Coach of the Year...Matt Ryan (Thomas Jefferson)
While his boys' team had the most talent out of any team in the state and was the unquestionable favorite to be the top team
in the state prior to even the start of the season, Coach Matt Ryan's girls' team at Thomas Jefferson was not expected to
finish runner-up at the state meet. In fact, many had thought that team would have a tough time just getting out of the
region with the likes of Hayfield, Herndon, Lake Braddock, James Robinson, and West Springfield in their region. However,
after getting out of the Northern Region with a third place finish there, it was now the Thomas Jefferson girls turn to shine
at the state meet and they took full advantage of the opportunity. Seniors Shauneen Garrahan (14th) and Sarah Levine (20th)
led the team to a state runner-up finish behind James River and ahead of regional foes such as Lake Braddock and Herndon. A
much improved team performance from a year ago for Coach Ryan's girls, who finished seventh the year before at states. Other
than Coach Rob Dulin at Brentsville in single A, Coach Ryan is the only other coach who had both boys and girls teams on the
podium this fall. Many coaches set that as one of their career goals to someday accomplish having two teams on the podium,
however, Coach Ryan has already done that and fairly early into what looks to become a very bright and successful future in
his coaching career.
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Runner of the Year...Cara Kiernan (The Potomac School)
What a remarkable story Cara Kiernan is. As a junior last spring, she began running for the first time as she did track. She
found quick success as she became the Independent School state champion at 1600 meters. However, entering her first year of
cross country she really did not know what to expect and merely thought of it as a way to stay in shape for track. If what
she did was staying in shape this fall, you could say she was doing it at just a tiny bit of a quick pace. Kiernan made a
sudden splash on the state scene by dominating the Independent School State Cross Country Meet by winning in a large margin
with her time of 19:20 on the difficult Woodberry Forest course. Then she crushed some stiff competition at the MileStat.com
Invitational, where she broke the meet and course record of 17:55 with her 17:52 clocking on the Fork Union three mile
course. Yet still after those two performances, many of those especially in the public school ranks had not taken notice of
her until after her incredible Foot Locker South race. Kiernan got out early in the race with the top pack of runners in
contention for those eight national qualifying spots and stayed there through the entire race, until she kicked it in the
last 100 meters to take a shocking third place finish. You could say easily that she is most improved runner in the state
because of the fact this was her first year of cross country and look what she has done, but then again heading into this
season she had no times of which to improve upon. Nonetheless, she obviously proved in Charlotte that she was Virginia's top
cross country runner this past fall.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:05.22/3rd 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 17:52.10/1st 11/01/2002 @ VA Independent State Meet 5000m 19:20.60/1st |
Most Improved Runner of the Year...Lindsay Traudt (James River)
Crazy how things can change so drastically in one year. Last year as a sophomore, Lindsay Traudt as a sophomore was James
River's top alternate as she was sub-varsity race winner at the Dominion District and Central Region meets. This fall as a
junior, Traudt was winning the varsity races at the Dominion District and Central Region meets. That fact there alone shows
how dramatically the budding star has improved this past fall. Traudt started off the fall in close pursuit of teammate
Kristin Coffield early on and then overtook the senior Coffield for the district title to run her personal best of the fall
of 18:58. After helping leading her team to their first state title with a sixth place finish at states, Traudt then opted at
Foot Locker South to run in the junior/senior girls' race since she had a pretty good shot at winning the race and she did so
in a time of 18:58.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Junior) 5000m 18:58.54/1st 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 19:26.30/7th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:32.15/6th 11/09/2002 @ Central Region Meet 5000m 19:29.00/1st 10/31/2002 @ Dominion District Meet 5000m 18:58.10/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 19:01.00/11th 10/02/2002 @ Clover Hill Meet 5000m 19:30.00/2nd 09/18/2002 @ James River Meet 5000m 19:50.00/2nd 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 20:07.00/14th |
First Team All-MileStat
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Sarah Bowman (Fauquier)
If it wasn't for the bad luck of getting a bad head and chest cold the week of Foot Locker South, which forced to end up
dropping out in the middle of the seeded girls' race, Bowman could have been joining Cara Kiernan in her trip to San Diego
and maybe even ousted Kiernan out of runner of the year honors. Unfortunately, she did get the cold, but despite what
happened in Charlotte, it no way means tarnished what was an amazing fall for the Fauquier sophomore. Her sole defeat came at
the hands of Jemissa Hess at the Octoberfest Invitational, but other than that race she had an unblemished record with many
victories. Bowman boasted her best time of the season at the Region II Meet where she won in an uncontested time of 18:22.
Bowman then proceeded to clock the fastest time at the state meet in winning the AA race with a great time of 18:48 in the
horrid weather conditions.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 18:48.38 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 18:22.00 10/31/2002 @ Northwestern District Meet 5000m 18:34.80 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 19:09.00 09/21/2002 @ Judges Classic 5000m 19:06.00 09/14/2002 @ James Wood Invitational 5000m 20:15.00 |
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Jennifer Boyd (Hickory)
Prior to Foot Locker, Hickory's Jennifer Boyd had been undefeated and had been ranked as the number one runner for much of
the season. In that season included major invitational wins at the Newport News Invitational, Virginia Tech Invitational, and
William & Mary Invitational. At the Eastern Region Meet, Boyd ran a personal best 5K time of 18:15 to win the regional crown.
A little more than two weeks later, Boyd won her first ever cross country state title (she has two 3200 meter state titles,
one indoor and one outdoors) convincingly with the second fastest time on the day with a 18:54 clocking. Boyd then went down
to Foot Locker and ran very strong in taking all-south honors with a 15th place finishing time of 18:21.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:21.47/15th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 18:54.44/1st 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 18:15.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:15.00/1st 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 17:42.70/1st 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 18:28.00/1st |
Beth Fahey (Forest Park)
Beth Fahey of Forest Park sure does not shy away from competition. All of her races this fall seemed to pit her against some
of the most competitive fields, yet she stood her ground well in all of those contests. With top four finishes at the
Chancellor Invitational, Great Meadows Invitational, Virginia Tech Invitational, and Octoberfest Invitational, that claim was
validated. It didn't get any easier for her into her district meet as she battled it out with C.D. Hylton's Jemissa Hess for
the win in a great three mile time of 17:55. Fahey conceded victory to Hess at regions, but then got her back in her last two
encounters at states (7th) and Foot Locker South, where Fahey earned all-south honors with her time of 18:27, a personal best
which was good enough for 18th place.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:27.28/18th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:33.05/7th 10/31/2002 @ Northwest Region Meet 5000m 19:13.90/2nd 10/26/2002 @ Cardinal District Meet 3Mile 17:55.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 19:15.00/3rd 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 18:00.70/4th 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:29.46/4th 08/31/2002 @ Chancellor Invitational 5000m 20:46.00/2nd |
Emily Harrison (Warren County)
The Warren County junior Harrison ran much in the shadows of district rival Sarah Bowman all fall. However, all season long
she kept performing at a level that few could match. Harrison won two major invites this fall in the Eastern Mennonite
Invitational and Albemarle Invitational. She was the top finisher out of all Virginians at Great American as she finished
fifth as an individual in the seeded invitational division. Harrison had an exceptional run to finish second to Jennifer Boyd
in what was a very exciting and closely competitive William & Mary Invitational race. She had to take the backseat role
though whenever she raced against Bowman as Bowman held victories over here at the Judges Classic, Northwestern District
Meet, Region II Meet, and the AA State Meet. Harrison was a state runner-up to Bowman in AA and posted the fourth fastest
time of the day at 19:17. However at Foot Locker South, when Bowman had to drop out of the race due to sickness, Harrison
seized the moment shine as she was the second finisher for Virginia in the seeded race behind Cara Kiernan as she took 13th
place in a big personal record time of 18:16.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:16.81/13th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 19:17.04/2nd 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 19:19.00/3rd 10/31/2002 @ Northwestern District Meet 5000m 19:14.66/2nd 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 19:02.20/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:21.00/2nd 09/27/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 20:20.40/5th 09/21/2002 @ Judges Classic 5000m 19:38.00/2nd 09/07/2002 @ Eastern Mennonite Invite 5000m 19:54.00/1st |
Cara Kiernan (The Potomac School)
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Joanna Rodgers (James Robinson)
Rodgers had high expectations of herself heading into this fall as one of top returnees from last year's state meet. However,
that race where she truly ran up to her potential was a long wait. Rodgers earned top three finishes with decent performances
to her standards at the Monroe Parker Invitational, Great Meadows Invitational, and Virginia Tech Invitational. She stepped
it up for championship season she had great runs to win the Patriot District and Northern Region titles as she posted the
fastest three mile time in the state for the season. She suffered a setback at states, where she faltered to a 12th place
finish. She came back from that step backwards though in Charlotte as she had the race of her life at Foot Locker South as
she was the fourth finisher from Virginia in taking 16th place in the seeded race and running a huge personal best of 18:23.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:23.20/16th 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 19:02.00/4th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:41.42/12th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 17:41.00/1st 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.4mi 19:57.00/1st 09/28/2002 @ Great American (ROC) 5000m 21:22.30/45th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 17:57.90/3rd 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:19.62/3rd 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 18:56.00/2nd |
Selina Sekulic (Ocean Lakes
If anyone wants any pointers on how to keep improving race after during a cross country season, they should ask Selina
Sekulic for pointers. From humble beginnings of a 16th place finish at the Great Meadows Invitational with a time of 19:57 to
an incredible ending by earning all-south honors by placing 17th in the seeded girls' race at Foot Locker with a personal
best time of 18:26. Other honors Sekulic earned during the season included being the Beach District runner-up, third place
finisher at the Eastern Region Meet, and a third place finisher in the AAA state race.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:26.97/17th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:24.75/3rd 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 18:44.00/3rd 10/23/2002 @ Beach District Meet 5000m 19:03.12/2nd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational 3.05mi 18:54.00/9th 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Inv. I) 5000m 21:00.50/3rd 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 20:19.27/16th 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 19:57.00/7th |
Second Team All-MileStat
Jennifer Beury (Hidden Valley)
Beury had a very solid season this fall. Beury was the Blue Ridge District and Region III champion and a third place finisher
in the AA state race, which her time of 19:27 was the sixth fastest time on the day. At Foot Locker South, Beury just missed
out on getting all-south as she finished 27th with a personal best time of 18:41.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:41.13/27th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 19:27.30/3rd 10/30/2002 @ Region III Meet 5000m 19:23.00/1st 10/23/2002 @ Blue Ridge District Meet 3Mile 19:31.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Metro Invitational 5000m 20:25.45/3rd 09/28/2002 @ Greensboro Invitational 5000m 19:35.00 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 18:38.20/10th |
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Anna Chase (Martinsville)
Chase is the sole freshmen on the All-MileStat.com team, which that fact alone speaks loud volumes of how talented this young
runner from Martinsville is. Chase was strong all season long as took a first places and runner-up finishes. Chase was a
winner at the Metro Invitational, Running With The Wolves Invitational, and Region IV Meet. She took second at the Radford
Fall Classic, Hagan Stone Park Classic, and the Foot Locker South freshmen/sophomore girls race, where she clocked a personal
best of 18:33. Her time would have placed in the top 24 for all-south in the seeded girls race. Chase has dual citizenship
with the U.S. and Germany and next year she will be going back to live with her mother in Germany, but will return back to
Virginia the next year.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (9th/10th) 5000m 18:33.38/2nd 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 18:30.50/3rd 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 19:49.69/6th 11/01/2002 @ Region IV Meet 5000m 19:45.00/1st 10/19/2002 @ Running With The Wolves Inv. 5000m 19:12.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Metro Invitational 5000m 19:48.64/1st 10/05/2002 @ Hagan Stone Park Classic 5000m 19:17.00/2nd 09/27/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 20:55.80/11th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 18:22.50/6th 09/07/2002 @ Radford Fall Classic 5000m 20:20.00/2nd |
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Ginna Ellis (Norfolk Academy)
Ellis picked up where she left off from last year's great freshmen year with a stellar sophomore season. Ellis had a strong
first two months of racing as she had quite a few sub 19 clockings during that period which included a great race at the
Newport News Invitational to kick off where she ran off course and still took second to Jennifer Boyd with a time of 18:40.
She was victorious at the Outer Banks Invitational and broke 18 for three miles at a home Norfolk Academy meet. At the
William & Mary Invitational, she had a great race to take fourth in it with a time of 18:27. She hit a bit of skid however,
once November began. At the Independent School State Meet, she had a respectable run to take runner-up behind eventual Foot
Locker finalist Cara Kiernan. She then had two off races in a second place finish to Katie Doswell of St. Catherine's at the
League of Independent School championships and a sixth place finish at the MileStat.com Invitational. She didn't let the two
setbacks deter her going into Foot Locker though as she closed out a great fall by taking all-south honors with her 23rd
place finish and a new personal best of 18:35.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:35.76/23rd 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 19:20.90/6th 11/08/2002 @ LIS XC Championships 5000m 20:14.00/2nd 11/01/2002 @ VA Independent State Meet 5000m 19:41.72/2nd 10/25/2002 @ TCIS Championships 5000m 18:55.00/1st 10/18/2002 @ Norfolk Academy All-Comers 3Mile 17:57.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:27.00/4th 09/27/2002 @ Norfolk Academy Invitational 3Mile 19:19.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ Outer Banks Invitational 5000m 18:49.00/1st 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 18:40.00/2nd |
Shauneen Garrahan (Thomas Jefferson)
Garrahan's success individually played a vital role in the success of the Thomas Jefferson girls' team this fall as she went
onto earn all-state honors and then her best race of the fall at Foot Locker South where she took all-south honors with a
time of 18:30 for 20th. Her time was the 8th fastest of the day by a Virginian. Garrahan was also a Concorde District
runner-up and third place finisher at the Northern Region Meet.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:30.39/20th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:45.75/14th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 18:01.00/3rd 10/26/2002 @ Concorde District Meet 3.4mi 20:18.00/2nd 10/12/2002 @ William Tennent Invitational 3Mile 18:20.89/5th 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:38.17/5th 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 19:20.00/4th |
Jemissa Hess (C.D. Hylton)
Hess had a solid senior season that ended with earning all-south honors with 21st place finishing time of 18:32. Prior to
Foot Locker South, Hess had been consistent all fall except for a subpar state race (9th) as she was the race champion at the
Octoberfest Invitational, where she defeated Sarah Bowman and at the Northwest Region Meet, where she defeated Beth Fahey.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:32.30/21st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:38.21/9th 10/31/2002 @ Northwest Region Meet 5000m 19:05.70/1st 10/26/2002 @ Cardinal District Meet 3Mile 17:57.00/2nd 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 18:56.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:12.56/2nd |
Morgan Phelan (Hayfield)
Phelan was one of the most consistent runners of the top tier in the state this past fall as you cannot really point out one
bad race by her. Phelan garnered a handful of runner-up finishes including the Lake Fairfax Invitational, Patriot District
Meet, Northern Region Meet (where she ran the second fastest three mile in the state for the season at 17:46), and the AAA
state race. At states, she had by far her best race of the season at the best time to do so as her 19:00 clocking not only
got her state runner-up honors as a junior, but also it was the third fastest time of the day. At Foot Locker South, she took
the final all-south position as she finished 24th in a best time of 18:36.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:36.23/24th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:00.27/2nd 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 17:46.00/2nd 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.4mi 20:02.00/2nd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:50.00/8th 09/21/2002 @ Lake Fairfax Invitational 5000m 19:57.00/2nd 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:39.63/6th 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 19:24.00/5th |
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Natalie Sherbak (Kellam)
Despite a poor Foot Locker South race, the race alone does not discredit a great fall for Sherbak, who was thought of
previously before the season as primarily just a middle distance track runner. Sherbak proved early on that she could be very
successful at the 5K distance early by picking up a pair of wins at the CNU Invitational and Lee-Davis Invitational. The
Kellam junior only kept the momentum after that with a strong 5th place showing at the William & Mary Invitational, winning
the Beach District Meet in 18:25, and then taking runner-up to Jennifer Boyd at the Eastern Region Meet with a personal best
time of 18:24. She then had solid performance at states by taking fifth.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 19:50.24/88th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:31.24/5th 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 18:24.00/2nd 10/23/2002 @ Beach District Meet 5000m 18:25.92/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:31.00/5th 09/28/2002 @ Lee-Davis Invitational 5000m 19:29.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ CNU Invitational 5000m 19:44.00/1st |
Third Team All-MileStat
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Katie Doswell (St. Catherine's)
Joining Anna Chase as the only other freshmen on the team, Doswell had a very productive fall as she was the race winner at
two major invites in the Fork Union Invitational and STAB Invitational. She was League of Independent Schools champion, where
she defeated Ginna Ellis for that title. She also finished third at the Independent School State Meet behind Cara Kiernan and
Ellis.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 19:15.38/56th 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 19:05.90/5th 11/08/2002 @ LIS XC Championships 5000m 19:55.00/1st 11/01/2002 @ VA Independent State Meet 5000m 20:00.88/3rd 10/08/2002 @ STAB Invitational 5000m 19:55.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 19:37.00/25th 09/14/2002 @ Fork Union Invitational 3Mile 18:58.00/1st |
Katie Endres (Potomac Falls)
Endres had a very respectable season of cross country as she won at the Frank Geyser Invitational and was the Dulles District
Champion. Two subpar races at the Octoberfest Invitational (7th) and the Region II Meet (8th) were cancelled out by two great
races in Endres's AA state race (4th) and Foot Locker South Race, where her 39th place finishing time of 18:57 was the 13th
fastest by any Virginian that day.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:57.51/39th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 19:34.72/4th 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 19:40.00/8th 10/31/2002 @ Dulles District Meet 5000m 19:51.30/1st 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 19:52.00/7th 09/14/2002 @ Frank Geyser Invitational 3Mile 18:48.30/1st |
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Jessica Fanning (Western Albemarle)
While Jessica Fanning's transferring over to Western Albemarle with sister, Tasmin, really helped improved the team, Fanning
also saw improvement in herself individual. She was steady as the Lady Warriors top runner throughout much of the season. She
took a few runner-up finishes as major invites including the Fork Union Invitational, Virginia Tech Invitational, and
Albemarle Invitational. The Jefferson District champion and Region II runner-up, states was Fanning's lone "off" race as she
faltered to a 30th place finish. However, at Foot Locker South, Fanning was back to running like she was capable of doing as
she finished 31st in the seeded race with a time of 18:46.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 18:46.69/31st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 20:30.37/30th 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 19:00.00/2nd 10/23/2002 @ Jefferson District Meet 5000m 19:35.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 19:07.90/2nd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 18:45.00/6th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 17:53.20/2nd 09/14/2002 @ Fork Union Invitational 3Mile 18:59.60/2nd 08/30/2002 @ Ragged Mountain Cup 3200m 11:56.59 |
Jill Porto (Potomac Senior)
Porto is in the same boat as Sherbak with a great season up until a subpar Foot Locker South race. Her season started off
great with a big win at the Great Meadows Invitational over the likes of Hess, Fahey, Phelan, Rodgers, and Garrahan. She was
a solid third behind Hess and Bowman at the Octoberfest Invitational and then went onto to take the Cedar Run District crown
and earn all-state honors in AAA (8th).
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South 5000m 20:04.62/97th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet 5000m 19:37.47/8th 10/31/2002 @ Northwest Region Meet 5000m 19:28.00/3rd 10/26/2002 @ Cedar Run District Meet 3Mile 18:19.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 19:16.00/3rd 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 19:06.48/1st |
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Kelly Swain (Lake Braddock)
Swain had a great start into her final season of high school cross country as she racked up two early season big invite wins
at the Monroe Parker Invitational and Woodberry Forest Invitational. Shen then proceeded to close out a strong month of
racing in September with a 7th place finish in the seeded invitational division at Great American. Due to the sniper
shootings, she did not race till almost a month after Great American and when she did get back to racing she was not racing
the same as was prior to the shootings. Nonetheless, her performances were respectable as she was all-state (13th) in AA and
then closed out with a season best time of 19:05 at Foot Locker.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 19:05.33/48th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:43.83/13th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 18:17.00/8th 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.4mi 20:05.00/3rd 09/27/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 20:26.00/7th 09/21/2002 @ Woodberry Forest Invitational 5000m 19:51.30/1st 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 18:39.00/1st |
Kelley Taylor (Kellam)
Like first-teamer Sekulic, Taylor only got better as the season progressed. She had only decent big invitational performances
to show for herself prior to her district meet, but from then on out and she continued to move up the ladder amongst the
state's best. At districts and regions, she finished behind teammate Sherbak and Sekulic as she took third and fourth
respectively, with a personal best of 19:01 at the Eastern Region Meet. Then at states she stuck right with that same pair as
she finished in between Sekulic (3rd) and Sherbak (5th) for a fourth place finishing time of 19:29 as she beat many of the
same runners who were well ahead of her in the earlier invitationals.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 19:29.29/4th 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 19:01.00/4th 10/23/2002 @ Beach District Meet 5000m 19:30.76/3rd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 19:21.00/17th 09/28/2002 @ Lee-Davis Invitational 5000m 20:04.00/2nd 09/14/2002 @ CNU Invitational 5000m 20:38.00/3rd |
Close Calls... Michelle Beardmore (Warren County), Amanda Boswell (Princess Anne), Kristin Coffield (James River), Melissa Dewey (Hayfield), Tasmin Fanning (Western Albemarle), Sam Ference (James Robinson), Kristin Hagen (Christiansburg), Beth Mahalak (Chancellor), Kristin Milot (Stonewall Jackson), Kristen Novara (James Wood), Ritchie Vaughan (Maggie Walker), and Rebecca Ward (James River).