Pleading For The Fifth

North Rockland kicked off this weekend's high school action by sweeping the varsity titles at its own Red Raider Run on Thursday afternoon at Anthony Wayne State Park in Rockland County. The boys' squad easily beat runnerup Clarkstown North, 40-99, while the girls edged Clarkstown South, 72-73.

John Jay Cross River's sophomore Liam Hackett won the boys' race in 16:57 and clearly looks to be a rising star for Coach Tom Nohilly. Second place had a familar name as Byram Hills' Sam Cawkwell ran 17:01. Cawkwell is the younger brother of former Byram Hills and Penn star Phil Cawkwell.

The girls' individual title went to Nanuet senior Megan Young, who won the cross country state title as a freshman and has helped her team emerge as a cross country power over the last three years. North Rockland's first runner didn't cross until seventh place, but it still pulled out a close win. Here's coverage from LoHud.com.

Saturday Meet Previews

Bob Pratt Invitational [Sunken Meadow State Park]

More than 40 schools — primarily from Long Island — will compete in the Pratt Invitational. Top teams include the girls from Northport, St. Anthony's and Bay Shore as well as the boys from Bayport, Port Washington, Smithtown, St. Joseph by the Sea, Manhasset and Shoreham Wading River.

Bowdoin Park Classic [Bowdoin Park]

Forty-five schools from five states will head to Wappingers Falls for the Bowdoin Park Classic, a preview of the NYS Federation and NXN Regionals courses. U.S. No. 1 Christian Brothers Academy (N.J.) will be on hand to start its invitational season and quest to defend last fall's national title. Other out-of-state powers on hand include Germantown Friends (Pa.), Holmdel (N.J.), Pembroke (Mass.), Ridgefield (Conn.), Ridgewood (N.J.), Southern Regional (N.J.) and Weston (Mass.).

New York will also be well represented with teams like Chaminade, Guilderland, MSIT, Miller Place, Newburgh, St. Anthony's, St. John the Baptist and Walt Whitman. New York's No. 2 boys' team — Northport — will race in the Varsity I race at 10:30 am against C.B.A., led by Jack Boyle.

"I'm really looking forward to Saturday, as is the rest of the team," said Boyle. "We are just ready to finally race. I think some people will be surprised at the depth that we have now in underclassmen. We are ready to show everyone what we are capable of running."

Click here for a PDF of the complete race assignments and here for a NJRunners preview.

Manchester Invitational [Manchester, N.H.]

This meet — held at Derryfield Park in Manchester, N.H. — is always one of the biggest in all of New England. Teams likes Bishop Hendricken (R.I.), Chariho (R.I.), Champlain Valley Union (Vt.), Guilford (Conn.) and Lowell (Mass.) will fight for bragging rights and NXN Regional rankings.

The only New York squad entered is New York State Class B No. 3 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, scheduled to face the best team in the Elite race. Click here for complete race assignments.

Warwick Wave Mania [Warwick, N.Y.]

Not many schools put on meets with the energy that Warwick Valley does and this year's edition could be its best ever. Top entries include Bronxville, Garden City, Mahopac, Monroe-Woodbury, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.), John Jay-EF, New Paltz, Pawling, Pearl River, Pope John XXIII (N.J.), Port Jervis, Ridgefield (Conn.), Suffern, Valley Central, Westwood (N.J.) and of course Warwick Valley. Complete entries are available.

Xavier Invitational [Van Cortlandt Park]

More than 40 schools will once again be at Vanny this weekend for the Xavier Invitational. The entries are heavy with CHSAA and PSAL teams, as usual, and the weather looks perfect for great times.

Top teams entered include Benjamin Cardozo, Brooklyn Tech, Chaminade, Kellenberg, Stuyvesant and Xavier. St. Anthony's is entered as well, but plans to rest its top three boys.

South Jersey Shootout [Sewell, N.J.]

More than 50 teams will head to Gloucester Community College for the South Jersey Shootout, another of those oddly-formatted meets. One race pits all teams 5-6-7 runners against each other, another just the 3-4 runners and finally all the 1-2 runners square off. Click here for complete entries.