MileStat.com visited one of Virginia's most storied and successful cross country programs, Lake Braddock, on Monday at Burke Lake Park for the team's final workout prior to their big trip to California to compete at the Stanford Invitational against many of the top teams from one of the strongest cross country states in the country. Their workout broke up the historic Burke Lake 2.98 mile park into segments by running the first mile hard and then breaking up the rest of the course into 400 meter segments switching on and off with hard and recovery pace running. The Lake Braddock girls are the defending Group AAA state champions and the storied programs has won more state cross country titles than any other program spanning several decades of team and individual champions.
The squad is currently led by potentially the most talented runner to ever come out of the program in sophomore Sophie Chase. Chase's remarkable freshmen year, which included a state title indoors and posting the fastest freshmen times ever by a Virginia high school distance runner in the 1600 and 3200 meter run, made her an easy choice to enter this season as the top ranked runner in the state of Virginia. Her talent is topped by her work ethic and desire to be great, which coupled together makes her a special individual athlete. At Stanford, Chase will be facing many of Cali's best including returning Foot Locker West champion and one of the nation's top ranked runners in Molly Grabill.
Despite graduating several key members of their 2009 Group AAA state champion squad, do not be surprise to find the Lake Braddock girls as a state meet podium once again this November either as a top 3 finishing squad or state champions. Behind individual favorite Chase, a formidable top five is coming together with veterans Casey Lardner, Tara Landy, and Anna Markowitz as well as two exceptional ninth graders Hannah Christen and Katie Roche.
Not to be overshadowed by their female counterparts after just missing the state meet podium with a fourth place finish at the 2009 state cross country meet are the Lake Braddock boys. Luke Sohl and Sam Rubenking have been inseparable since their freshmen year when the coaching staff noticed both as the top talents in their class and both enter their senior years with big goals of being two of the best in the Northern Region and led their team to another state meet. Rubenking has already garnered two strong runner-up finishes this season at Monroe Parker Invite and =PR= Kickoff Relays, while Sohl was racing and finishing right with some of the state's top ranked runners including Atlee's Andrew Catanese on first leg at the Sportsquest Relays this past weekend.
Lake Braddock coach Mike Mangan is one of the longest tenured coaches now in the Northern Region as several of the region's top coaches have retired in recent years, so Mangan's experience and knowledge has helped continue the rich tradition of success for the Lake Braddock program within the competitive region. Coach Mangan has also assembled a large and great staff of coaches around him including former Gar-Field and Christiansburg coach Jeff Custer who coached Olympian Sheena Johnson, Lake Braddock's 2003 Group AAA state outdoor 3200 champion Steve Hoogland who also ran at the College of William & Mary, as well as other assistant coaches.
The Warmup
Workout Video: Mile Hard, 400s On/Off, Trestle Finishes
Interview w/ Sophie Chase, Casey Lardner, & Anna Markowitz
Interview w/ Luke Sohl & Sam Rubenking
Interview w/ coaches Mike Mangan & Jeff Custer