With only 48 hours before states, The Glen Allen Boys get in one last workout to finish the season the right way.
This past Saturday the Glen Allen Boys XC Team got their final real workout in as they attempt to win their school's first state championship. This Friday's race, which is set to go off at 1:45pm, is going to be the biggest race of their lives. Though they have stiff competition from the likes of Stone Bridge, Freeman, Tuscarora, and TJ, they are ready for the challenge and cannot wait to toe the line at Great Meadow.
Their final workout was a 2 Mile tempo run on the hilly course at Pole Green. It was the perfect place to do a workout. The coaching staff moved up the start line too to ensure they finish just past the top of the final hill. All of this was not about the workout itself, at this point of the season it is about maintaining, but visualization.
Coach Ennis wants them to visualize their races. The final hills and then the ever important push to the finish line. It also helps having this hill deep in the woods so that it forces you to hear the silence and realize it is you against the clock. This workout could not come at a better time.
Following that tempo run the boys jumped into their spikes and did two final hill repeats at race pace.
The Glen Allen boys come to Great Meadow with both the Conference 11 and 5A South titles. They defeated Hickory and Douglas Freeman handedly to earn those trophies. That will not be the case this weekend though as they face off with three 5A North teams (Tuscarora, TJ, and Stone Bridge) who all could win this title.
Entering the competition on Friday Stone Bridge is slated to score 87 points with all the other teams right around 110-120 points. That may seem like a lot but when you realize if all five Glen Allen boys PR'd by even just five seconds that would equate to a 30 point swing! Given the same is true for all these other teams as well.
The real key to winning the state title this weekend is fairly simple. Beat Stone Bridge's third runner. If you can have your third runner finish before their third runner, you basically secure the team title. Stone Bridge is going to be the toughest team to beat this weekend in 5A and they rely heavily on their middle pack of 2-3-4. IF a team can sneak in their and beat them at the line the points are doubled! Remember, if Tuscarora out leans a Stone Bridge runner then the points difference is 2 points, not one.
Teams and runners have to go into the meet with the mindset that each place you are lowering your score and raising the other teams' score.
This weekend is going to be very exciting and this 5A race could be the best of them all! Check out our full 5A State Meet Preview and virtual meets that feature the 12 teams advancing to states to give a clear picture of who need what to happen.