Robinson's depth is key to win over Lake Braddock

BURKE LAKE, VA -- In the boys and girls team battles at the Patriot District Meet, it was a dogfight between Robinson and Lake Braddock. In both races, the Lake Braddock squads had the superior top 3's but it was Robinson's depth 1-5 runners that gave the Robinson Rams the victory over the Lake Braddock Bruins.

The Robinson boys were led by senior LA Snead who won the boys race in a excellent time of 15:19. The Lake Braddock boys then took 3 of the next 5 places with Dave Vitto (2nd, 15:31), Jimmy Judge (3rd, 15:36), and Steve Hoogland (6th, 15:49). Through the first 3 runners, Lake Braddock held a 11-13 advantage, but in the end Robinson's depth was too much. Brian Crawford, Robinson's #4 runner, finished well ahead of Lake Braddock's #4 as he took 9th place in a time of 15:58. The Robinson boys finished with a total score of 42 points and Lake Braddock's lack of depth compared to Robinson's dropped them back to second with 46 points. Other squads advancing to Northern Region Meet are West Springfield (60 pts) and Hayfield (79 pts).

It was similar a beginning and ending in the girls team race with the Lake Braddock girls starting off well, but then saw that early lead fade quickly as the Robinson girls finished strong to take the title. The Lake Braddock packed it in real well at the front as they amazingly took the first 3 individual places with Kelly Swain (1st, 18:14), Heather McCarthy (2nd, 18:36) and Cheryl Carr (18:45). Odd as it seems, the Lake Braddock girls didn't win the district team title as the Robinson girls were able to put 6 runners ahead of Lake Braddock's #4 runner. Robinson was motivated by the return of Sam Ference who had been out of action due to injury. Ference took 6th place in a time of 18:58. Robinson won the title with 39 points as Lake Braddock (48 pts), Hayfield (81 pts), and TC Williams (103 pts) trailed behind the Lady Rams.