The Oatlands Invitational, also known as the unofficial pre-state meet, did not disappoint. There were so many big storylines that we could not choose just one for our headline so here are the headline(S) we saw from the weekend.
Headline #1: Elaina Pierce is The Real Deal, Moves Up To VA #1
WATCH Varsity A Girls Race (Cart Cam Footage)
We knew Pierce was good, that is why she was ranked #9 in our power rankings, but we had no idea how good she really was. Today she proved it by taking down girls ranked 2,3,5,6, & 7th in our rankings. Not only did she win, she dominated from the gun and really never looked back. Her winning time of 18:00 is 6th all-time at this meet and the fastest time in three years. She is now 3-0 on the season and headed to VTCA next week at Panorama Farm, her home course!
Headline #2: St. Albans Boys Dominated The DMV at Oatlands
Heading into the meet there were a few boys in contention for the title but after the meet there was really only one... St. Albans. The boys came down from DC and put on a clinic scoring 80 points to VA #1 team, Blacksburg's 120, defending Class 6 champions Woodbridge's 319, and defending Class 5 champions Albemarle's 332. So essentially St. Albans took down the entire state of Virginia. VA teams ran very well but St. Albans was just on another level. We will get to see the top three though rematch down at the VAXC Showcase in a month!
Headline #3: James W. Robinson Proves They Are #1 For Now
Just a few days after we bumped Robinson up to the top spot they made us look very smart with a strong win at Oatlands scoring 133 points ahead of our VA #3 team, W.T. Woodson who scored 257 for second. These two teams and West Springfield (did not compete here) are all vying for that top spot and it will be close between the three at states. Don't let that 124 point spread fool you, there were 416 more runners in this race so those team points will be a whole lot different come November but for now, Robinson is number one.
Headline #4: Goodman vs. Daniels Is Going To Be Epic at States
WATCH Varsity A Boys Race (Cart Cam Footage)
This race was an instant classic and we can only imagine what States is going to be like. Watch the race video and see Hayden Goodman and Trent Daniels (and Sebi Hume - DC) go back and forth switching places the final 1000m. It was just fun to be on the lead cart and see them battle it out. Statements were made and lessons were learned but the biggest point taken was this is going to be epic in two months.
Headline #5: Rename The Meet "The Pre-State Invite" Already!
With states now being held annually at Oatlands the Oatlands Invitational has quickly become the place to run to gauge fitness and team strength. Many teams who would never venture up here now come annually and that provides us with one of the best pictures of the state meet possible. We saw team favorites Woodbridge, Blacksburg, and Albemarle battle it out on the boys side and W.T. Woodson, Robinson, Atlee, Blacksburg, and Glen Allen square off in the girls race. It was fun to watch and worth a look at the results comparing the teams by classification.