Ram Run on Saturday

As many as 14 schools are expected Saturday for the annual Ram Run cross country meet at Harders Park.

Included will be Mosley, the defending girls champion, and Arnold, which won the boys competition last fall.

Host Rutherford and Bay complete four county schools entered, and race director Fred Wester of Rutherford expects Fort Walton Beach and South Walton from the west, Dothan Northview from the north, and Tallahassee schools Maclay and Lincoln to be included in the field.

The event begins at 7:30 a.m. with an open run for any adults wishing to compete on the 5,000-meter course. The girls race will start at 8:45 a.m., followed by the boys at 9:30 a.m. and a junior varsity competition at 10:15 a.m.

Wester expects Mosley's girls contingent again to be strong.

"They've got some speed, and they have more than just one good runner, they have five good ones," he said. "In both boys and girls."

Rutherford's Tommy Heikkinen is the defending boys champion and is back to defend his title in his senior year. Heikkinen ran 17 minutes, 8 seconds to place first in 2007.

"He's got a chance to win again," Wester said. "His goal this year is 15:59."

The Tallahassee schools, if entered, are expected to pose a strong challenge, Wester said.