Clouds, cool temperatures, and relentless wind welcomed 20 schools from central and southwestern Virginia to the Blacksburg Invite. New school construction, that concluded in 2013, erased the existing cross country course so this Invite represented only the second 5k competition held on its demanding, hilly trails. Competitors at early October’s Metro Conference meet characterized the course as both scenic and challenging.
Following a middle school contest for boys and girls, won by Bryce Willetts of Kate Collins Middle School the Girls’ Varsity race got under way. Seniors Jennifer Fleming of Blacksburg and Annie Taylor of Western Albemarle, dueling for the first mile, took the field out in a blistering 5:38. After the second mile, Fleming bested a major hill in first putting significant distance between herself and Taylor. She never looked back and continued to stretch her lead over the last part of the race. Fleming finished the race dipping under 19 to break her own course record set at Metro. “Tennis Court Hill starts the last mile of the race and I knew what to expect. My mom always tells me to crest hills hard and I really put a surge on half way up,” reflected Fleming. “I am really proud of my teammates and it was great to watch Annie Kay Combs battling it out to take 2nd on the final straightaway.” Combs shared that as she approached the last 150 meters she “found a strength I did know I had left” and grabbed runner up in a thrilling finish. Blacksburg, Milesplit ranked US # 2, claimed all but one of the top 5 spots to cruise to victory scoring 19 pts to runners up Western Albemarle.
On the boys’ side, the Varsity race saw a solo leader from the gun: Gannon Wilcutts, junior of Western Albemarle. Comparing the course to Panorama Farms in Earlysville, VA, Wilcutts’ race strategy included not “waiting to kick” and come up short. His plan paid off as he put substantial space between himself and runner up Blacksburg junior Sam Teller. The WAHS harrier shattered the short-lived course record by more than 30 seconds and concluded “it’s always fun to get a course record!” Coach Cass Girvin noted, “everybody had to race in the wind” so his advice to his star contender was “to get out fast and hard.” The Warrior boys’ squads swept the Varsity and Junior Varsity competition. Girvin mentioned the especially strong showing of his Junior Varsity squad including race champion and ninth grader Max Miller. Blacksburg boys finished runners up in both boys’ divisions.
8th grader Sofia Link of Blacksburg finished her first cross country campaign undefeated in JV competition. As her season came to a close she remarked, “I’ve been dreaming of being on this team since I was little.” Her strong effort led the Blacksburg JV squad to the ever elusive perfect score. The Bruins were followed by Western Albemarle in second.
The Blacksburg course will get plenty of post-season action. Conference 32 and 3A West Regionals will take place there at the end of October and beginning of November.