ROCKBRIDGE, VA -- Times are always misleading whenver you check results from a meet held at Rockbridge HS home 5K course. It is a very challenging and hilly, almost moutainous course that produces slower than usual times. Rockbridge sophomore John Crews can attest to that. His first race of the season, the Wildcat Invitational, was held on his home course where he won the race in 16:39. The following week, he ran a jaw dropping and course record breaking time of 15:24 on the hilly course at the Virginia Tech Invitational. He improved on his PR on his home 5K course at the Blue Ridge District Meet, where he cruised to victory in a time of 16:20. That's scary when considering that he ran a 15:24 on Tech course when he was in 16:39 5K shape on his home 5K course and now he runs 16:20 on that same course. It makes you wonder what time he'll drop on the competition at the AA State Meet at Great Meadows on November 11.
Crew's Rockbridge squad also won the district team title with a total of 36 points as they placed 5 runners in the top 15. With the great 1-2 punch of Crews and senior Chris Patterson, who finished 2nd in 16:55, the Rockbridge boys look to have a good shot of placing in the top 3 at the state meet.
While the Rockbridge boys goals are to place in the top 3 at states, the Rockbridge girls may want to aim a little higher. The Lady Wildcats look to be one of the favorites to win the team title at states and they reaffirmed that title as a favorite with a dominant showing at their district meet. Almost completing the 1 through 5 perfect sweep, the Rockbridge girls were able to amount a total of 18 points. They were led by Heidi Fishpaw, who the individual district crown with her excellent time of 20:22.