Clarkston’s Bineyam Tumbo won his third race of the season by running his second fastest time of the year in 17:18.63. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The Lakeside Vikings won the closest race since a 94-94 tie with Stone Mountain for the 1995 DCSD Cross Country County Championship in a 32-35 victory over two-time defending champions Clarkston Angoras a year ago to win the program’s 30th county title.

This year’s championships are set for 5:15(girls) and 5:45 pm (boys) at the Druid Hills Middle School Course.

The 54th running of the boys’ championships could be another classic on Tuesday between the two DeKalb rivals as the two-time defending Class 5A champions Angoras return three runners from a year ago in senior Bineyam Tumbo who holds the fastest two times ran at Druid Hills this season at 17:17.23 and 17.18.63.

Senior Suheib Mohamed, who finished 5th at the state meet in 2015, has been recovering from back problems and returns looking to move up from his third place finish a year ago. Sophomore Ngabo Daniel finished seventh a year ago while sophomore Rukundo Uwimana, who has the fifth fastest time at Druid Hills this season, helps the Clarkston lineup.

Bosco Hakuzinana and Thomas Weldemichal hold the sixth (17:40.61) and ninth (18:02.55) fastest times at Druid Hills add depth to the Angora lineup.

Juniors Miles Boyd and Jake Tubesing lead the Vikings team after the graduation of the top two finishers in the county championships last year in Davis Stockwell and Andrew Kent.  Boyd was 8th a year ago and has the 10th fastest time at Druid Hills this season in 18:04.86. Tubesing was ninth a year ago.

Lakeside coach Rick Barbe is going for his 10th boys’ county championship.

Druid Hills senior Ermias Tewolde (fourth in 2015) has the third fastest time at Druid Hills Middle this season in 17:23.41 and anchors a Red Devils’ squad which finished third in 2015.

Chamblee sophomore Bennett Solomon is a Top 10 performer this season at Druid Hills Middle and is a runner to keep an eye on on Tuesday.

Lakeside’s Morgan Mihalis recorded the fastest girls’ time in DeKalb County this season with a 20:06.02.(Photo by Mark Brock)

The girls’ championship will be the 41st running with two-time defending Class 5A state champion Dunwoody entering with four consecutive titles in the event (2012-2015) and six of the last seven (2009-2010).

Defending state champion junior Samantha Cameron leads the way for Dunwoody this season after finishing fifth overall last year in the girls’ championship.

Other returnees for the Lady Wildcats include seniors Julia Echols (11th in 2015), Ally Womble (9th in 2015) and Callie Dill (7th in 2015). Junior Kelly May Sheehan was fourth in 2015.

Lakeside has 2015 bronze medalist Morgan Mihalis returning who has run the fastest time of 20:06.02 at Druid Hills this season.

Sophomore Emma Hanson and freshmen Lena Ayoub and Margaret Racine are all in the Top 10 of the best times on the course this season.

Chamblee junior Beining Xiao holds the second best time of the season with a clocking of 20:44.83 while Druid Hills senior Rachel Juieng is in fifth with a time of 22:32.27.