SALEM, VA -- If her time at the Fab 5K is any indication of what it is to come from Catherine White in her senior season at Northside High School, this could be a very special year for the three-time All-American and nine-time AA state champion. In last year\'s Fab 5K, White clocked a swift 18:30 and bettered her time by over 30 seconds in this year\'s race as the top finishing female in the open division in 17:57. White finished out last fall\'s cross country season winning the AA state title in 17:57, qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals with a 17:17 PR run at Foot Locker South, and an All-American finish at Foot Locker Nationals in 17:53 on a challenging Balboa Park course in San Diego, California. Already 30 seconds ahead of herself from last year is a great sign for things to come.
Radford\'s Nathan Brame continued a great summer of racing with a 16:24 third place finish in the open race with the fastest high school time of the day. Brame\'s time is nearly 1 minute and 20 seconds faster than his time in 2005 at the Fab 5K.
North Cross junior Jane Gay was the top finisher girl in the high school division in 19:15. Gay was a Virginia Independent Schools All-State performer in cross country two years ago, but missed the state meet last year. Expect Gay to be a contender for the state title this year based off of her performance at Green Hill Park.
Alisha Royal, transfer to the state of Virginia from South Carolina, finished second in 20:12 to Gay.
Meanwhile, Rachel Travitz was the top finisher for The Richards aka Cave Spring in third at 20:20 and Donna Bryant led The Unicorns aka Jefferson Forest in fourth at 20:41. The Cave Spring crew won the team battle 15 to 23 over the Jefferson Forest gang.
Cave Spring\'s Tim Smith led team Shake \'N Bake (likely inspired by the new Will Ferrell movie Talladega Nights) to victory as the top finisher among the boys in the high school division in 16:40. Rockbridge County\'s Thomas Crews finished second in 16:55.