Jackson County cross country coaches are hoping their teams run their fastest times of the season tonight when they compete in the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional.

The girls race will start at 5:30 p.m., and the boys race will follow. The top five teams will advance to the BNL Regional that will be held Saturday.

Randy Fife, coach of the Seymour boys, says he feels like the Owls have an excellent chance to repeat at sectional champions.

"Our goal, and our expectation, is to win but we have to go over there and run the race.

"We beat Bedford in our invitational, we beat them in their invitational (at the beginning of the season), and we beat them in the conference. They will be our main competition. They have gotten better."

The Owls had five runners in the top eight last year and four of them are back. Nolan Fife was fourth, David Schulz sixth, Zach Toppe seventh and Steven Tanner eighth.

"Our goal is to get seven in the top 15," coach Fife said. "That is a pretty ambitious goal. Last year 15th was 18:08, and Luke (Tormoehlen) has a chance to get that as our seventh runner."

Other No. 1 runners for county teams are Keith Waggoner at Brownstown, Mark Crossman at Crothersville and Ryan Schneider at Trinity.

Derrick Koch, coach of the Brownstown girls, says he feels like Bedford North Lawrence is the favorite for the girls race, but adds, "Anything can happen.

"We have been working hard the past few weeks and it is starting to show. I think things have come together for us and we look forward to getting beyond the sectional."

The Lady Braves are coming off two strong performances as they won the Mid Southern Conference title on Oct. 4 after placing first in the Eastern Invitational Oct. 2.

Hope Lockman has been running No. 1 for the BC girls. "I think Hope easily has a chance to be in the top five," Koch said. "That has to be her goal. She hasn't ran a strong race at Bedford, but I hope she does today."

Other No. 1 runners are  Christina Moravec at Seymour, Courtney Killey at Crothersville and Taylor  Royalty at Trinity.