THIRD BATTLE INVITATIONAL
BOYS MEET HISTORY
The Third Battle Invitational began in 2010. The first years of the invitational have seen fast times and great finishes. Many of the top finishers have gone on to become All-State, state champions, and even Foot Locker finalists.
In 2010, All-State runners Thomas Delaney (Handley) and Seamus O’Reilly (Warren County) battled for much of the 3.1 mile course, finishing just 4 seconds apart in times that still stand two of the top times(4th and 6th) ever run on the Third Battle Course. Delaney led his Handley team to the first team victory with 56 points over James Wood’s 68 points.
The 2011 boys race was won by Thomas Madden, who later went on to win the VHSL AA State Championship and qualify for the Foot Locker National Championship. Madden had a great supporting cast as Skyline’s team had an equally impressive showing with their 27 points, taking the top 3 individual places in the 9-team meet.
The 2012 race was won by Stone Bridge’s Brady Guertin, who led a strong Stone Bridge team to the team championship. Much like 2010 & 2011, the individual winner led the team winners as Stone Bridge rolled to a victory with 47 points.
2013 marked the biggest meet in Third Battle History with 29 full teams. Sophomore Drew Hunter of Loudoun Valley sliced the course record down from Thomas Delaney’s 15:39 to 15:23. Also under the old course record were Nick Causey (Osbourn Park) and Hale Ross (The Potomac School). In perhaps the most impressive team performance ever in the meet, Battlefield High School stole the show with 63 points, placing 4 runners in the top 10 and averaging 15:56.
THIRD BATTLE INVITATIONAL
GIRLS MEET HISTORY
In both 2010 and 2011, the girls’ races were won by soon-to-be track state champions Krista Deceault (Sherando, 2010) and Crystal Nelson (Millbrook, 2011). DeCeault’s time of 18:54 was the first to break the 19 minute barrier. The next year, Nelson’s 18:15 shattered the meet record one, winning by 90 seconds, only a week before running a 17:59 to re-set the course record during her district championship.
The 2010 team championship went to Warren County, who placed all 5 girls in the top 10 to earn a team score of 29 points in the 7-team meet.
In 2011, the meet had grown slightly to 8 teams. Handley High School edged host Millbrook High School for the title with 57 points.
The 2012 race was won by James Wood’s Amber Hawkins who became the second fastest ever on the course with 18:19. Heritage High School bested a field of 14 complete teams with their team score of 44 points.
In 2013, the Third Battle Invitation dramatically increased its field of teams with 30 full teams. West Spingfield’s Caroline Alcorta dominated the race individually in a huge course record of 17:10 as teammate Katie Kennedy came through in 18:43 for second place. Alcorta would go on to win a state title, Foot Locker South, and finish 3rd in the Foot Locker National Championship. West Springfield impressed as a team, as well, taking the title with just 52 points and an average time of 18:56.
COURSE RECORDS
The Third Battle course has been used since 2010
Bolded names are in the 2014 race!
Boys Course Records
1. 15:23.6 Andrew Hunter Loudoun Valley 2013
2. 15:33.5 Nick Causey Osbourn Park 2013
3. 15:35.0 Hale Ross Potomac School 2013
4. 15:39.0 Thomas Delaney John Handley HS 2010
5. 15:39.0 Aaron Hill Battlefield 2013
6. 15:43.0 Seamas O'Reilly Warren County 2010
7. 15:45.4 Justin Wilkins Battlefield 2013
8. 15:45.6 Ryan Miller Battlefield 2013
9. 15:48.2 Matt Celsa Potomac Falls 2013
10. 15:51.7 Haben Zemichael Battlefield 2013
11. 15:53.2 Trent Lancaster Dominion 2013
12. 15:58.8 Anteneh Girma TC Williams 2013
13. 15:59.5 Ryan Hughs Briar Woods 2013
14. 16:01.0 Thomas Madden Skyline 2011
15. 16:01.6 Danny Collins Liberty 2013
16. 16:04.0 Brady Guertin Stone Bridge 2012
17. 16:04.6 Jacob Black Osbourn Park 2013
18. 16:05.0 Jim Thomson John Handley HS 2012
19. 16:05.0 Tyler Cox-Philyaw Millbrook 2013
20. 16:05.5 Alec Schrank Millbrook 2013
Girls Course Records
1. 17:10.4 Caroline Alcorta West Springfield 2013
2. 17:59.0 Crystal Nelson Millbrook 2011
3. 18:19.0 Amber Hawkins James Wood 2012
4. 18:43.0 Katie Kennedy West Springfield 2013
5. 18:51.0 Alina Woodford Patrick Henry HS 2012
6. 18:53.7 Georgie Mackenzie Heritage 2013
7. 18:54.0 Krista DeCeault Sherando 2010
8. 18:56.4 Jillian Everly Osbourn Park 2013
9. 19:01.0 Bethany King Matoaka 2012
10. 19:08.2 Ana Suarez West Springfield 2013
11. 19:09.0 Kayla Gibbons Warren County 2010
12. 19:13.7 Ciara Donohue Loudoun Valley 2013
13. 19:15.2 Jessica Gray Osbourn Park 2013
14. 19:16.6 Taylor Brown Liberty 2013
15. 19:18.4 Helena Mulder Osbourn Park 2013
16. 19:18.9 Nadia Dahimene Millbrook 2013
17. 19:20.8 Georgia Matthews Battlefield 2013
18. 19:22.3 Sarah Dillistin Potomac Falls 2013
19. 19:24.0 Karly Knechtel Millbrook 2011
20. 19:26.2 Nicole Harrison Dominion 2013
GIRLS 2014 Preview
Teams to Watch
Patriot High School: Led by sophomore Rachel McArthur who comes in with a season best of 18:18. In the past few weeks, Patriot High School has won the Glory Days Invitational, and were second at the Octoberfest Invitational.
Heritage High School: With their new arrival from Eritrea, Weini Kelati, Heritage High School is now led by a very strong 1-2 punch in Kelati and Georgie Mackenzie. Kelati comes in having won the Oatlands Invitational, the DCXC Invitational, and the Manhattan High School Invite. Mackenzie won the Great Meadow Invitational earlier in the season.
West Springfield: Last year’s champs won’t go down without a fight. Led by two 19:30 girls in Emily Keast and Reagan Bustamante, West Springfield comes in with a tight pack from 19:29 to 20:24 for their 1 through 5.
Others to watch: Loudoun Valley, Battlefield
Individuals to Watch
Based on Top Times This Season
Weini Kelati, Heritage:
8th at World Junior Championships in 3000m (9:12). Won Oatlands, DCXC, and Reebok Manhattan invitationals this fall. Season best time is 50 seconds ahead of her closest competition at Third Battle.
Rachel McArthur, Patriot:
Won the Prince William Invitational, and last week won the Glory Days Invitational running 18:40 in muddy conditions.
Ciara Donohue, Loudoun Valley:
4 Seconds behind McArthur at Glory days, also finished second at Great Meadow, and 3rd at Oatlands.
Georgie Mackenzie, Heritage:
Kelati’s teammate. Won the season opening Great Meadows Invite in 18:50 and saw a second sub-19 at the Loudoun County Championships.
Xaveria Hawvermale, Chantilly:
Hasn’t raced an invitational since Oatlands, but finished 2nd at the Judges Classic in early September. If in the race, could challenge with her 18:42 from the hilly Judges course.
BOYS 2014 Preview
Teams to Watch
West Springfield: Senior Timothy Ward leads the way for the Spartans with his 15:35, which is one of the fastest times of any individual in the meet. Behind Ward, West Springfield has a solid 2-5 including 16:20 runner Evan Fabish, followed by times of 16:35, 16:47, an 16:54 to round out their top 5. As a team, they placed an impressive 6th in the nationally renowned Adidas XC Challenge in North Carolina.
Georgetown Day School: This team boasts a leading duo of sub-16 runners in Tristan Colaizzi (15:41) and Aidan Pillard (15:56). Georgetown Day School looks extremely solid through 4 runners, but, like most XC teams, their #5 could be the difference maker. Last weekend, Georgetown Day finished tied for 4th with Chantilly in the Glory Days Invite.
Stonebridge: Another team coming in with a solid pack is Stonebridge, whose 1-5 range from 16:07-17:01 in terms of season bests. Last weekend Stonebridge won the Albemarle Invitational in impressive fashion, beating host Albemarle by over 60 points.
Chantilly: Always a threat to perform well, Chantilly comes in led by Senior Ryan McGorty whose season best time of 15:42 should impact the top of the field. Chantilly has finished in a tie for 4th last weekend at Glory Days Invitational, won the Gettysburg Invitational, and finished 3rd in the Oatlands Invitational.
Potomac Falls: May be the sleeper in the field, but with a 5th man at just 17:13, they may have the pack that can surprise a few people.
Individuals to Watch
Based on Top Times This Season
Andrew Hunter, Loudoun Valley:
3x State Champion, Penn Relays Champion, Sophomore Class National Record Holder for 3000m. Has won Great Meadow, Oatlands, Great American, and Glory Days Invitational this season. Set the Third Battle course record last year in 15:23.
Anteneh Girma, TC Williams:
Sub 16 twice this season at Oatlands and DCXC Invite.
Tim Ward, West Springfield:
Huge PR at Great American put him on the map.
Ryan McGorty, Chantilly:
Sub 16 twice this season. Won Judges Classic in a course record, the Gettysburg Invite, and Monroe Parker Invite.
Aaron Arslan, Handley:
Burtner Classic winner, runner-up to McGorty at Judges Classic.
Tyler Cox-Philyaw, Millbrook:
State champion 1600m, 2nd between Hunter and McGorty a week ago at Glory Days Invite.