The three-time private school state cross country champion Bishop O'Connell girls enter this fall with six seniors among their top ten who are seeking to complete their high school career as four-time champions. Under the guidance of Coach Cindy Walls, who seems to especially work well with her female runners through positive coaching, the O'Connell girls were visited by MileStat.com on the pre-season cross country tour stop #7 for their one mile time trial on Saturday at Bluemont Park in Arlington.
Top returnee Emily Blagg who had received the #1 pre-season private school ranking on Friday and her teammate Sarah McCarthy who made huge improvements during the track season as well as this summer, both runners finished within a second of one another in Saturday's time trial. Bishop O'Connell might have the top two individuals this cross country season between Blagg and McCarthy. Their entire top seven is ranked among the private school top 25 pre-season rankings, but their biggest individual honor might be their top 10 t-shirts which are up for grabs and change hands after each race.
Pre-Time Trial Interview w/ Coach Walls
Post-Time Trial Interview w/ Coach Walls
Interview w/ Sarah McCarthy, Emily Blagg, Michelle Van Horn, & Alex Nihill