LHSAA STATE XC MEET PREVIEW: Will MPCD Sweep D4?

Nov 15, 2024

HATHAWAY'S KAITLYN SAWYER HAD THE FASTEST REGIONAL TIME IN THE STATE

WATCH THE 2024 LHSAA STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET LIVE ON MILESPLIT!

Going into last year's LHSAA State Cross Country Championships, the Metairie Park Country Day cross country boys' and girls' teams were tied with the same number of state titles. Both teams had seven state championship trophies. The boys' team added another state championship trophy by edging out Episcopal School of Acadiana last year.

To prepare for Monday's LHSAA D4 State Cross Country Championship, the MPCD administration may need to make some room in the trophy case.

The Cajun boys' team, led by three seniors; Christian Myers, Harry Odem, and Charlie Kazour, edged out Episcopal School of Acadiana again last week at the D4 Region 3 Championships.

Westminster Christian's Owen Melancon, who was the runner-up in Division 5 last year and led his team to the state title, had the fastest time coming out of regionals. He ran a 15:38 to win the D4 Region 2 Championship. Episcopal School of Acadiana's Anderson Frank had the second fastest time with a 15:48, which was good enough to win the D4 Region 3 Championships.

Lafayette Christian Academy's Talan Sievers has something neither Melancon and Frank don't have, a cross country state championship. Sievers is the LHSAA D4 defending champion after his incredible finish with Calvary's Jackson Burney in 2023.

Sievers finished third at last week's D4 Region 2 Championships with a time of 15:51. Yet another LCA runner to keep an eye on is Siever's teammate--Matthew Edwards, who finished third at last year's LHSAA State XC Meet (16:07) and was the runner-up at last week's regional meet with 15:46.

On the girls' side, the Cajuns are led by senior twin sisters Coco Goldenberg and Raine Goldenberg and eighth grader Colette Alvarado. The 19:57 average for the Cajuns was almost two minutes closer than the average of their next closest team.

Look for St. Frederick, led by junior Bradie Eppinette, to give the Cajuns a run for their money. Eppinette won last week's D4 Region 1 Championships at Ruston's Lincoln Parish Park with a time of 19:03. Eppinette finished fourth at last year's LHSAA D4 State Cross Country Championships.

Hathaway's Kaitlyn Sawyer, who was the runner-up at last year's LHSAA D4 State Cross Country Championships, had the fastest time at the regionals with a time of 18:34. Coco Goldenberg is another runner to watch for the invidual championship. Goldenberg had a time of 18:38 on her way to the D4 Region 3 championship.