VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- After a long absence from racing, Oaktree Academy junior Aurora Scott has put together two impressive races this month to show she is back and fitter than ever. Scott disappeared from the racing scene after her All-American ninth place finish at Foot Locker Nationals in December. On August 12th, Scott won the ASYMCA 8K Mud Run in Virginia Beach in 39:35. Her time was 28 seconds faster than her 2005 victory in the same race in 40:03. Scott raced on a much faster and mud-less East Coast Surfing Championships 5K course on August 26th to clock a personal best time of 17:08 to beat her Foot Locker South time of 17:15 from last November. Scott won the race by nearly three minutes.
There is still uncertainty around Scott\'s eligibility status to race in high school sanctioned events. Scott attends Oaktree Academy in Chesapeake, which was opened in 1994 as a private school \"umbrella\" to provide support, encouragement, guidance, and accountability for parents as they educate their children at home. Scott had been homeschooled prior to attending Western Branch High School in Chesapeake for her freshmen year of high school. At Western Branch, Scott was a state runner-up and Foot Locker Nationals qualifier in cross country and a state champion for 1600 and 3200 meters outdoors. Since Oaktree is not a member school of the public schools\' Virginia High School League (VHSL) nor the private schools\' Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA), she is unable to compete in high school sanctioned events. Last fall, Scott was forced to compete unattached in collegiate races as well as road races to prepare for Foot Locker South, which allows for homeschooled athletes to compete in. If Scott is back at Oaktree this fall, she will have to follow a similar racing schedule leading this fall to abide by sanctioning rules.
Western Branch head cross country coach Ryan Carroll was the top male finisher in 15:38. Finishing 53 seconds behind Carroll in second was Cox senior Eddie Judge in 16:31 as he led Falcons teammate Charlie Celesia to the line with Celesia finishing third in 16:36. Judge and Celesia should be two of the top individuals in the Eastern Region this fall in cross country.