Many regions want to claim that they have the best teams or athletes or even the best races but only one can truly hold that crown. Once again the 4A West (formerly the 4A North) Region gets to hold that title. It is here where MileStat will be providing live coverage and video because this will be the biggest race of the year thus far.
Check out the 4A West Virtual Meet here!
Check out the 4A West Rankings here!
The 4A West Region is a region where Andrew Hunter's race is only an after-thought to the huge showdown the girls' race has between Foot Locker Finalists Libby Davidson (E.C. Glass) and Weini Kelati (Heritage).
From the start of the season these two have been preparing for this meet. They have scheduled very different but once again meet undefeated against Virginia opponents. The only loss either of them have this season is Libby Davidson's second place to FL Finalist Nevada Mareno (NC) down at the Adidas XC Challenge. She may have a loss to her record this year but lets not forget she also holds a 9-1 head-to-head record over Weini. The only loss coming at NBIN in the 5K.
Weini has tried to flip the script this year and does not want a repeat of last year's race. She is in better shape then ever and has already ran a blazing 16:29 this season. That time ranks #2 in the US and is the second fastest XC time ever in the state of Virginia. She has tallied up numerous victories but also has raced conservatively.
Speaking of racing conservatively, Libby has changed a lot this season as well with respects to scheduling. In the past she would run nearly every weekend but this year has been somewhat different. She may not have the monster times attached to her name yet this season but is still very much in play for not only the state title but the FL National title as well. Libby has not lost in the State of Virginia since November 6th, 2013! You cannot argue with stats but she is going to have to bring her A game because it will take a ridiculous time to beat Weini Kelati.
It all boils down to this, Libby is a beast and undefeated against VA competition. Weini is running out of her mind fast and the favorite for the Foot Locker title. Thursday we finally get to see these two greats meet again and for the first of four final meetings. History and the 4A favorite spot is on the line on these hills.
Georgie Mackenzie (Heritage) and Noel Palmer (LCA) have both also run some very impressive times this season going 18:20 and 18:32 respectively. Those two help make this one of the toughest regions both with depth and talent.
On the girls team front we are in store for an epic battle as well. The individuals at the front will be the biggest players here as the virtual meet has this coming down to mere points. Leading the way all season and into the meet will be E.C. Glass but they are quickly followed by Heritage, RockRidge, and Jefferson Forest. All four of these teams and perhaps even Loudoun Valley have a real shot at taking away the team title.
In the boys race we get one last shot to see the greatest guy XC runner ever in Virginia, Andrew Hunter (Loudoun Valley), race one more time. He has run a state record 14:20 already this season and is preparing for a huge weekend at the state meet. If he is going to run a crazy fast time it is likely going to be at the state meet. This week he will likely hold back but it is still something to behold as he could break 15 on a very hard course and make it look easy.
Hunter leads one of the best teams in the state into the meet and it seems they have a clear shot at coming away with the team title as well. They are chased by Sherando, Jefferson Forest, Fauquier, Dominion, and Millbrook who could all make some moves inside the top six. The key for them though is to make this group of six to have a shot at making it to states.
Also on the boys side are some very fast individuals including a staggering six individuals under 16 minutes not named Andrew Hunter. Leading the way for this group is Millbrook's Tyler Cox-Philyaw at 15:27. That time would be good enough to lead 5 other regionals! He is then followed by teammate Alec Schrank at 15:42 and then Jefferson Forest transfer Peyton Mann at 15:47. Also coming in under 16 is Trevor Whiteside of Sherando (15:52), Colton Bogucki a sophomore from Loudoun Valley (15:55), and Samuel Hayes of Carroll County at 15:58.