Bryan Lewis

Here are the all-time best boys in the steeplechase.

Check out the Virginia boys' all-time performances at McAlpine Park.

The Hidden Valley girls, ranked #3 in Virginia in the pre-season rankings, will begin their 2008 cross country in a home invitational at the "Clash with the Titans" with at least 11 schools expected to contend. (Photo by Brandon Miles) Virtual meet scoring preview of this Saturday's Clash with the Titans which is an inaugrual event being hosted by Hidden Valley High School in Salem. The Hidden Valley girls look to put on a strong opener on their home course as they should dominate with many of their runners among the top 10 places in the  11 team invite led by defending Group AA 1600 meter state champ Annie LeHardy. A potential exciting race could be shaping up for first place individually among the boys with Liberty Christian Academy's Josh Morris, a USATF National Junior Olympics All-American in the steeplechase and 5000 meter run, and Hidden Valley's Bryan Lewis. The Hidden Valley boys will be a slight pre-meet favorite on their home course against the Northwest Region's E.C. Glass.

Photo by Tom Hoerner Outside of the three-time Group AAA state champions from Midlothian, the next two best teams in the state of Virginia could come from the same district in Group AA's River Ridge District in the Blacksburg and Hidden Valley girls' squads. Blacksburg has won two consecutive state titles in Group AA, while Hidden Valley became a quick upstart last fall with the addition of two star freshmen in Annie LeHardy and Haley Cutright. Both teams possess a great deal of depth and talent which will make them major players not only the state stage, but possibly nationally with Nike Cross Nationals aspirations. Blacksburg's sixth runner Trinity Foreman has ran sub 5:10 for 1600 meters, while Hidden Valley's fifth runner Mary Catherine Sowder runs a 11:44 for 3200 meters.  

So much for the curse. Heading into Saturday's Knights Crossing Invitational cross country meet, Glenvar's Megan Marsico (pictured right by Scott Rigler) was hoping to put memories of recent disappointing performances on the Green Hill Park course behind her. She did it in a big way. Marsico crushed the 226-runner field in the girls' varsity race, winning by more than a minute. The reigning Group A champion, Marsico also broke the meet record set by former Northside star Catherine White. "I look up to Catherine White," said Marsico, whose time of 18 minutes, 1.56 seconds was nearly eight seconds faster than White's 2006 time. "She's an awesome runner, and I want to be as good as her." Read full story on Marsico & Knights Crossing Invite by Mark Taylor of The Roanoke Times