Girls Race of Champions
For weeks we had been waiting for this moment when Kate Murphy would open her season and it was all that and more. She blazed the WakeMed course in 17:11 to rank second in the state with her fastest ever season opening time.
The race began fast with Kate quickly moving to the front and right behind her was Heather Holt. Though both of them pulled away early from the field, other Virginians were fighting in that next pack in what was a very fast race.
5:13 thru the mile with Kate & Heather nearly ten seconds ahead.
Kate pulled away slightly but Heather was never too far behind. She couldn't catch Kate but it was certain that Heather is going to be a star as well.
Kate crossed the line and broke the finish line tape that was being held by Mary Cain in 17:11. Holt was second in 17:21 with Noel Palmer in 4th and Samantha Marin in 5th. Those ladies and Ryann Helmers all combined to score 24 points as a team for Team VA.
Virginia also saw Morgan Lewis, Ailene Edwards, Doria Martingayle, and Simonne Guenette finish inside the top 20.
Blacksburg won the girls' team competition with a very impressive 69 points with their Bruin rivals and NXN-SE Champions Lake Braddock finishing as the runners-up with 103.
Interview with Blacksburg's Coach Brandon Bear
Girls' ROC Results (Complete List)
GIRLS 5,000 METER RUN 17-18 PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Kate Murphy 12 Lake Braddock 17:11.90 1 2 Heather Holt 11 George C. Marshall 17:21.30 -- 3 Sasha Neglia 9 Dobyns Bennett High School 17:39.00 2 4 Noel Palmer 12 Liberty Christian Academy 17:48.60 -- 5 Samantha Marin 12 Blacksburg High School 17:48.90 3 6 Kaitlyn Lacy 11 Male 17:56.10 4 7 Niki Narayani 10 Webb School of Knoxville 17:56.90 -- 8 Keelin Hays 10 Tatnall 18:03.80 5 9 Claire Cheeseman 12 BrentwoodA Academy 18:05.50 6 10 Melissa Zammitti 12 Davidson Day School 18:08.80 -- 11 Grace Connolly 11 La Salle Academy 18:08.90 7 12 Ryann Helmers 11 Albemarle 18:09.00 8 13 Morgan Lewis 12 Veritas School 18:18.10 -- 14 Ailene Edwards 10 Blacksburg High School 18:20.70 9 15 Kristlin Gear 12 Fort Myers HS 18:28.50 10 16 Doria Martingayle 12 Princess Anne High School 18:29.50 -- 17 Halle Hausman 12 Science Hill High School 18:31.20 11 18 Josie Wirtz 11 Marist 18:32.20 12 19 Meredith Helton 11 BrentwoodA Academy 18:32.80 13 20 Simonne Guenette 11 Blacksburg High School 18:35.90 14