The Lafayette boys got steamrolled by cross town rivals Jamestown. Jamestown was able to fit their entire top 5 in the top 12 positions for an amazing total of 35 points. They look to be maybe the only team in AA that has a shot at dethroning nationally ranked Western Albemarle as champs.
The Eagles were led by junior Bryce Ruiz, who at last year's meet was beat on the final straightaway by York's Allen Carr, got revenge on Carr this time. From the beginning, it was obvious it would be a 2 man showdown between the two. Carr was the pacesetter for the first 2 1/2 miles with Ruiz drafting off of him. At that point of the race, Ruiz made a huge surge to leave Carr. Carr then caught him again with roughly around 400 meters to go. Ruiz, known more for his endurance rather for his speed and kick, somehow was able to muster a kick that was so strong that in the last quarter mile, he put 12 seconds on the speedy Carr. Ruiz finished in at 15:26 with Carr trailing behind at 15:38. Ruiz's time cracked the top 5 all-time list for the Newport News 5K course. Ruiz's 15:26 actually tied former Tabb High School runner, now assistant cross country coach at Jamestown, Howard Townsend's best time on the course which use to be the course record until Seneca Lassiter set the current one in 1994 with his 15:15 clocking.
Other teams to advance onto the Region I Meet held on Jamestown's home course at Eastern State Hospital were Lafayette (60 pts), Tabb (92 pts), and York (99 pts).
Grafton's margin of victory wasn't quite as large as the Jamestown boys, but it was impressive nonetheless. They were led by sophomore Amanda McHenry, who outkicked Lafayette senior Brianna Kearney and Jamestown senior Chrissie Rich to repeat as district champ with her time of 19:43. The Lady Clippers squeaked in their entire top 5 into the top 15 to have a total score of 46 points.
Other girls squads to advance to the Region I Meet were Lafayette (63 pts), Jamestown (79 pts), and York (87 pts).