Photo by Mike Somers
The Altavista boys will be favored to repeat as Group A state team champions with three returning All-State cross country individual finishers in Daniel Blanks, Sean Farney, and Forster McCracken. Lebanon's Jon Ulrich won his first state title last fall as a sophomore in a dramatic photo finish but chip-timed outcome and should be hard pressed again for another victory at Great Meadow from either his teammate and outdoor state 1600 meter champion Bradley Rasnake (4:23 1600 PR) or another emerging young talent in Strasburg rising junior Anthony Wallis who posted the fastest 3200 time among all returning Group A distance runners this past spring at 9:46. Region B will be a battle for the four teams advancing onto the state and then all four qualifiers likely contending for state meet top 3 podium positions, while Radford and Galax from Region C are the best bets for keeping Region B from sweeping the top four team places at the state cross country champi...