VA XC Preseason | Article Series

Year

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #11 Ryan McCracken Nolan Jez Aug 24, 2016

There is no disputing that 5A is going to be the toughest title to win this year but Ryan has an inside source to help him place very high this season. He enters the 2016 XC season ranked 11th in the state and 4th in his classification. He is the third fastest runner in his county and 5A South.

Will Libby Davidson & Grafton Grasp The 4A Girls Titles? Nolan Jez Aug 23, 2016

Year after year E.C. Glass superstar Libby Davidson keeps surprising us with more and more talent. Last year she finished as All-American at Foot Locker Nationals and also was national runner-up indoors. This season she is in it to win it at Foot Locker Nationals.

The Boys' Green Dragon Sweep Nolan Jez Aug 22, 2016

Last season it was no surprise to see Maggie Walker atop the podium again and with the defending individual state champion, Ryan Buscaglia, returning for the Green Dragons it looks like there will be no surprises this year either.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #12 Conner Prosser Nolan Jez Aug 20, 2016

There are few teams in the entire state of Virginia that have quite the tradition that Brentsville has when it comes to XC. They are trained on the hills and always show up at Great Meadow ready to bring home some hardware. Conner's team enters the preseason ranked #12 in 3A but we have a strong suspicion that they are going to move up a whole lot before it is all said and done.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #13 State Champion Ryan Buscaglia Nolan Jez Aug 19, 2016

Ryan may have one of the best resumes of any returner in the state this year. He has more state championships than any other athlete returning with seven individual titles. That of course is coupled with his massive amount of team championships as well.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #14 Peter Smith Nolan Jez Aug 18, 2016

Our second guy on our top 15 countdown is another athlete hailing from 6A South, Peter Smith. Though he would likely say he is more of an 1600m runner with his 4:19 personal best, we think he has a ton of untapped potential in the 5K this year.

Blacksburg & Fleming Trying To Reassert 3A Dominance Nolan Jez Aug 18, 2016

Nothing is as tough as losing a team title by four points. Four points that equaled just four seconds on the state XC course. Blacksburg's boys suffered that loss last season but it looks like it only made them better competitors.

Will Auburn End Radford's Four Peat? 1A Girls Preview Nolan Jez Aug 17, 2016

They were more than close last year coming just 12 points away from a team title sweep but this year Auburn enters stronger than ever. Sophomore Caitlin Dominy will lead Auburn into Great Meadow with a great chance to do what her older brother did in 2015 in winning the individual and team title.

3A Girls State Virtual Meet & Preview: Will Blacksburg Make It 6 In A Row? Nolan Jez Aug 17, 2016

There is only one thing a team can do after setting a state record and that is to set another one. Last season the Bruins of Blacksburg set the state record for team scores with 23 points. This actually equalled their 2014 performance as well which is then also joined by Western Albemarle's 1993 performance.

Boys' Top 15 Returning XC Countdown: #15 David Scherrer Nolan Jez Aug 16, 2016

Opening up our top 15 countdown for returners this year is Cox senior David Scherrer. He enters the season as the 15th overall boy, fourth in 6A and third in the 6A South region.