WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- Since the William Tennent Invitational where Jamestown junior Bryce Ruiz clocked a jaw-dropping 14:57 on the challenging 3 mile course, he's been only getting better and better with each race performance. One can only wonder what kind of race Ruiz will give us next weekend at the AA State Meet after breaking the William & Mary (Eastern State Hospital) course record in a time of 15:03.
The runner whose record Ruiz broke was former Lafayette runner Seneca Lassiter who is currently one of the top middle distance runners in the nation. Ruiz just barely broke Lassiter's previous record of 15:05 set back in 1994.
Ruiz was due to break one of Lassiter's records. Last week, at the Bay Rivers District, Ruiz ran the second fastest time ever on the Newport News Park 5K course with his time of 15:26. The runner that posted a faster time than Ruiz on that course was Lassiter.
Unlike his district race, Ruiz did not draft off of rival Allen Carr of York for the majority of the race. Instead, Ruiz took the lead early in the race and pushed the pace as he opened up a big gap on Carr. Any other year, Carr would undoubtedly be the Region I champion, but was forced to settle for second with still a great time of 15:19.
Ruiz's great race just fed off to the rest of his team as the Jamestown boys placed 5 runners in the top 15. The Eagles won comfortably with 32 points, which put them well ahead of second place Lafayette with 74 points.
While Ruiz's course record time provided the excitement for the boys race, the finish for first in the girls race matched that excitement. Coming down to the wire, Nottoway's Ann Lee Cole outkicked Massaponax's Stacy Potter for the regional crown with times of 18:53 and 18:54 for the respective runners.
The Grafton girls held off the Lafayette girls for the team title with 59 points as they were led by sophomore Amanda McHenry's 4th place finishing time of 19:43.
WILLIAMSBURG, VA -- Since the William Tennent Invitational where Jamestown junior Bryce Ruiz clocked a jaw-dropping 14:57 on the challenging 3 mile course, he's been only getting better and better with each race performance. One can only wonder what kind of race Ruiz will give us next weekend at the AA State Meet after breaking the William & Mary (Eastern State Hospital) course record in a time of 15:03.
The runner whose record Ruiz broke was former Lafayette runner Seneca Lassiter who is currently one of the top middle distance runners in the nation. Ruiz just barely broke Lassiter's previous record of 15:05 set back in 1994.
Ruiz was due to break one of Lassiter's records. Last week, at the Bay Rivers District, Ruiz ran the second fastest time ever on the Newport News Park 5K course with his time of 15:26. The runner that posted a faster time than Ruiz on that course was Lassiter.
Unlike his district race, Ruiz did not draft off of rival Allen Carr of York for the majority of the race. Instead, Ruiz took the lead early in the race and pushed the pace as he opened up a big gap on Carr. Any other year, Carr would undoubtedly be the Region I champion, but was forced to settle for second with still a great time of 15:19.
