The Tall City Invitational cross-country meet is stronger than ever.

The 15^th The annual Tall City Invitational will attract a record 47 teams to Hogan Park and Sibley Nature Center on Saturday.

More than 1,000 runners have registered for the meet, hosted by Midland Classical, which begins with the Division I boys 5K race at 9 a.m., followed by the Division I girls 5K race at 9:30 a.m.

The Division II boys’ 5K, which features primarily lower-division schools, begins at 10 a.m., and the Division II girls’ 3,200-meter run begins at 10:30 a.m.

Danny Cook, Midland Classical’s new cross-country coach, says the meet benefits from the 60 or so volunteers who give their time and energy to ensure everything runs smoothly.

“First of all, I think it’s well organized,” Cook said. “It’s the quality of the competition. I think over the years the word has gotten out about what a well organized and high quality competition it is. There’s a lot of competition for all levels of ability. There’s competition for everyone. It gives you a good idea of ​​where you stand at the start of the season.”

Local competitors to keep an eye on in the Division I race include Midland High’s Joey Almanza, Midland Christian’s Braden Belew, Andrew Crain and Jason Minor, Odessa Permian’s Davin Merrill and Dylan Chico, Andrews’ Gavin Ortiz, Legacy’s Hadrian Urquidi, Walter Guerrero and David Ruvalcaba, Greenwood’s Landen Stewart and Odessa High’s Evan Sanchez and Jordan Fleet.

Almanza is the defending champion.

Legacy has a strong group of girls in the Division I race, including Abigail Hinojosa, Kyndall Jones, Marielly Kamali, Gabreille Garcia and Makayla Rodriguez. Hinojosa, who was the District 2-6A champion as a freshman, led the Lady Rebels to the district title last year.

Jones is the defending champion.

Other notable runners in the girls race include Rocio Almanza and Celine Maldonado of Midland High and Emma Aguirre of Odessa Permian.

Mallory West of Midland Christian is one of the favorites in the girls’ Division II race.

Cook said he was fortunate that the meet had been so well organized for many years under the leadership of former Midland Classical coach Ashlee Dunn, who continues to volunteer at the event today.

Cook believes the gathering is the second largest in West Texas after the Christian gathering in Lubbock.

“The mission of the Tall City Invitational is to expand participation in the sport of cross country running for the young men and women of Midland and surrounding communities, with the ultimate hope of empowering an entire community to commit to continuous character development and a lifelong pursuit of health and fitness,” Cook said.

Tall City Invitational Schedule

At Hogan Park and Sibley Nature Center

9:00 a.m. – 5 km, boys, Division I

9:30 a.m. – 5 km, Division I girls

10am – 5km, boys, Division II

10:30 a.m. – Division II Girls 3,200 meters

11am – Junior High Boys 3,200

11:30 a.m. – Middle School Girls 3,200

Abilene Wylie, Andrews, Fort Stockton, Greenwood, Legacy, Midland Christian, Midland High, Monahans, Odessa Compass, Odessa High, Odessa Permian, Pecos

Abilene Wylie, Greenwood, Legacy, Midland High, Odessa Permian

Abilene Wylie, Alpine, Andrews, Big Spring, Crane, Denver City, First Odessa Christian, Fort Stockton, Garden City, Grady, Greenwood, Holy Cross, Klondike, Legacy JV, Lubbock Roosevelt, Lubbock Southcrest Christian, Lubbock Trinity Christian, Marathon, McCamey, Midland Christian, Midland Classical, Midland High JV, Midland TLCA, Odessa Compass, Odessa High JV, Odessa Permian JV, Pecos, Presidio, Roby, Big Spring Runnels, Sands, Stanton, Trinity

Alpine, Andrews, Crane, Denver City, Fort Stockton, Garden City, Grad, Greenwood, Legacy JV, Lubbock Roosevelt, Lubbock Trinity Christian, Marathon, McCamey, Midland Christian, Midland Classical, Midland High JV, Monahans, Odessa Compass, Odessa High JV, Pecos, Roby, Sands, Stanton, Trinity