First region meets of the season plus McEachern Invite highlight weekend

Here’s a look at the top meets of the weekend:

Region 7AAAAA Meet (Friday and Monday). Rome will host the state's first region meet of the season. Region 7AAAAA features perineal power Carrollton, along with Cass, East Paulding, Hiram, Kell, Paulding County, Villa Rica, Woodland and host Rome. The prelims will take place today with finals coming on Monday. The Carrollton and Rome boys will compete for the team title while the Rome girls will battle with Woodland for the team crown. The top four finishers in individual events and relays will advance to the Class AAAAA Sectionals, April 29 at Carrollton.

Region 5AAA Meet (Saturday and Monday). Westminster will host this meet, featuring two of its private school rivals – Lovett and Pace Academy – along with DeKalb County schools McNair, Redan, Cedar Groves, Towers and Stone Mountain. Westminster will look to sweep the girls and boys region titles by holding off Cedar Grove in both the girls and boys divisions. The top four finishers in individual events and relays will advance to the Class AAA Sectionals, April 29 at Pace Academy.

Region 6AAAAA and 6AA Meets (Saturday and Monday). Lakewood Stadium in Atlanta will host two region meets simultaneously. Region 6AAAAA features Banneker, Carver-Atlanta, Decatur, Grady, Lithia Springs, Maynard Jackson, North Springs and Riverwood. Region 6AA features B.E.S.T. Academy, Coretta Scott King, Douglass, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate, South Atlanta, Therrell and Washington – all Atlanta Public Schools – and Hapeville Charter of Fulton County. The top four finishers in individual events and relays will advance to the Class AAAAA Sectionals at Carrollton and Class AA Sectionals at Calhoun, April 29.

McEachern Invitational (Saturday). Some of the top teams not competing in region meets this weekend will get a good tune up at McEachern. The 24-team field features the host Indians and others from throughout metro Atlanta including Alpharetta, Buford, Campbell, Mays, New Manchester, Pebblebrook, Sandy Creek, Shiloh, Stockbridge and the Weber School of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA).