Someone could get hurt. Turning an ankle in a cross country race is common enough, after all.

Someone could become academically ineligible. High school can be rough on teenagers.

And someone could hurl a giant rock at three Lisbon High School runners less than 100 yards into Saturday’s Mountain Valley Conference meet (any more and no one would catch them) at the University of Maine at Augusta.

The latter, while cruel, may be the only way to slow down the Greyhounds, who have owned every opponent they have faced this season. More than once, the team has compiled a perfect score (15) at a meet with more than two schools, and they are just one runner short of returning the entire team from its 2003 state championship team.

“You run the races because things can happen to create upsets,” said Lisbon coach Hank Fuller. “Sure we are favored. False modesty is just as bad as blatant arrogance, I think, and we know we have to be favored. Still, though, kids can turn ankles, make wrong turns on the course, wipe out. Any number of things can happen.”

Including a team peaking at the right time and catching Lisbon, which Fuller acknowledges is still possible.

“You have to be impressed with the way Winthrop has come along this year,” said Fuller. “They really have a solid base for a great program, and they have improved tremendously this year. You can’t overlook Wiscasset, either.”

At Winthrop, coach Jay Lindsey is happy just be mentioned as the next-in-line behind Lisbon.

“They are an awesome team,” said Lindsey. “To be second behind Lisbon this year is great for this team. We are a lot further along than I thought we would be. The kids have all worked very hard for this.”

Winthrop should battle with Wiscasset, Madison and Hall-Dale for the next few spots behind the Greyhounds.

Eagles, Shipbuilders favored

The Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference boys’ cross country meet on Friday should be one of the tighter races in recent memory, with Morse and Mt. Blue both poised to make a strong run to the top.

On the girls’ side, meanwhile, Mt. Ararat would appear to be the overwhelming favorite.

For Mt. Blue, this season has been an erratic assortment of meets in New Hampshire and Maine, against many of the same opponents week after week, and devoid of matchups with to contending teams.

“That’s one thing that’s stunk this season,” said Mt. Blue coach Kelley Cullenberg. “There are so many KVAC schools we haven’t seen yet.”

Still, the Cougars, with Joe Staples, Adam Deveau and Jay Grant as their top runners, should be able to keep up with Morse, which has a tandem in Chris and Kevin Roy that will be solid 1-2 punch at the top.

Edward Little’s bright spot will be freshman Nick Kazar, who, according to coach Dan Campbell, will “be let loose and go for it” on Friday.

“Morse has to be the favorite for the boys,” said Campbell, “but (Cullenberg) can coach, and she has a solid team, so that race will be interesting. As far as Kazar, he’s going for it. The rest of the team, we’re pretty focused on our regional meet next week, like that is our state meet, but we’re letting Nick go.”

For the first time in several years, Lewiston is deep and should be a thorn in many teams’ sides as the next two big meets, and in particular the KVAC meet, progress.

“It’s not out of the question that we might contend to be in the top tier,” said Lewiston coach John Gagnon. “The top five is an attainable goal. We’ve been getting progressively better as the season has gone on. We know we can be there.”

Some Lewiston runners could be at a physical disadvantage on Friday, however, as they will observe the Muslim holy day of Ramadan. From sunrise to sunset on Friday, the athletes will not eat or drink anything, which may impair their ability to run long distances in the late afternoon. The race begins at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon and the sun will set just before 6 p.m.

On the girls’ side, with Jessie and Beth Wilcox, Krystal Douglas and Rose Lebel as their top four, the Eagles are the prohibitive favorite to win each of the next three big meets, starting with Friday’s KVAC title tilt.

“If they don’t win by 20 or more, it’s one of three things,” said Campbell. “They are sick, they are injured, or they are holding back for next week and for states. It’s that simple.”

Mt. Blue will also be a player in the KVAC meet, where Edward Little should contend in a year or two. Oxford Hills’ Mandy Ivey should be among the top overall girls’ finishers.

“I think we can stay with Mt. Ararat, honestly,” said Cullenberg. “We haven’t seen them at full strength in a regular race yet, and I think that we can match up well with them.”

KVAC Championship Meets

At UMaine-Augusta

Friday, 3:00 p.m. (boys); 3:45 p.m. (girls)

MVC Championship Meets

At UMaine-Augusta

Saturday, 1:00 p.m. (boys); 1:45 p.m. (girls)