Michael Bailey (pictured by John Herzog) of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake knew he had to get himself prepared for racing on the difficult private school state meet course at Woodberry Forest, so his coach and team decided to venture all the way out to Roanoke, Virginia this past weekend to challenge themselves at the Clash with the Titans held at Hidden Valley High School. Bailey conquered the hills with a 17:10 win and legitimized himself as a serious contender this fall for the private school state title. A late comer to the sport as the senior is starting only second year of running after previously playing basketball, Bailey is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow TCIS runner and 2008 VISAA state cross country champion Brendan Leavitt of Norfolk Collegiate and give Tidewater another champion in November at Woodberry. Read more for interview with Bailey...
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The Hidden Valley girls, ranked #19 in the nation according to MileSplit US recent national team rankings, began their 2009 season with a victory in their home invitational in the second annual Clash with the Titans. The Hidden Valley girls were competing without three of their top five runners, but still were able to hold off Christiansburg by 10 points for a first place team finish with 47 points. Mary Catherine Sowder (pictured by John Tyree), a runner-up in last year's Clash with the Titans, won easily without her other teammates in the race with a time of 20:56. Coming from the flat land of Tidewater Virginia, Greenbrier Christian Academy's Michael Bailey sure had no problem tackling the hills on Hidden Valley High School's home course. Bailey pulled away for 17:10 win with Christiansburg's Andy Eddleton 12 seconds back at 17:22.
At the Clash With The Titans, VA #1 ranked Hidden Valley girls will open their season in their home invitational against teams in the Roanoke Valley area. Hidden Valley should win big if all five of their top 5 returnees are racing led by 2008 Group AA state runner-up Annie LeHardy. LeHardy won last year's inaugural Clash With The Titans with a one second victory over teammate Mary Catherine Sowder in 20:45. The top three boys teams coming into the meet feature a strong #1 runner each who will be battling for first individually on Saturday in Group AA #5 ranked Andy Eddleton of Christiansburg, Group A #3 ranked Jared Miller of Radford, and Group AA #14 ranked Cody Seymour of Cave Spring.