VHSL State Cross Country Championships 2009

The Plains, VA
Hosted by Mountain View

Coverage

Group A Girls Race Summary Nov 16, 2009

The George Mason girls repeated as Group A state team champions with no seniors among their top seven and missing their top runner due to injury. Katlyn Ayers of Strasburg started off the first race of the day with a runaway 19:03 victory. Strasburg and Radford had a close team battle for second and third place despite having very wide difference in team spreads.

11/16 Cream of the Crop Rankings Nov 16, 2009

No new rankings for each classification as there was a state meet this past weekend to settle those debates, but an updated All-Class state rankings is now released with the top 15 ranked teams and top 25 ranked individuals in the state of Virginia. Nike Cross Southeast Regionals and Foot Locker South in two weeks will help determine the end of season rankings.

VHSL State Championships: Stevens 17:34 CR, Braddock & Hidden Valley end Midlo & Blacksburg's streak Nov 14, 2009

Very poor and muddy course conditions, which got progressively worse as the day went on. The largest classification Group AAA were the last races of the day. Times slowed by at least 15-20 seconds if not more based off last year's results in ideal course conditions. Temperature was ideal in the 50s with cloud cover, except for the last half of the Group AA girls when the sun came out and several runners struggled to get to the line including two of Blacksburg's key scorers. Course record by Kathleen Stevens (17:34) of Blacksburg. Previous record 17:38 set last by Megan Marsico (2008 Foot Locker South runner-up). Twin sister Joanna Stevens was second in the Group AA girls race in 17:39. Midlothian girls streak of 4 AAA state titles and Blacksburg girls streak of 3 AA titles are snapped by Lake Braddock and Hidden Valley respectively. Lake Braddock was the major upset of the day as their freshmen Sophie Chase led the charge literally with a hot pace to put herself in front and held on for a third place finish as Lake Braddock added a ninth state title to their rich history of state championship excellence. Hidden Valley had a slower team average than Blacksburg by 17 seconds, yet still found a way to win with five runners among the top 25. No drama to determine boys team champions as Mountain View (AAA), Blacksburg (AA), and Clarke County (A) dominate their respective classifications with Mountain View posting a team average of 16:33. Ted Richardson of James River won in a well packed AAA boys race till late with the day's fastest performance in 15:34 as Western Branch's Blake Theroux had made the move to break up the pack with 1200 meters to go and finished runner-up with a time of 15:38. A thrilling finish for Group AA boys as early race leader Colin Mearns of Jamestown collapsed in the final 150 meters and Kyle King of Grafton seized upon the opportunity as the 16:01 winner.  More to come...   Results: Group A Boys - Group A Girls - Group AA Boys - Group AA Girls - Group AAA Boys - Group AAA Girls and State Meet Race Videos & Interviews

VA State XC Championships Coverage Central Nov 12, 2009

You better like some mud or you might as well stay home this weekend. Champions will be crowned in likely very adverse course conditions on Friday at the VISAA State Championships (private schools) and on Saturday at the VHSL State Championships (public schools). The remnants of Tropical Storm Ida, which has developed into a powerful northeaster storm, has pounded the state of Virginia this week with heavy rainfall and wind. Both state meets will be run as scheduled, while many in the state are without power, schools are closed on Friday, and travel is difficult due to severe flooding. MileStat.com will be providing on-site coverage from both meets.

VHSL State Championships Preview - Group AAA Nov 11, 2009

This year's VHSL State Championships could be a historic meet for the Northwest Region. The Northwest Region has arguably the greatest assembly of individual state title contenders with a big three in seniors Kaitlyn Davis of Mountain View, Ariel Karabinus of Osbourn Park, and Katherine Walker of Brooke Point. Meanwhile, the Mountain View boys will look to not only get on the state meet podium for the second time in three years, but also claim the school’s first state title. In the first cross country season without Thomas Porter leading the Wildcats, Mountain View is in its best situation since the school opened five years ago to win a state cross country team title.

VHSL State Championships Preview - Group AA Nov 11, 2009

Jamestown's Colin Mearns will look to become Jamestown’s second individual state champion in a row and follow in the footsteps of last year’s Group AA champion Andrew Colley, who set a new course record. Mearns appears to be taking his running to another level at season’s end similar to last fall when he had a great stretch of races extending into December for the Nike Cross Nationals.  Mearns is the top returnee from last year’s state race with his 15:28 fourth place finish among a collection of stars in the outstanding class of 2009 runners.

VHSL State Championships Preview - Group A Nov 11, 2009

Strasburg sophomore Katlyn Ayers figured to be the third best runner in the Group A classification coming into the season but injuries to defending champion and course record holder Megan Marsico of Glenvar and Natalie Young of George Mason have opened the door of opportunity for Ayers to win her first state title. She has went undefeated in all of her races this season and another first place finish should be in the works for her on Saturday at Great Meadow.

Athlete Spotlight: Drew Paisley Nov 10, 2009

Three years ago at the 2006 VHSL State Championships, a young Drew Paisley was the top finishing freshmen in the entire meet as a ninth grader at Ocean Lakes High School. Since then other runners have risen and emerged to become the best in the class of 2010 runners, but Paisley will have the opportunity in his final state cross country meet this weekend to again regain his status on the top of the class. Coming off a mild upset win at the Eastern Region Meet against Blake Theroux (the top returnee from last year's AAA state race), Paisley will be an underdog once again as he attempts to become the first Eastern Region boys cross country state champion since Seneca Lassiter of Lafayette won back in 1993. He is also receiving some pretty good advice and support heading into this weekend from last year's girls state champion and Ocean Lakes grad Stacey Nobles, who happens to be Paisley's girlfriend and knows a thing or two about being an underdog heading into a state championship race.

Athlete Spotlight: Stephanie Frenchik Nov 10, 2009

Landstown senior Stephanie Frenchik’s time of 18:22 at Bells Mill Park at the Eastern Region Meet last Thursday is significant because it is three seconds faster than the 2008 performance by last year’s Group AAA state cross country champion Stacey Nobles on the same course at the 2008 Eastern Region Meet. Frenchik had just barely qualified for the state meet last year with a 15th place finish in the regional race and fast forward one year later and she just won the Eastern Region title by 33 seconds with hopes of finishing high in the field and possibly contend at Great Meadow this weekend.

Athlete Spotlight: Paige Kvartunas Nov 09, 2009

West Springfield senior Paige Kvartunas just claimed her first regional title last Thursday with a 17:36 victory on a slightly longer Burke Lake Park (3.01 mile course), which would convert down to place her high on the historic 2.98 mile course's all-time list among some past greats in the Northern Region's history. She had never won a district title or earned All-State honors entering her last season of cross country, yet the late-bloomer Kvartunas heads into Saturday's VHSL State Championships as one of several runners capable of stealing the win from some of the more established favorites. After helping West Springfield win their first district cross country team title in many years, Kvartunas and Lady Spartans are also aiming to pull off another stunner in championship season and find their way onto the podium with a top three team finish. The hills at Great Meadow will certainly be their friends as the West Springfield girls went through a challenging race schedule this fall competing on many of the hillier courses in the Mid-Atlantic region.

11/9 VA High School State Team Rankings Nov 09, 2009

Updated state team rankings heading into this weekend's VHSL State Championships at Great Meadow. Hidden Valley girls take over the #1 spot after their regional victory over previous #1 Blacksburg. Each classification is listed 16 deep of all teams who have qualified for state meet competition. Private school team rankings will be posted later in the week when we receive the official list of who will be competing in Division I and Division II in Friday's championship meet at Woodberry Forest.

11/9 VA High School State Individual Rankings Nov 09, 2009

With all the regional meets completed and only the state championships ahead, MileStat.com releases its updated individual state rankings with top 25 deep per classification and top 15 all-class rankings. Private school rankings to be posted later this week with separating rankings for Division I and Division II.