The Bishop Ireton boys waited over two decades to win a Virginia Catholic Schools state cross country team title, but a second straight title came much easier with five finishers among the top ten individuals for a dominant repeat team performance including a 1-2 finish from Michael Andersen and Liam O'Connor as the two Ireton teammates battled each other in the last straightaway for the individual state title. The Bishop Ireton boys are looking to finish among the top three in the Division I race at Woodberry Forest School two Fridays from now with top ranked Trinity and defending champions Woodberry Forest.
Bishop Sullivan actually had two girls vying for the individual state title in junior Colleen Schrader and freshmen Hannah Frazier as Schrader was attempting to follow in her old sister and three-time Catholic Schools state champion Taryn Schrader, while Frazier had put together back to back invitational wins heading into Tuesday's race at the fast Newport News Park 5K course. Schrader went for the win at the gun as she charged out to a 5:42 first mile split and was able to continue to put distance on her teammate Frazier (2nd, 19:14) and Paul VI junior Meghan Blackstone (3rd, 19:47). Schrader finished with a new personal best time of 18:48 to certainly establish herself as one of the top contending individuals heading into the Virginia Independent Schools State Championships in two and a half weeks.
More to come from Catholic Schools State XC Championships including complete results and photo gallery!
Catholic Schools State XC Championships Race Videos: Varsity Boys - Varsity Girls - JV Race
Video Interviews: Colleen Schrader (Bishop Sullivan) - Michael Andersen & Liam O'Connor (Bishop Ireton) - Hannah Frazier (Bishop Sullivan) - Meghan Blackstone (Paul VI)