Boys' A Varsity Recap
In the penultimate race of the year we got to see the current state leader (Saurav Velleleth) finally face off with the defending 5A state champion (Waleed Suliman) and a dozen other top contenders. In fact heading into the race, you had VA #1, #2, #5, #6, #8, #9, #10, #13, and #15 all entered into just one race.
This race also included either the defending state champion or top returner in 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, and 6A!
We tried to build it up as much as we could be honestly the race was much better than we could have even imagined.
With the huge star-studded field set, they were off onto VA's fastest course.
Though we did some research the night before, after this first mile it was clear that Waleed was telling us the truth when he said he was going for time and not the win. He clocked a 4:33 thru the mile with Bashir Mosavel-Lo, Peter Smith, John Mackey, and Konrad Steck right there as well.
The opening mile here is definitely a speedy one and basically without any rise in elevation. The second mile though has a slight uphill and more turns than the opening mile.
Only two guys were able to continually push the pace and they were Waleed and Price Owens who bother came thru the second mile under 5:00. Suliman in 4:52 and Owens in 4:59. By this point Waleed had cleared the field and opened a lead on his tough competition. If someone were to attempt to catch him they would need to make a move soon.
From our perspective it looked like no one after the second mile mark even wanted to chase down Waleed in fear of peaking too early and losing all their energy prior to the finish. Everyone knew this was going to be a fast race and didn't want to sprint with a mile to go.
Waleed continued to hold a strong gap from the field and thankfully so because with 400m to go he started to get a bad cramp. Though he fought through it, it was good he built up a nice cushion for it.
He powered down the stretch and for the first time in a while was shocked at his finish time. He clocked a meet, school, course, and facility record of 14:49.
Behind him was a wall of runners with the next five guys finished all within 1.5 seconds of each other for times ranging from 15:13-15:15.
James Madison, the preseason favorite for the 6A crown took him the team title with Deep Run taking home the runner-up trophy. Severna Park of Maryland took home the third place trophy.
Boys' Team Scores
Results By Race Management Systems, Inc.
Team Summary Report - Boys
Top 5 ------- Finishers -------
Place Team Places 1 2 3 4 5 6* 7*
1 James Madison 177 7 28 29 38 75 86 92
Top 5 Times: 1:20:31
2 Deep Run 205 5 13 23 59 105 138 149
Top 5 Times: 1:20:24
3 Severna Park 210 25 34 47 48 56 64 69
Top 5 Times: 1:21:21
4 Blacksburg High School 228 9 27 49 71 72 73 146
Top 5 Times: 1:21:18
5 Midlothian High School 308 19 22 46 67 154 168 197
Top 5 Times: 1:22:09
6 Freedom (South Riding) 314 30 31 58 84 111 118 124
Top 5 Times: 1:22:31
7 Douglas Freeman 321 1 14 82 102 122 169 174
Top 5 Times: 1:21:26
8 Ocean Lakes 377 26 36 52 128 135 165 170
Top 5 Times: 1:23:05
9 Glen Allen High School 379 11 57 61 103 147 148 212
Top 5 Times: 1:22:53
10 W.T. Woodson 379 24 63 95 96 101 151 187
Top 5 Times: 1:23:16