CEDAR CREEK'S GIRLS ARE OUT IN FRONT AT THE START OF THE 2021 LHSAA STATE MEET
Cedar Creek head coach Craig Moss knows that his teams will be the favorite entering this Saturday's season-opening Choudrant Aggie Invitational. After four state championships in his 12 years, it has become the norm for the Cougars.
If Cedar Creek comes away with the team title on the girls' side at Ruston's Gospel Campground, Moss expects that a talented St. Frederick team will make his girls earn it.
"St. Frederick is loaded this year, " Moss said. "We have the bull's eye on our back. I expect a great race."
The Lady Warriors do have the returning champion in Bradie Eppinette, who won last year's race as eighth grader. St. Freds also has Marsala Trahan, Kenna Quayle, and Audrie Juneau. All are seeded in the top ten.
What Moss has is what he calls a "three-headed monster" in Caroline James, Taylor Ramsey, and LA Madison Morris.
James has the fastest seed time of 19:21.26, one second faster than Eppinette.
"She is a tenacious runner," Moss said. "A firecracker."
While James may have the fastest seeded time, her teammates have garnered quite a few accomplishments themselves. Ramsey won the LHSAA Class 1A State Championship last year. Morris, who is only an eighth grader, finished second at last year Choudrant Invitational.
"I like where our front end girls are," Moss said. "On the back end, we have some work to do."
When he talks to his team before the race, there will be no mention of winning the team title.
"Everything we do is building toward the state championship on Monday, November 14." Moss said. "We are in grind mode. I want them to be consistent and run even splits."
Other runners to keep an eye one at the Choudrant Invitational include OCS's Riley Hall (20:48) and Caroline Pankey (21:57), Haughton's Lowery Lain (21:04) and Shelby Haley(21:52), Cedar Creek's Juilianne Ensminger (21:32), and Choudrant's Chelsea Hartegan (21:41).
TOMORROW: Look for a preview of the Choudrant Aggie Invitational boys' race.