JAMESTOWN — A year of unprecedented events in the world of local sports will continue today, with the first-ever running of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Cross Country All-Star Race at the Martin Road Complex.

The best individual runners from the CCAA will take to the course, with the girls beginning at 3 p.m. and boys at 4 p.m.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s CCAA Championships were held in three separate waves of runners at Bemus Point Golf Club and Tap House last week.

Because of this, some of the best runners were not able to participate in the same heats, leaving some question as to who is truly the best of the best.

Today’s races should offer a definitive answer to that question.

“It was something that we were talking about back and forth,” Jamestown coach Steve Sipior said of the All-Star Race. “Monday or Tuesday we were still sending around emails asking, ‘Are we going to do this?'”

This week, CCAA Chairman Mike Janisch of Silver Creek gave the race the go-ahead, with Jamestown High School accommodating the runners.

“Mike asked if we could host it and I went to (athletic director) Ben Drake, and he said ‘I think we can make that happen,'” Sipior said.

As has been the case for much of this year, the cross country postseason schedule is subject to change from COVID-19.

With a recent increase in cases, there is a chance that today’s race could be the last of the season if next week’s Section VI Championships in Bemus Point are affected by the pandemic.

“If our section championship doesn’t happen next week, this could quite possibly be our last cross county meet,” Sipior said.

The race will feature the top 25 boys and girls CCAA runners, with Jamestown’s Drew Carlson and Allegany-Limestone’s Angelina Napoleon hoping to repeat their victories from a week ago.

Carlson posted the fastest time on the Bemus Point layout with a 17:08.05, followed closely by Lukas Baer of Maple Grove and Joe Krenzer of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley.

Napoleon led the way for the girls with a 19:42.93, just seconds ahead of Frewsburg’s Acacia Barber (19:47.02).

Maple Grove’s Christina Peppy was third (20:12.02) in that race and teammate Ava Crist was fourth (20:25.24).

“We had to run the race in three different flights, so a lot of the runners didn’t get to compete directly with one another,” Sipior said. “Angelina Napoleon and Acacia Barber were seconds apart, but they didn’t’ run in the same race. This gives them a chance to compete against each other.”

Runners and spectators should have beautiful weather today after dreary conditions at last week’s championships.

Spectators will be required to check in before they can view the races, and must wear masks.