The high school cross-country season will heat up this weekend with the R.I. Interscholastic League's Class Championships slated Saturday at Ponaganset High School, beginning with the first of eight races at 10 a.m.

And although many of the same schools will once again be battling for the top spots, the names of several runners trying to lead them there may not be so familiar, perhaps setting the stage for some interesting twists.

Although Bishop Hendricken no longer has the services of two-time individual R.I. and 2005 New England champ Tom Webb, the defending Class A and State champion Hawks still have Steve Wood and Andrew Palumbo setting a very fast pace for the perennial favorite.

There will be a number of others ready to challenge them both for the team and individual titles, however. That includes Cumberland, which is led by Devon Holgate and Derrek Turcotte, and North Kingstown, which has the talented Brandon Burns and Mitch Leveille. A.J. Johnson of Coventry and Nick Barao of East Providence also should make the top boys' race fun to watch.

"I would have to say that going into the Class meets, Hendricken -- this is a recording -- is once again the favorite," said North Kingstown coach Paul Tetreault. "Teams such as North Kingstown and Cumberland and South Kingstown will be trying to chase them down. I think the individual competition should be more interesting than the team race in Class A, as there are several runners who could win this race.

"Our team is coming off two weekends where we have run quite well, and I like the attitude and work ethic of this bunch," Tetreault said of his Skippers, who were runner-up to Hendricken at both the Class A and State meets last year.

Benjamin Freeman, the fastest returning runner from last year's state meet, will be trying to help Ponaganset capture the Class B crown on the Chieftains' home course, which will also be the site of both the State Championships on Nov. 5 and the New England Championships on Nov. 11.

The Class A girls race should serve as an exciting preview of the state meet. North Kingstown, which has won the last six Class A Championships, will try once again to defend its title after a strong showing at last week's Brown Invitational at Goddard Park, where the Skippers won the Championship Division Race behind Caitlin Crawford's eighth-place finish, with teammates Siobhan Breagy, Alexa Mazur, Allie Stasiuk and Erin Brennan placing 14th through 17th.

Despite how well North Kingstown is running this season -- the squad is currently ranked ninth in the Northeast -- Keven O'Neil is refraining from making any predictions. He cites the strength of a number of other teams, including defending state champion Coventry, which spoiled the Skippers' bid for a record-setting sixth-straight state crowns last fall and has been strong again this season with sophomore Kaitlyn Grimshaw leading the way, and Cranston West, which has been paced by the ever-steady Nicole Cocozza.

La Salle should bring some added excitement, as well, despite missing some of its runners Saturday because of academic testing.

The Rams, who are led by Jeanne Mack and Jean Christiansen, moved up to Class A this season after winning the Class B Championship last fall.

They are coming off a runner-up finish at the Manhattan Invitational, where Mack and Christiansen placed 1-2 in the Varsity D race in helping La Salle to its best finish for the school in 23 years. Mack also won the Varsity II race at the Brown Invitational in 18:18.

"Unfortunately, my seniors, including my number 3 and 4 runners [Sydney Lopes and Stephanie Vendetti], won't be able to attend due to the ACTs," said Rams coach Kelly Martin. "I'm still looking for great performances from my team, though, including Jeanne Mack and Jean Christensen. My team is very excited about the class meet."

The schedule: Class C boys, 10 a.m.; Class C girls, 10:30; Class A boys, 11; Class A girls, 11:30; JV boys, noon; JV girls, 12:30 p.m.; Class B boys, 1; Class B girls, 1:30.

cthorn@projo.com / (401) 277-7340