by Jim Spier

The Ninth Annual Great American Cross Country Festival was favored by great weather and great competition.

Ashley Brasovan of Wellington, Florida set a course record, winning the Girls' Nike Race of Champions in 17:05.6. Second was last year's champ, Kathy Kroeger of Independence, TN.

Mountain Brook, Alabama was the team champ with 75 points. They came into the meet ranked #2 in the Southeast and #7 in the U.S. Second was Collins Hill H.S. of Suwanee, Georgia with 99 points. They were ranked #9 in he U.S. and are sure to move up in the rankings. Southeast 7th ranked Oak Ridge, TN was third with 124 points, with Southeast "bubble" team Assumption (Louisville, KY) fourth with 133 points. Episcopal of Jacksonville, FL, coming into the meet ranked 3rd in the Southeast, coming off a big win against Eleanor Roosevelt of Greenbelt, MD last week, had an off day and finished fifth.