VA's Last Unbeaten To Take on Toughest Competitors Yet


Since 2010 there has been at least one athlete in Virginia to not lose once in the state. This year with a great upper-tier group of athletes it has been harder and harder to win every race. That has caused everyone to suffer at least one loss except for John Champe's Bethany Graham who is rocking a 3-0 record heading into the final weekend of the regular season. 

Bethany Graham's Athlete Profile 

The John Champe sophomore may be racing less but when she does race she makes the most out of it. In those meets which had 42, 52, and 73 teams respectively she reigned supreme over some of the best athletes in the entire state. At all three meets she also posted impressive times of 18:22, 18:05, and 18:35. 

Watch her wins: Pole Green XC Classic - Great Meadow Invitational

This weekend though she will be facing her toughest competition of the year at the Albemarle Invitational. Already entered into the meet are Ryann Helmers, Zoe Clay, Jodi Tolarchyk, Emily Smeds, and quite a few others who all have a shot at beating her. 

Helmers may have the best shot as she is coming off of a 17:50 season opener at Great American but a healthy Tolarchyk would definitely be scary as well considering she is the defending champ. The strong argument though for Bethany is that she has run some very fast times and almost broke 18 on the upper course at Pole Green. That basically equates to a sub 18 on the state course early in the season and that can't be overlooked. 

This weekend will be jam packed with events going on all over and one of the best races will be Bethany Graham's race to an undefeated season.