Flashback: 7 Story Lines, 7 Predictions, and 7 Must-See Races Nolan Jez Nov 06, 2016

There have technically been a couple meets this season already but we consider this weekend, the first big weekend, as the true opening weekend for VA's XC season.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #1 Konrad Steck Nolan Jez Sep 09, 2016

He finished as the runner-up to Drew Hunter last season and this season he is looking to not be a runner-up again. 

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #1 Kate Murphy Nolan Jez Sep 09, 2016

Not even Drew Hunter had quite a year in running like Kate Murphy did. She won the 6A State title in XC, the Nike SE regional title and then qualified and ran in the Olympic Trials.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #2 Libby Davidson Nolan Jez Sep 08, 2016

Don't let her smile and fun loving attitude fool you, she is a killer on the XC course and this is the season she has been waiting for. 

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #2 Waleed Suliman Nolan Jez Sep 08, 2016

This preview is the easiest one to write, Waleed simply seems to be unbeatable. 

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #3 Micah Pratt Nolan Jez Sep 08, 2016

Not only is Micah very fast and a returning Foot Locker finalist, he is also arguably the best spirited runner in the entire nation.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #3 Rachel McArthur Nolan Jez Sep 08, 2016

After a tough XC season of injuries and then an indoor season of recovery, Rachel finally got back up to speed outdoors and then some.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #4 Saurav Velleleth Nolan Jez Sep 07, 2016

Saurav enters this season with a weight off his shoulders. This past indoor season Saurav was victorious in a nail-biter in the 3200. This marked his first state title and moving forward has allowed him to focus on one thing, getting faster.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #4 Heather Holt Nolan Jez Sep 07, 2016

Heather has shown us a lot of speed in the past year and amazing performances at nearly any distance but this year isn't necessarily about time, it is about place and that is going to make it a very fun race.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #5 Emma Wolcott Nolan Jez Sep 07, 2016

It wasn't Weini Kelati who had the biggest breakout year in 2015, it was definitely Emma Wolcott. She took down the entire 5A field and shattered some meet records in the process. The most impressive of those was the old Oatlands course record.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #5 Grant Northcutt Nolan Jez Sep 07, 2016

The race is on in the Northcutt household. Which will be the first to bring home a state championship in XC?

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #6 Price Owens Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

Owens has been excelling at track and XC for quite some time and has visibly improved each season. Though he is making steps in the right direction, he is definitely going to have to really step up this season with some of the toughest competition in the entire nation in his own region.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #6 Rachel Northcutt Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

Last year was a huge year for young runners. One of the biggest of those stars was Cosby's Rachel Northcutt. She broke through the scene in huge way by not only finishing as the state runner-up but also by breaking 18:00.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #7 Doria Martingayle Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

While everyone is watching Heather & Emma, Doria is preparing for a senior campaign that could upstage both of them. She has remained the girl to beat in the 3200 but in XC she still has work to do.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #8 Samantha Marin Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

Samantha has high hopes entering the season and a whole lot of accolades to her name. She enters the season as the fastest 3A returner and was third in last year's race. She has a best of 18:05 and a whole lot of speed entering this season.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #7 Dan Horoho Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

Dan definitely didn't open this season like he wanted to but that isn't going to deter him. Last XC season he improved 58 seconds on his personal best and if he even dropped half that much this year he would be one of the biggest stars in the state.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #9 Devon Williams Nolan Jez Sep 06, 2016

Often not having the performance you want when you need it most is the best thing to happen to you. Senior Devon Williams may have a great chance though to make flip the script this year and have a monster performance at the state meet.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #10 Julia Lambert Nolan Jez Sep 05, 2016

Coming into the season at #10 and leading all VISAA runners is Norfolk Academy superstar Julia Lambert. She is known well in the VISAA ranks as the girl who can take down anyone 800-5K!

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #11 Sophia Link Nolan Jez Sep 05, 2016

This season is a complete anomaly when it comes to returning state champions. For eight state championship races we have a staggering eight returning champions and none are younger or have the ability to sweep like Sophia Link.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #8 Bashir Mosavel-Lo Nolan Jez Sep 03, 2016

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #12 Sophia Jantomaso Nolan Jez Sep 02, 2016

If you want to talk about amazing athletes that no one has heard of, your list starts with Sophia Jantomaso. Sophia is the third ranked junior in the entire state behind on Heather Holt and Emma Wolcott. She finished ranked 18th in the state last year.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #9 Alec Schrank Nolan Jez Sep 01, 2016

Racing against Andrew Hunter for your entire post-season has its ups and downs. We aren't going to sugar coat it at all, Alec was definitely overshadowed by the nation's best distance runner the past couple years. If that wasn't enough he also had a stellar teammate, Tyler Cox-Philyaw, who was a superstar too.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #13 Morgan Lewis Nolan Jez Sep 01, 2016

VISAA Boys' State XC Virtual Meets & Previews Nolan Jez Aug 31, 2016

This is Trinity's year to shine. There is really no other way to put it. After winning the team title last year they are back for more and will attempt to sweep the podium this year. 

VISAA Girls' State XC Virtual Meets & Previews Nolan Jez Aug 31, 2016

After winning just one state title through her junior season of XC, Norfolk Acamdey's Julia Lambert went on a monstrous streak of six individual state titles since then. This means she is not shooting to be the runner-up this season in XC and is coming for the big one in her final XC season. 

The North vs South & Northcutt vs The Field: 6A Boys Preview Nolan Jez Aug 30, 2016

Don't jump to conclusions though as it is a possibility this year with a ton of great returning talent for the south region both individually and as a team. 

McArthur & Murphy BOTH Return As Champions, Who Will Win Two? Nolan Jez Aug 30, 2016

It is truly a once in a lifetime event this year. VA has two of the best distance runners in the entire nation and both are defending state 6A Champions... that's right! Both are coming off of winning state meet performances with Kate Murphy winning last year and Rachel McArthur winning the year before. Both have not lost on Great Meadow in at least a year.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #14 Casey Kendall Nolan Jez Aug 25, 2016

Casey is not just a time-trial runner, she competes well on the hilly courses just as much as she does on the time-trial fast courses. With Oakton likely racing Albemarle and some other tough courses, it will be evident from an early date that Casey is one of the best runners in the state.

Boys Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #10 Ben Fleming Nolan Jez Aug 25, 2016

Finishing in second place by the slimmest of margins can be one of the greatest things to happen to you as an underclassman. This happened to Ben quite a few times his junior year both in XC and track as a team. Those places may have been brutal to endure but entering the season it looks like it could pay itself off.

Girls Top 15 XC Returning Countdown: #15 Jordan Elam Nolan Jez Aug 24, 2016

There is absolutely no disputing the fact that this year is 6A's year for the girls. It is going to be filled with tough team competition and this odd little fact that it will have two defending state champions too!