Of all the high school sports during the fall season, crew has to be the toughest to watch. Rather than race head-to-head like they do in the spring, teams are timed over the same stretch of water at separate junctures, so the “races” don’t involve actual races. On top of that, all the moms and girlfriends who want to watch the action must do so through binoculars from shore.

The second toughest: cross country. When runners come down the home stretch, it’s exciting, but the other 95 percent of the race isn’t visible to spectators. A course is considered “spectator friendly” if it’s possible to make it to four benchmarks where runners are briefly visible before they disappear immediately after.

Imagine this type of viewing scenario for a basketball game. Watching a cross country meet is like being allowed to peek into the gym after every quarter to check the score, and again during the final play.

The exception for cross country comes at the annual state championships at Michigan International Speedway, which will take place on Saturday. Because of the vastness of the venue—and with the help of the enormous grandstands—runners are actually visible to spectators throughout the race.

The venue isn’t all that’s unique about the race. The home stretch is notoriously the toughest of any in the state. When the finish line finally becomes visible to the runners, it appears close…but it isn’t.

“It’s really deceptive, because it’s like 400 meters away for the straightaway and most guys think, ‘It’s a straightaway, I’m going to start sprinting,’ ” said Pioneer senior Nathan Karr. “But you just can’t do that at the end of a 5K race, so a lot of people burn out before the finish.”

On the girl’s side, Saline seniors Alex Leptich and Kate Carter have finished first and second at most races they’ve entered this season, and they hope to continue the trend at MIS. The spectators who get to see the pair run Saturday, may be surprised at how it unfolds.

“We run very differently,” Leptich said. “At the end there’s usually 20 meters between us, so people think that we run the same, but our races are very different.

“I’m more of a get-out-quick, hold-on-for-dear-life. She’s more of a get out, be in a good spot, then make some moves. It’s different, but it works for both of us.”

According to Karr, who placed eighth in 2008, the second-highest finish of any underclassmen, making those moves in the middle of the pack can be one of the more challenging elements of the 240-person race.

“About the half mile mark, when we cut off the infield at MIS, (the course) it narrows down,” he said. “You have to make sure you’re toward the front of the pack, so you don’t get boxed in and held back. I want to be toward the front, but I don’t want to be leading at that point.”

Leptich and Carter have run at MIS since they were freshmen, and Carter noted the experience and awareness of the venue could prove extremely beneficial at particular parts of the course.

“There’s a big mud spot right in the stadium and so you know that’s where you go around and try to pass people,” Carter said, noting that the location of the mud spot is a perfect locale for her. “Right as you enter the stadium, there’s like 1,200 (meters) left and that’s the time when I start to think, okay, it’s like track, this is the time to start turning over and start…doing my thang, I guess.”

Karr, Leptich and Carter won’t just be vying for individual titles this weekend. The top-ranked Pioneers will be after their second consecutive boys team championship, and the Hornets - ranked No. 1 for most of the season, but who fell to No. 4 two weeks ago - have a good chance of taking home a title as well, both of which would definitely be sights worth seeing.

PREDICTIONS

I’m back to my winning ways, narrowly edging the readers last week’s 9-2 to 8-3. The amount of teams remaining in postseason play is dwindling, and with volleyball playoffs starting this week, that number will continue to shrink, making picks more difficult than ever.

TUESDAY

Whitmore Lake, Greenhills, and Manchester at Clinton, girls volleyball: Whitmore Lake will be vying for its fourth consecutive district championship, but Tri-County Conference champion Clinton will be the team to beat in this Class C district. Semifinals: Clinton over Manchester, 3-0; Whitmore Lake over Greenhills 3-0. Round 2: Clinton over Whitmore Lake.

WEDNESDAY

Greenhills vs. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett at Troy Athens, boys soccer: Greenhills won’t get to avenge last year’s semifinal loss, as Liggett defeated Auburn Hills Oakland Christian on Saturday, but I doubt Peter Jacobson cares who he scores his 55th goal against. Greenhills, 1-0.

SATURDAY Greenhills vs. Hudsonville Freedom Baptist/Suttons Bay winner at East Kentwood or Troy Athens, boys soccer: The Gryphons beat Hudsonville 1-0 in their previous game this season, and Suttons Bay at one point earlier in the season was winless for five consecutive games. All this spells a good chance at a state title for Greenhills. Greenhills, 1-0 (OT).

Division 1 cross country individual state finals at MIS, boys: Pioneer’s Nathan Karr was the second-fastest underclassmen at last year’s state meet but might need an actual car against Troy’s Mike Atchoo (gazoontite!) who was the one who finished ahead of him. Atchoo has beat Karr by comfortable margins twice this year, but Karr is confident. “I feel like I’m in a lot better shape than I was then,” he said, “and I feel like I have the fitness I need and I have the ability to stay with him at this point.” So my pick is, hold on…I feel a sneeze coming on… Atchoo.

Division 1 cross country team state finals at MIS, boys: Pioneer has been dominant all year and should be again on Saturday to claim its second consecutive team title. Pioneer.

Division 1 cross country individual state finals at MIS, girls: Kate Carter and Alex Leptich are fast enough to pull off 1-2 at the state level, just the way they have at other races all year long. Said Leptich of the possibility of her closest competition for an individual title being her own teammate, “it’s not really a competition to see how we can beat each other, but more a competition of how well we can do with each other.” Sure it is. Leptich.

Division 1 cross country team state finals at MIS, girls: Of course Leptich and Carter aren’t the only ones on the team, there’s those other five runners, which is constantly in flux. “The competition behind us is what really makes a team.” Leptich said. “Seven girls are competing for spots the entire season, I don’t think we’ve had the same varsity for one race, which is really good because constantly everyone’s score is going down.” Will it be enough? Field.

SEC Red Championships at Huron, girls swimming: The Hornets beat the Pioneers at the Huron Relays at the beginning of the season, and proved they could do it head-to-head back on Oct. 10. But this is the SEC championship? A meet historically dominated by the Pioneers as they prepare to do the same at states. These times they are achangin’. Saline.

I’m currently taking suggestions for what punishment I should have to endure should the readers beat me. In the past I’ve subjected myself to a conditioning drill of choice from one of the teams that I incorrectly picked to lose. Send suggestions to petercunningham@annarbor.com.

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

SATURDAY

Pete Cunningham covers sports for annarbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.