The 44th annual Doug Conley Cross Country Invitational looks to receive a break with some nice, early fall weather on Saturday (Sept. 24) morning as 65 schools statewide convene at Shalimar Country Club in Tempe.

Six races on are the schedule with a set of women's and men's non-varsity, invitation and elite races. Non-varsity women starts at 7:15 a.m. followed in order by men's non-varsity at 7:45, women's invitational at 8:15, men's invitational at 8:45, women's elite at 9:15 and men's elite at 9:45. The course is 3.0 miles, same layout as last year.

The defending team champions are back -- Mesa Mountain View (men's) and Chandler (women's). New men's and women's individual champs will be crowned in the elite races as last year's winners were seniors.

Schools competing in women's elite: Boulder Creek, Basha, Chandler, Hamilton, Chinle, Coconino, Ganado, Highland, Hopi, Mesa Mtn. View, Red Mountain, Chaparral, Mountain Pointe, Prescott, Desert Mountain, Saguaro, Corona del Sol, Rincon University, Veritas Prep, Perry and Tuba City. Schools in men's elite: Boulder Creek, Basha, Hamilton, Chinle, Coconino, Ganado, Highland, Hopi, Mesa Mtn. View, Red Mountain, Brophy Prep, Page, Carl Hayden, Pinnacle, South Mountain, Prescott, Desert Mountain, Corona del Sol, Canyon del Oro, Rincon University, Perry, Tuba City, Vista Grande and Shadow Ridge.

Contenders for top-medalist honors in the elite race among entrants include: Brophy's Luke Mason, Drew Burns and Hociel Landa; Hamilton's David Nelson, Mountain View's Carson Klepinger, Corona del Sol's Liam Kovtach and Slade Sumners, Vista Grande's Johnny Desanti, Perry's Anthony Haren, Desert Mountain's Caden Hercules, Chinle's Santiago Hardy and South's Gustavo Arias Ramos. Mason was runner-up last year. Most of this year's contenders placed in the top 25 at last year's meet.

Contenders for the elite girls race title who are entered include Chandler's Morgan Foster, who was second last year. Also watch for Desert Mountain's Alexis Hocken and Stephanie Stewart, Chaparral's Rachel Turner and Abi Archer, Chandler's Becca Taylor and Ava Hamilton and Hopi's Jaeda Honani.

Plenty of awards will be handed out with team trophies to the top 3 elite teams, plaques to 1st-through-5th and medals to 6-35. Invitational division offers team trophies to 1-2 and medals 1-35. Non-varsity race medals go to 1-35.