Crews destroys course record
Western Albemarle boys beats nationally ranked Robinson

BLACKSBURG, VA -- At the 2000 Virginia Tech Invitational, a star was born. That star (or runner) was Rockbridge County HS sophomore John Crews. Crews destroyed the talented field as well the course record (15:44 Nick Magnum) as he powered across the line in a time of 15:27.66. Crews humbled all of the other star runners in this huge invitational.

One of those runners was Jamestown HS (AA) Bryce Ruiz. Ruiz was unaware of who Crews even was or how good he really was at race time, but during the race and aftewards, he surely found out. Ruiz and Crews battled it out for first for 2 miles. Then the last 800 Crews separated himself from Ruiz and ran away with the victory. Ruiz's comments on Crews, "That Crews kid was just too strong. It seemed like he knew that course with the back of his hand. He knew exactly where to make his moves on that course and I did not. He is going to be good."

Ruiz though has nothing to be ashamed of his second place finish of a time of 15:40.75 for it was also better than the previous course record which was held by a Foot Locker finalist. Crews and Ruiz both made the Virginia Tech course, which is well known as one of the most difficult cross country courses in the state seem like a track by their times.

In the boys' team race, Western Albemarle HS (AA) crushed nationally ranked Robinson as they almost got their entire top 5 under 17:00 on the hard and hilly Tech course. They were led seniors Phillip Dejong (5th, 15:47.27) and Charlie Hurt (7th, 16:00.33).

In the girls' race, another AA runner won over a field of talented AAA runners as Western Albemarle's Delaney Moje won in a time of 19:20.51. James Robinson sophomore Sam Ference took runner up honors with her time of 19:24.59 as her team easily won the team title placing their entire top 5 in the top 13.