Last year\'s VIS state champions Paul VI returns a squad that should contend to win another title this year as they have several key returnees from a year ago including a strong front three in 2005 VIS State Cross Country Championships top 15 finishers Michelle Kew (7th), Kelsey Budd (9th), and Natalie Cowden (13th). The Paul VI girls were state champions by a significant margin of 44 points last year, but only 13 points separated places two through five in the team standings as all four of the squads would like to make up ground on the defending champs this year.
It will be tough to do with the leadership and experience that Paul VI brings back as they return the strongest front three than any team in the private school ranks. Kew, a junior, has a best of 20:18 for 5K and has ran 5:39 for 1600 meters and 2:27 for 800 meters on the track. Meanwhile, Budd ran her 20:42 5K cross country best on the challenging Woodberry Forest state course and the senior posted respectable times...