS
Owensboro Catholic
- M 10 Braden Davis
- M 12 Joseph Fusco
- M 12 Ty Gatten
- M 12 Kyle Joiner
- M 10 Austin Martin
- M 11 Braedon Parker
- M 12 Luke Payne
- M 12 Reece Peach
- M 12 Clay Thompson
Whitesville Trinity
- M 09 Jacob Howard
