NATCHEZ — The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Cross Country Championship meet scheduled for today today at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College in Clinton has been postponed due to anticipated inclement weather.

The date for the meet has been changed to Oct. 28.

Cathedral Green Wave have won the boys’ varsity race for three straight years.

Green Wave Cross Country Head Coach Tommy Smith said the boys’ varsity team training had been geared toward the scheduled meet today.

“It’s just like a step backwards. It will be all right and everybody has to go through it,” Smith said. “We will have to go back in and do a little bit training for the first part of the week. Then, back into our taper for the later half of this week. The varsity boys haven’t raced in two weeks. I like to keep them close to a race but not that far away either. As they start losing their sharpness.”

At the MAIS Championship meet, 15 teams will be competing in the Division 3A boys’ varsity 5K race. Eighty to 85 varsity runners will compete in the Division 3A boys’ varsity 5K race.

The Adams County Christian School Rebels are competing in the MAIS Division 3A race as well. The Rebels’ top runner in the meet last season was Parker Robinson. Robinson finished in 28th place with a time of 21:00.59.

Smith said the main objective is to keep the momentum going to win the MAIS Division 3A championship again.

“I’m hoping they understand the tradition of what these other teams have laid down before them,” Smith said. “My view of state championships is they’re great but the story is behind the runners and the work the previous teams have done that gives them an opportunity to have a tradition to live up to. I think it’s secondary to the lessons the sport itself. It’s all about work and reward that carries them.”

Ryan Skates won the race last year and posted a time of 17:22.97. Smith said the projected second place finisher for this year’s meet is running about 18:12 and Skates is a solid minute ahead of that runner.

“I think it’s pretty much his race,” Smith said about Skates. “He’s by far the favorite to win the meet. Even if he were challenged, I wouldn’t be the athlete who goes up against him. He has that doggin’ determination to succeed. I think he has learned a lot about himself as a competitor.”

The girls’ varsity Green Wave are also competing in the MAIS championship meet at 3 p.m. Smith said he’s expecting a top 5 finish from the Green Wave team.

“Gracie Foster has always been one of our better runners,” Smith said. “She splits her time between soccer and dance teams. Claire Ulmer is probably my most consistent runner. She has probably worked the hardest.”

Another team of the Green Wave to watch is the boys’ team in the Middle School Overall Championship. The Green Wave will compete against teams from all divisions, from 1A to 5A. Smith said he’s projecting to have six boys in the top 10 in that race.

The Green Wave have won the boys’ varsity race for three straight years. Smith said the main objective is to keep the momentum going to win the MAIS Division 3A championship again.

“I’m hoping they understand the tradition of what these other teams have laid down before them. My view of state championships is they’re great but the story is behind the runners and the work the previous teams have done that gives them an opportunity to have a tradition to live up to. I think it’s secondary to the lessons the sport itself. It’s all about work and reward that carries them,” Smith said.

Ryan Skates won the race last year and posted a time of 17:22.97. Smith said the projected second place finisher for this year’s meet is running about 18:12 and Skates is a solid minute ahead of that runner.

“I think it’s pretty much his race. He’s by far the favorite to win the meet. Even if he were challenged, I wouldn’t be the athlete who goes up against him. He has that doggin’ determination to succeed. I think he has learned a lot about himself as a competitor,” Smith said about Skates.

The girls’ varsity Green Wave are also competing in the MAIS championship meet at 3 p.m. Smith said he’s expecting a top 5 finish from the Green Wave team.

“Gracie Foster has always been one of our better runners. She splits her time between soccer and dance teams. Claire Ulmer is probably my most consistent runner. She has probably worked the hardest,” Smith said about Foster and Ulmer.

Another team of the Green Wave to watch is the boys’ team in the Middle School Overall Championship. The Green Wave will compete against teams from all divisions, from 1A to 5A. Smith said he’s projecting to have six boys in the top 10 in that race.

The MAIS Overall State Cross Country meet begins at 12 p.m. next Monday with the girls’ junior high race, followed by the boys’ junior high race at 12:30. The varsity girls’ race starts at 3 p.m. with the boys’ varsity race to follow at 3:30. The MAIS Overall State Cross Country meet is at Choctaw Trails in Clinton.