756,000+ people at the time of us writing this have watched Ariana's epic finish at the state meet. It is without a doubt the moment of the state meet. Her grit, determination, and drive to finish is what our sport is about and what she did on the Oatlands course will be a part of State meet lore for years to come.
So, who is Ariana Logsdon?
Well first off, she is your VHSL Class 5 State Champion running 19:15 for the win but aside from that she is a senior from Warwick High School in Newport News and the school's first individual state champion in cross country. On top of that she is the first individual state champion in any sport since 1997 and the first female state champion since 1978 when Cassandra Jones won the 440 yard dash. That's right, it's been so long that the last female state champion ran yards instead of meters.
Her season has gone well with her winning the 5B regional title and her running a big PR of 17:58 at The VA XC Showcase.
That brings us to the state meet and her epic finish. In this race itself there were some big names, the defending champion, and state champions on the track all battling it out.
Around the mile mark Ariana sat roughly in 4th amongst a stellar group of athletes.
"My strategy was to stay relaxed through the first mile, let the front pack find the pace and then settle in with that pack. I wanted to make my move on the downhill right before the 1.5. My coach has always emphasized using the downhills to our advantage and letting gravity work for us, which was a huge help on a course with so many hills. After that, it was really about sticking with anyone left from the top pack for the rest of the race." - Ariana
Following that strategy she put herself in a great position as she hit what we call the lonely part of the course where for about a mile you see or hear no one else on the course except yourself. That is where she continued to make her moves and position herself well before "The Hill".
By the top of "The Hill, which is roughly the 4K mark, she was in the lead and had no one around her. She noted her legs were already starting to burn but also knew that it was only 1000m to the finish and right in front of her was a nice downhill.
What followed was a textbook example of what you should do the final stretch of any cross country race. You focus on your form, keep pushing, and run your own race.
After two quick smaller hills she hit the three mile mark and rounded the final bend to see people along the fence and nothing between her and the backside of the finish line tape.
"At that point, I kind of knew it might happen. My legs were already starting to give out, but I also knew how close I was to the finish. My mind wasn't really clear-everything was starting to tilt a little-but I just kept going. When I got up, it honestly wasn't from my own strength. I truly believe God gave me the strength to get back up and finish. I don't actually remember those moments between falling and crossing the line, but after watching the video, I can see how little energy I had left. I know I couldn't have done that on my own." - Ariana
When watching the video you can hear everyone - fans, officials, and coaches all cheering for her to get up and that she was so close.
"When Ariana collapsed, my heart absolutely sank, and I felt nauseous. As a coach, that's the hardest thing to watch - you just hope she's okay. I knew how hard she had pushed and how much this moment meant to her. " - Warwick Coach James Highsmith
Over the years there have been many falls and epic finishes but rarely does the athlete find the strength in just the nick of time. Ariana did and was able to cross the line just 1.9 seconds ahead of second place.
"Seeing her fall at the line was heartbreaking, but when I saw her moving and the medics helping, I felt a wave of relief. More than anything, I was proud - proud of her courage, her toughness, and her will to finish. Ariana's strength comes not just from her training, but from her faith. She always gives credit to God, and I truly believe that faith gives her the strength to push beyond what seems possible." - Coach Highsmith
Ariana who was 5th in 2023 and 8th a year ago is now your reigning state champion. We asked her our favorite question after she recovered from leaving it all out there and that question was: How does it feel to be a state champion?
"It's really humbling. I'm incredibly thankful. Like so many runners, I've worked so hard to get to this point, and as a senior, this was my last opportunity. I've had so many people praying for me, and I was praying too. I really feel like God answered those prayers. I'm just grateful, happy, and proud-and having my teammates and family with me afterwards made it even better. This course is often called "The Great Equalizer." It definitely earns that name. I think anyone can go for the state title on this course. I'd encourage every runner to believe they have a chance. Last year, I didn't do nearly as well as I hoped (8th)-it was a really tough race-but I learned that if you prepare mentally and accept that it's going to hurt, you can do well here. It all comes down to being tough and trusting your training."
Her coach put it best: "Ariana's toughness isn't just in her legs-it's in her mind, her heart, and her refusal to quit. She's the kind of athlete who defines what it means to compete."
