The Virginia Catholic Schools State Cross Country Championships are being held this afternoon at Newport News Park. Bishop Sullivan's Taryn Schrader will be attempting to win her third consecutive state title, but will be challenged by Paul VI's Lizzie Greene as both runners have posted 5K times in the mid 19 minute range this season. Host school Peninsula Catholic will be the favorites to win the girls' team title with the potential to place five girls in the top 10 led by senior Katie Mlynczak. Paul VI boys could have a 1-2 finish from their top 2 individuals Ian McGinn (pictured left by Ted Plunkett) and Charles Horne, but others in the field including Roanoke Catholic's Seann Flynn, Benedictine's Wyatt Haas, and Bishop Ireton's Kevin Gottlieb might have other plans. The team scoring could be very interesting and close for the boys among three contending teams in Bishop Ireton, Paul VI, and Peninsula Catholic as all three teams could take up most of the first 20 individual places in the race and finish with team scores well in the double digits. VA Catholic Schools State Championships Virtual Meet: Boys - Girls
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The Virginia Catholic Schools State Cross Country Championships were held Tuesday the 21st at Newport News Park, and gave Taryn Schrader of Bishop Sullivan her third championship title. Schrader, who had been focusing on conference races earlier in the season, showed she was in great form and got ahead early, finishing in 19:03, a possible meet record. In second was Lizzie Greene of Paul VI, with 19:20, also a considerably faster time than recent Virginia Catholic State Championships. But it was indeed the Peninsula Catholic girls who walked off with the team trophy, with a resounding 32 points to second place Paul VI's 72. Their pack, composed of Katie Mlvnczak (3rd), Kimmy Fiscella (4th), Blythe Fiscella (6th), Kylie Regan (9th), and Kristy Mlynczak (10th), all came in among the top 10 finishers. Paul VI took the honors on the boys side, winning with 49 points to second place Peninsula Catholic's 67, and with runner Ian McGinn taking first place. It was an exciting three-way tie for most of the race, with McGinn and tandem teammate Charles Horne neck-in-neck with Roanoke Catholic's Sean Flynn. McGinn began to pull ahead after the second mile, and finished with a personal best time of 16:20. Paul VI took three of the top four places, with Flynn 2nd (16:30), Horne 3rd (16:34), and PVI's Blaize Johnson 4th (16:51). VA Catholic State Championships Results: Varsity Boys - Varsity Girls - JV Boys - JV Girls