Get Ready for the 2025 Wingfoot XC Classic: A Preview of the Youth 3K Races

For more than a decade now, cross country teams across the southeast travel to Sam Smith Park in Cartersville, GA to hurdle hay bales and race through the grassy hills of the Wingfoot XC Classic.

This Saturday, Sept. 20, more than 5,500 athletes will compete from sunrise to sunset in 3K and 5K races. Of those athletes are almost 1,800 middle school runners who will compete in the boys and girls 3K events split between the morning and evening sessions (click here for the full schedule).

Serving as the final two races of the morning session are the boys' and girls' morning 3Ks, with 33 different middle school and youth teams competing for individual and team victories.

The boys morning 3K features a deep roster of athletes looking to beat the 2024 winning time of 10:47 by Ellis O'Brien, or even the course record of 9:49 set by Dash Brackin in 2023.

Keep an eye out for Roman Vinciquerra of David T. Howard Middle School, who recently set a PR in the 3200m (XC) at the APS XC Series #3 in 11:34. Andrew Englert of Taylor Road Middle School is also a strong podium contender, currently ranked third in the state for the 3200m (11:21), and Caden Bryce Rogers of Osborne Middle School is not far behind with a 3200m PR of 11:53.

As for the team race, the Junior Hoyas boys are coming off a victory at the Cobb County Middle School Championships, and Taylor Road Middle School is looking to defend their team title from the 2024 Wingfoot XC Classic.

David T. Howard Middle School placed third as a team in this event last year, but with some strong individuals leading the pack, the team stands a chance for another podium spot this year. If this season's APS XC Meet Series is any indication, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School will also have strong representatives in the race.

Following the first boy's 3K is what will likely be a showdown between Walton Youth Running Club and Taylor Road Middle School in the girls morning 3K. Last year, Taylor Road landed in second place at Wingfoot XC Classic just behind Alpha Crush, and this year, they have already been putting up fast times.

Another team to watch out for is Pinckneyville Middle School, who won both boys and girls team awards last weekend at the Gwinnett County XC Championships.

Leading the team at Taylor Road this season is seventh-grader Alexis Reed, who has run a 12:02 in the 2-mile and 13:23 in the 3200m. Just last weekend, she placed second in the 2-mile at the Fleet Feet Warpath Invitational, and prior to that set her latest PR in the 3200m at Hurricane Alley. Will Reed continue this streak and beat her 3K PR of 12:36 set at last year's Wingfoot XC Classic? We'll find out on Saturday morning.

If Taylor Road's girls team wants a shot at the overall team title, they will need to battle it out with Walton Youth Running Club. Leading the team is Cecilia Johnson, who holds a 3K PR of 11:27, which is faster than last year's winning time of 11:48 set by Reese Vagedes.

Up against Johnson is Taylor Road's Megan Boggs (12:20 PR in the 3K), and Walton Youth teammates Valerie Liberstein (12:28) and Eleanor Johnson (12:34). Additionally, Osborne Middle School's Claire Nerys Hettenkofer, who ran a 3200m PR of 12:29 last weekend and is leading in the state this season, is another podium contender.

After a break between the morning and evening sessions, the event will pick back up with the boy's evening 3K. Everett Braden of Wild Beast Track Club will likely lead the field after running a 9:44 in the 3K last weekend at Konos Flyover Series #2, which would put him ahead of course record pace (9:49).

Up against Braden is Noah Wood of Trinity Christian Sharpsburg, who is currently number one in the nation for the 2800m this season and recently ran an 8:56. With a 3K PR of 10:14, Wood stands as a solid podium contender.

In the team race, Peachtree City Flash holds a firm foundation with multiple athletes seeded in the top 15 for the 3K. Of these athletes are Landon Berger (10:56), Grayson Potter (11:08) and Advik Nagendra (11:24) who could work together to take home the team trophy.

Wrapping up the youth events in the girl's evening 3K, Reese Vagedes of Alpha Crush Running Club is looking to defend her title after winning the 2024 race in 11:48, assisting Alpha Crush to an overall team victory. The seventh grader has a 3K personal best of 10:57 but will need to watch out for three possible contenders vying for the overall win.

Other names to watch are Peachtree City Flash teammates Logan Thompson (11:40) and Maggie Beaudreau (11:43, recently set at AT&T Starr's Mill XC), who both hold PRs faster than Vagedes's winning time from last year. Athletes and spectators will also want to keep an eye out for Atlanta Track Club Youth Team's Ofelia Mseya, who is currently ranked fourth in the state this season for the 3200m after running a 12:52 at the APS XC Series #3.

Track live results of the 2025 Wingfoot XC Classic here and follow along on Atlanta Track Club's social media for live coverage throughout the day.

This is the first article in a series of three event previews, to be followed by a look at the Varsity and Championship races.