The River Ridge District girls has had the top three ranked runners throughout the season in Group AA for much of the fall between defending state cross country champion Carolyn Bethel of Hidden Valley, Katie Fortner of Cave Spring, and Bonnie Angermeier. A big question is if any individual from the other regions in Group AA can break up this stellar trio of talent from one district at Great Meadow for the state championships?
Coverage
Interview with senior Hannah Owen, #5 runner on the defending Region III XC girls team champions from Jefferson Forest High School in Forest, Virginia.
Over 11 years ago, it was a Saunders girl from Jefferson Forest leading her team to a regional title and onto another state championship. Today it is Erin Saunders, the kid sister of 2001 Group AA state cross country champion Shannon Saunders, who is out in front leading the Jefferson Forest girls on a quest to enjoy the same success from their great squads over a decade ago. The Jefferson Forest sophomore Erin Saunders won the Region III title on Thursday by 25 seconds in a time of 19:34 to lead her squad to a team title as well.