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For county runners who have hopes and dreams of competing in the 2009 state cross country championships, qualifying time has finally arrived.

County teams will participate in four regional championship meets today. The 4A South Region race is at 3 p.m. at Fort Washington Park. The region includes Bladensburg, Bowie, Charles H. Flowers, Henry A. Wise, DuVal, Eleanor Roosevelt, High Point, Laurel, Northwestern, Oxon Hill, Parkdale and Suitland.

Participating in the 3A South Region meet today at 3 p.m. at Oak Ridge Park in Hughesville will be Largo, Crossland, Friendly and Potomac. County teams at the 2A South Region meet today at 3 p.m. at Centennial High in Ellicott City will be Central, Frederick Douglass and Gwynn Park.

The 1A South Region meet is today at 3 p.m. at South Carroll High in Sykesville, including Fairmont Heights, Forestville and Surrattsville.

The top 15 individual finishers and the top five teams advance to the state championship meet Nov. 14 at Herford High School in Parkton.

With their historical triumph at the county championships, the Flowers girls still have the winning feeling fresh in their minds after halting Roosevelt's six-year stranglehold atop the county standings.

"We're always regrouping and focusing on the next goal," said Flowers coach Tracee Gilchrist. "We've got one hump down and practices and training are going very well, so I expect them to have a good regional meet, maybe even better than the county meet.

Flowers leaders T'Nay Williams, Danielle Gainer, Asia Lewis, Camille Washington and Denae Ford all have a chance at top-10 finishes.

Roosevelt junior Amirah Johnson is the clear favorite to win her first 4A South Region championship after her triumph in the county championships. Strong performances from Raiders' senior Danielle Calhoun and Lydia Nichols could help the Raiders make a serious push against the Jaguars for the team title.

On the boys' side, the Roosevelt boys, led by Charles Bolinger, Justin Ahalt, Adam Snyder and Xavier Thompson, appear primed for yet another 4A South Region crown after winning the county title.

Bowie could be the Raiders' primary threat, led by Paul Edwards, Gerardo Amaya and Alan Ottenstein. The Wise boys, however, could also challenge Roosevelt after Trevon White and Kevin King both finished in the top 10 at the county championships.

"I think we've learned about running consistently," White said. "I feel that we're better than last year and we've improved and me, Kevin and Adrian [Miller] should all perform well.

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazete.net.