Noah Combs

Chantilly's Sean McGorty showed himself as a national class runner in his thrilling victory at the Great American Cross Country Festival last week. Returning back to Virginia to race this weekend at the Octoberfest Invitational, McGorty showed why he is currently in a class of his own from the rest of the runners in the state.

  The individual winners from last Saturday's Blue Demon Invitational both won with the fastest 5K times in Virginia so far this cross country season as Macey Schweikert of James Robinson clocked a time of 18:59 to cross the line first in the varsity girls' race, while Blacksburg sophomore Noah Combs (pictured above by Jon Fleming) was a 16:18 winner in the boys' race.

James Robinson junior Macey Schweikert tied the Blue Demon Invitational meet record with a runaway victory of 18:59. At the 2010 Blue Demon Invite, Hannah Brown of Blacksburg also won in a time of 18:59. A 5K PR of 18:01, Saturday's race was an impressive season opening run on the hills of Christiansburg for the VA #14 ranked Schweikert. She is clearly fit and ready to roll out a time in the 17 minute range at Burke Lake Park next week for the Monroe Parker Invitational. 

Preview of Saturday's Clash with the Titans at Hidden Valley High School in Roanoke. Two of Virginia's best in Carolyn Bethel and Katie Fortner are not waiting at all to lock up this season with Bethel looking to establish a last record mark on her home course. Both of the Group AA top ranked Blacksburg squads will be sitting out a few of their top runners, which will leave the door open for their top challengers in Group AA  present for their opening invitational of the season  with the top 4 ranked Group AA girls' teams and 4 of the top 6 Group AA ranked boys' teams.

The Blacksburg boys are seeking their fourth straight Group AA state cross country team title this fall. Another state title would also be the ninth state title in school history which would push Blacksburg ahead of John Handley (8 state titles) as the most winningest boys' cross country program in Virginia. Blacksburg should be heavily favored to win with only their #6 runner graduating from a team last fall which were 47 points ahead of the state runners-up. 

The 2011 All-MileStat.com Cross Country Team has been published. Selections include Runner of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshmen of the Year, Most Improved Runner of the Year, and 7 runners selected each for the first, second, and third All-MileStat.com teams. Greatest weight given to championship season (district, regional, and state) as well as post-season (Foot Locker/NXN) performances in the selection process, but consistently strong performers during the invitational season was taken into consideration as well if a subpar race or two down the final stretch. Congratulations to all members of this year's All-MileStat.com Team!

An in-depth look at the top 15 ranked boys teams currently in the state of Virginia according to MileStat.com's Brandon Miles.