Saturday’s 29th running of the Albemarle Invitational will once again feature many of the state’s best as over 1,000 runners descend on the picturesque 5K course at Panorama Farms. This year’s edition is perhaps the deepest in meet history, as a staggering four of the state’s top five teams will compete for the girl’s title, while the boy’s race features five of the state’s top fifteen teams. The race will also feature several enticing Central Virginia storylines, as many of the Charlottesville area schools compete against each other for the final time this fall.
Girls Teams to Watch:
Oakton- The top ranked team in the state were runner-ups here last fall by a scant four points, but have been on a tear this fall, winning three different invitationals and finishing 6th at the uber-competitive Great American race against some of the nation’s top programs. The Lady Cougars are led by precocious sophomore Allie Klimkiewicz, who was the individual runner-up here last year and is fresh off a 17:51 personal best 5K clocking at Great American. Oakton’s biggest strength is its depth though, as their top five has all broken 20:00 this fall and could very well do so again at Panorama Farms.
Osbourn Park- Last year’s team champions may lack a true frontrunner like Klimkiewicz, but they more than make up with it with a tremendously deep pack. Nowhere was this more evident than three weeks ago at the Oatlands Invitational, where OP used a 34 second spread from their 1-6 runners to win the team title and beat some of the state’s best in the process.
Colonial Forge- The Lady Eagles have a tremendous top four runners in Megan Rebholz, Jenna Walker, Allison Taylor, and Lilly Moore, but may just be one runner short of challenging for the win here. If only top runner (and VA preseason #12 ) Frances Morales was healthy, we might be talking about this team being the pre-meet favorite instead of Oakton.
Battlefield- The #5 team in Virginia finds itself as “only” the 3rd best team in the Northwest Region right now, and looks to make a statement against some of those higher ranked teams. 3rd at the Oatlands Invitational and 2nd last week at Octoberfest without their #2 runner Becca Howe, Battlefield is led by one of the state’s best in Nicole Carter (18:54 seasonal best) and has a deep top seven who have all broken 21:00.
Other Individuals To Watch:
Hannah Rose- The senior from Wilson Memorial continues to put together one of the best cross country campaigns from a Group A girl in Virginia history. Two weeks ago, she finished only 8 seconds behind Klimkiewicz at Great American in a personal best time of 17:59, the fourth fastest in the state this year.
Rachel Galton- Last year’s fourth place finisher at the Group AAA State Meet, Maggie Walker senior Galton has run 18:40 for 5K this fall to lead the state’s #13 ranked team.
Allison Huschke- Hometown favorite Huschke of Albemarle has been quietly having a great senior cross country campaign, and is fresh off an 18:47 season best at Great American two weeks ago.
Molly Breidenbaugh- The junior from Trinity is the top ranked private school runner in the state and has two different invitational victory notches in her belt this fall (Fork Union and Maymont Private School Division), as well as an 18:40 season best.
Hannah Lowery- Stafford senior Lowery can never be discounted from finishing near the top of the individual standings as her resume includes a 2010 State XC championship as well as a 17:41 5K personal best.
Boys Teams To Watch:
Battlefield- The #4 team in the state is arguably the pre-meet favorite as they have scored some impressive invitational finishes this fall. Last week at Octoberfest, they used a very tight 37 second 1-5 spread to finish 3rdbehind state juggernauts Chantilly and Blacksburg. Watch for them to possibly put their entire top five under 17:00 on the challenging Panorama Farms course as they seek their first big invitational victory of the fall.
Osbourn Park- Much like their female counterparts, the OP boys lack a true frontrunner but have perhaps an even tighter pack to compensate. At the Oatlands Invite where they finished 3rd, OP used a jaw-dropping 28 second 1-6 spread to finish 3rd, only one spot behind Battlefield. If they are to pull off the upset, OP will have to move that pack up into the 16:25-16:50 range.
Oakton- This perennial AAA powerhouse was 3rd here last year and is fresh off a solid showing at Great American, where their top five averaged 16:32 for 5K. Led by junior Jack Stoney, who has run 16:07 this fall.
Stafford- Last year’s runner-up lost several great runners to graduation, but is led by one of the state’s very best runners in senior Ian Macleod, who is perhaps the pre-meet favorite individually after his 15:29 at Great American. Junior Joey Abbatiello gives the Indians an impressive 1-2 punch, but they may lack the depth to challenge for the overall win. Averaged 16:35 at GA.
Albemarle- Last year’s team champions were hit even harder by graduation as they lost their three of their top four, including All-American Adam Visokay. However, Coach Buz Male’s squad has improved steadily this fall and is led by junior Ryan Thomas, who just ran a big personal best time of 15:34 to win the “B” race at Great American. Averaged 16:32 at GA.
Other Individuals to Watch:
Andrew Gaiser- The senior from Forest Park also ran a big personal best at Great American with his 15:43 clocking and will lead a Forest Park team that could surprise and place on the podium with a good day.
Dave Taylor- Another local favorite is the senior from Western Albemarle who holds a State 1600 title in his trophy case. Taylor ran a seasonal best time of 16:05 a couple weeks ago, placing 7th in the very competitive Maymont field in the process.