Hunter State Record 14:41! Blacksburg Scores 23 Points! VHSL States Day 1 Recap

VHSL State Championships
Nolan Jez

Here is your quick highlight of day one's action from Great Meadows. We will be recapping each classification much more in depth so keep checking back for more in depth coverage through the entire weekend! 

 

Photos by: John Herzog

With the times and performances we saw today one would be led to believe that our weather conditions were perfect today, this could not be further from the truth. Running through the piercing cold like a man on a mission and highlighting today's action was Andrew Hunter (Loudoun Valley) who blazed the course in a State Meet Record time of 14:41! 

Coming into the race he had been producing some impressive times but many people thought it might have just been because of the fast courses. Though, as you could see in some of our previews, we thought he had something special planned for this weekend and boy did he! He made it clear from the start that he was going to be chasing that record when he opened in 4:32 to open a 10 second gap on Gannon Willcutts. After that he only lengthened his lead and came through the two mile (which should be slower) at 9:11. At that point we knew he was in range and right where he wanted to be. He then made quick work of the final mile and came storming down the stretch to cross the line faster then anyone else ever has. Finishing in second behind him and also returning next year was Willcutts representing Western Albemarle who ran a personal best 15:35. Both of these guys showed us not only the type of talent we have state-wide but the level of talent we have coming back next year too. 

Taking home the team title, with a very impressive 56 points were the boys from Brentsville District. This team will also be looking for an at large bid in a couple weeks to NXN so keep your eye on this squad. 

In the girls 3A race we were treated with history on the team side of things. The Blacksburg girls set the state record of 23 points (not including 1A/2A) in a state meet. This was in no small part thanks to Bonnie Angermeier who had to fight with everything she had to defend her title. Right on her tail running her best race of the season and solidying herself as one of the best runners in the state was Ciara Donohue of Loudoun Valley. These girls finished with times of 18:04 and 18:06 to go 1-2 this year. 

After those two it wasn't long until Jennifer Fleming and the rest of the Blacksburg girls made it across the line. They finished their entire top 5 inside the top 8 and top 7 inside the top 16. Chasing them and also scoring a very impressive score was Loudoun Valley who finished as the runners-up with 67 points. 

Taking the 2A titles were both of the Maggie Walker teams showing again that they are the team to beat in 2A. Though the girls faced tough competition at regionals against George Mason, they made quick work of them today by winning by nearly 20 points, 38 to 57. On the boys side of things it was a landslide victory to the tune of 26 points. That was a whopping 82 points better then second place, Floyd County. This was very impressive and unless it happens in 6A, it will be the only classification to have a team that swept the titles. Also very impressive is the fact that the girls team is returning all their scoring runners next year. 

Individually these races were wide-open. In the first race of the morning, surprisingly with the least amount of wind, it was Khloe Pointer (MW) taking home the win in 18:47 ahead of her Green Dragon teammate Emma Call who finished as the runner-up in 19:08. Both of these girls quickly dropped the field and never really looked back. As their coaches said they had no limits today and went out to race. 

In the boys 2A race it was all Brad Swiney (John S. Battle) who made it very clear from the start that he was set on defending his title and leaving high school having never lost an XC State 2A title. He won this race in an impressive 15:55, well ahead of Ryan Buscaglia in second who finished in 16:21. 

In the middle races of the day we were treated with very close and exciting team races. In the girls 1A race it was Radford reigning victorious over Rappahannock County. This race was decided by each team's fifth runner and a total of two points! Radford held on with 53 points just ahead of 55 for RC. Leading the field though in this race was RC with Julia Wood taking home yet another individual state title in 18:58. On the boys side of things there was also a close team battle with repeat champion, Cliff Conley (16:16) and his Galax teammates winning both individually and team 63 to 67. They won this title over a strong Auburn team led by Trevor Dominy and Jared Downing who went 3rd and 4th in this race. 

 

Photo Coverage (click to view album)

John Herzog - Mary Ann Magnant - Lisa McArthur 

 

Elite Performances

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights