Peter Askin

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

The Newport News Invitational saw a very early season showdown of the two runners who likely will be battling for the Eastern Region title later this season in Kellam's Bobby Peavey and Western Branch's Blake Theroux. The only definite heading into the race would be that fast times would be posted in a duel between the two as the #10 ranked (Peavey) and #11 ranked (Theroux) in the state of Virginia would meet on one of the fastest 5K courses in the state found at Newport News Park. The senior Peavey defeated the junior Theroux in their first head-to-head race of the season with a state leading 5K time of 15:32 to break the old course record of the newer version of the Newport News Park course. More... Newport News Invitational Results: A Boys - A Girls - B Boys - B Girls - C Boys - C Girls - JV Boys - JV Girls

Photo by Ted Plunkett The boys' individual title figures to be wide open this fall with a handful of returning runners having realistic shots at making a run for first at Pole Green in late October. Nathan Puckett of Hermitage pulled a mild upset off last year over a group of favorites, so the door is always open in the district for another surprise. Roger Cooke would like to follow in the footsteps of not only teammate Puckett, but the past three Colonial District champions reigning from Hermitage with John Vial as the district champion in 2006 and Alex Bowman also as the race winner in 2005.