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The individual highlight of the event is the awarding of the Robert Sullivan Award for Male Athlete of the Meet and the Purl Wark Award for the Female Athlete of the Meet.

Cros-Lex's Garrett Grundman is the top contender among the boys. The Pioneer senior, an All-State distance runner in cross country and track, has the potential to make a run at three meet records, including longstanding ones in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. In jeopardy are the 1600 mark of 4:28.90 of Scott Long (1986), Sandusky, who is now the Deckerville boys track coach; plus, the 3200 record of 9:46.8 by Chris Long (1989), Sandusky, who is Scott's brother. Grundman could also push for the 800 record of 1:57.33, set by Brown City's Garnett Kohler in 2000.

"I'm sure he'll go after the 1600," said C-L coach Lisa Shaw. "It's his first event of the meet." Shaw added that the next two are also reachable but could depend on many factors.

Marlette senior Jeremy Kiley could push Grundman in the 1600 and 3200.

Grundman's teammate, Josh Kettlewell, has a chance to be involved in four firsts - the pole vault, the 110 and 300 hurdles and the 1600 meter relay. Kettlewell will be in head-to-head battle with CPS's Shane Albrecht in the pole vault. Kettlewell holds the Cros-Lex school record (14-4.5) and Albrecht, a senior, owns the record at CPS (13-9). The County Meet record is 13'6".

Deckerville's Seth McVittie could also have a say in the Sullivan Award. McVittie, a senior, will challenge Kettlewell in both hurdle events, which they split in a meeting at Harbor Beach earlier. McVittie also is an outstanding long jumper and competes in the high jump.

An interesting battle also shapes up in the shot put with veterans Justin Marquardt of Marlette and Bryan Shagena of Deckerville both going over 53' this season.

In the girls competition, the Wark Award has a number of scenarios with a n umber of very talented athletes.

One of the best confrontations will come in the 800 meter run with Cros-Lex freshman Leah O'Connor, a Div. 2 Regional champion, and Deckerville sophomore Dana Stolicker, a Div. 4 Regional winner. With others in the race like Marlette's Chelsea Mata, a Div. 3 Regional champ, and Cros-Lex's Jamie Edmunds, a 2004 Athlete of the Meet, the meet record of 2:24.1, set by Sandusky's Brenda Essenmacher in 1982, will absolutely be in jeopardy.

Laura Bombard, another Cros-Lex senior, was a co-Athlete with Edmunds three years ago. She could be in the hunt again, coming in with the best times in both hurdle events. Deckerville freshmen Shelby McVittie is close behind in those, also.

There are several other girls that could factor in the hunt for the award.

Relays could be play an important role, particularly so in the 3200 meter relay where the record is almost sure of being broken. The current mark is 10:29.3, but Deckerville (9:47.97) and Cros-Lex (9:54.78) will go stride-for-stride. Both set their own school records this spring.

In the team competition, the Cros-Lex girls have won eight straight County Meet titles and the Pioneer boys have claimed four consecutive crowns. Both will be favored again, but strong teams from Deckerville and Marlette will have a bigger say. Deckerville won its first-ever Regional title this past Saturday.

"With Deckerville and Marlette," expressed Coach Shaw, whose Pioneers also have won back-to-back Div. 2 Regional championships, "we definitely don't want to overlook those two. Both have quality athletes."

Coach Long from Deckerville says his team, with many seniors, could make a run. "We've talked about it a little bit. In fact, we had a little meeting Saturday after the Regional. We'll try to do the best we can. The kids we'll have to step up."

On the girls side, the Lady Pioneers probably have too much depth for good teams like Deckerville and Marlette, but that isn't keeping Coach Peggy Regan from being eager for Thursday to roll around. "I think it will be a fight with Deckerville. I know the kids are excited. We want to go head-to-head with their 3200 relay team. And, O'Connor going head-to-head with Stolicker, this'll be a fun meet."

Along with Sullivan and Wark Awards, traveling team trophies go to the boys and girls champions and gold, silver and bronze medals will, be presented to the top three places in each of the 34 events.