The entire cross country season is one of the longest journeys in all of sports. For the many elite and devoted Virginia distance runners, the next six weeks determine the value of all their hard work. From those early morning miles during the warm summer days in June, all the way through the heart of fall, distance runners that bleed miles embrace the current moment like none other. From Districts through Footlocker, the battle for the season's monumental breakthrough takes off. Here's a look of what to watch for this postseason in the emerging Northwest Region Thursday, October 30th.
Ladies First:
Teams:
#1 Forest Park
The Lady Bruins are the undisputed team to beat. Currently ranked third in AAA, and fourth in the Cream of the Crop rankings, Forest Parks has set their sights far beyond a regional championship. With seniors making up six of their top seven, Forest Park is loaded with an experienced group pushing for a state title. The Bruins are led with a lethal 1-2 combination that rivals Western Albemarle's Fanning sisters for best in the state. Senior Beth Fahey (2nd AAA, 6th Cream of Crop) and sophomore Stefanie Slekis (3rd AAA, 9th Cream of Crop) lead the way with a team in position to possibly own half of the region's top ten runners.
#2 Tie-Colonial Forge & Brooke Point
The defending regional champion Eagles will be the underdogs up against a Forest Park powerhouse, however they will not hand over the regional crown without a fight. The solid trio of seniors, Tina Porter, (sister of 2002 regional champ Michael Porter) and Emily Mertz and freshman Molly Hawkins will keep Colonial Forge in the fight. If the Bruins have an off day, the veteran Eagles, who won the Albemarle Invitational on the Panorama Farms regional course, will be hungry for an upset.
After a close defeat (73-67) to their district rivals at the Albemarle Invitational, Brooke Point will look to rebound against the Eagles, and also make a push for a regional championship. The Lady Blackhawks bring one of the tightest front five in the states as only 23 seconds, and 9 places separated front-running freshman Molly Hawkins and senior Jessica Hope at the Albemarle Invitational. These two squads will go head to head for the Commonwealth District Championship Wednesday, and then meet again to push toward favored Forest Park
#4 E.C. Glass
The Hilltoppers do not have the talent to run with front three, but are still very worthy of a trip to the state meet. Sophomore Meredith Storton leads a solid group that finished fourth at the Albemarle Invitational, as Glass looks to return to the Plains.
Team to Watch Out for: Albemarle
The Patriots shocked the region challenging Colonial Forge and finishing runner up in 2002. Albemarle took some key losses, but has rebuilt well this season and cannot be taken lightly. Junior Ellie Whitenack leads a young but determined group which will have home course advantage hoping to spoil someone's November plans.
Individuals:
1.) Beth Fahey SR Forest Park
2.) Stephanie Slekis SO Forest Park
3.) Kristin Milot SR Stonewall Jackson-Did not mention her but she deserves recognition. (7th AAA, 13th Cream of Crop) Could very well challenge the Forest Park duo for the individual championship.
4.) Ecaterina Burton SR Forest Park
5.) Tina Porter SR Colonial Forge
6.) Molly Hawkins FR Colonial Forge
7.) Amanda Bates SR Forest Park
8.) Britany Copeland FR Brooke Point
9.) Emily Mertz SR Colonial Forge
10. Jessica Koch SR Forest Park
11. Meredith Stortan SO E.C. Glass
12. Christina Davis SO Brooke Point
13. Ellie Whitenack JR Albemarle
14. Rachel Hyde FR Culpeper
15. Christina Murkish SO Brooke Point
On the outskirts: Brooke Point sophomore Tina Dilegge, and senior Jessica Hope, and Colonial Forge senior Tara Salem.
Gentlemen
Absolute Toss Up Forest Park, E.C. Glass, Albemarle, and Colonial Forge.
Four schools, four births to the state meet, but only one championship will be determined. Expect a fine line between regional champion and barely making it out of the region. One single body may very well make the difference.
The defending champion Bruins of Forest Park are led by junior Bryce Iverson. (9th AAA, and 11th Cream of the Crop) Iverson earned runner up honors at the Walt Disney Classic in Florida, pacing his team to a fourth place finish. Iverson will also be the main challenger of defending champion in senior, Hari Mix of Albemarle.
Mix (3rd AAA, 4th Cream of the Crop) will look to defend his title and lead his team back to the top after back to back regional titles his freshman and sophomore seasons. The Patriots finished fourth at their own invitational, but were narrowly defeated by fast rising sophomore Patterson Wilhelm and the E.C. Glass Hiltoppers, 216-230.
Albemarle had defeated E.C. Glass a week earlier at the William & Mary Invitational, however Wilhelm helped E.C. Glass earn revenge the following weekend. His 5th place showing helped re-establish E.C. Glass as one of the premier teams in the region.
Finally, despite losing their front duo of Michael Porter and Sean Leyh to graduation, the Eagles of Colonial Forge are proving the strength of their program. Junior Tony Nowatarski and sophomore Nick Oltman have stepped up and continue the competitive tradition of the 2002 region runner-ups en route to a sixth place finish at the Albemarle Invitational.
Possible Surprises: Frankin, Garfield, Woodbridge
The main four have been outlined but cross country never goes as planned. Franklin senior Adam Dickerson destroyed the field at Metro Invitational helping his team to a solid third place finish. Senior Sirak Ogbagibir leads a Garfield squad which returns six of the top seven seven from a devastating 2002 fifth place finish. Junior Travis Carleton and the Woodbridge Vikings cannot be forgotten either, as they earned runner up honors in 2000 and 2001.
Individuals:
1. Hari Mix SR Albemarle
2. Bryce Iverson JR Forest Park
3. Patterson Wilhelm SO E.C. Glass
4. Michael Disilvestro JR Massaponax
5. Adam Dickerson SR Franklin
6. Travis Carleton JR Woodbridge
7. Brendan Regan JR Albemarle
8. Brandon Dick JR Massaponax
9. Charles Swartz JR Osbourn
10. Tony Nowatarski JR Colonial Forge
11. Nick Oltman SO Colonial Forge
12. Jason Driscoll SO Stonewall Jackson
13. Sirak Ogbagibir SR Garfield
14. Mich Lopaki SO Osbourn Park
15. Kelly Watt JR Albemarle (it's the truth, that's what the stats say. Guess this is the problem with runner's writing this stuff.)
On the outskirts: Forest Park's 2-3 solid senior duo of William Miklojczak and Josh Lafleunr.
I hope this has given everyone a balanced, accurate, and fair view of the region. I give the best of luck to everyone this postseason, and it should be an exciting ride.