The Bay Rivers once again dominated a challenging 5K course at the Region I Cross Country Championship meet Friday at Loriella Park in Fredericksburg, winning individual and team titles.
Lafayette’s Kurtis Steck defended his 2011 title, having pulled away from the pack – many of whom were his teammates – by the second mile. His time of 16:21.8 wasn’t his best of the season, but nearly 18 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Simon Watrous, also of Lafayette. Steck’s time was just over 16 seconds faster than last year’s title run, with course and weather conditions Friday near perfect.
Bruton’s Carley Shannon put the regional title in the Panthers’ trophy case with a 19:44.5 performance, well ahead of Warhill’s Miriam Buscher, a sophomore who delivered a 19:53.9 race. Shannon, a two-sport fall standout who left soon after the race to head to the Bruton-Grafton regional semifinal in field hockey, pulled ahead during a challenging uphill start, and had the field chasing her for the race.
Lafayette’s boys led the team standings, as they packed their top five runners (the top five of a seven-runner team earn points) into the top 17, with the sixth and seventh runners close behind in 18th and 28th. Menzies, who won the Bay Rivers title last week, was outrun by teammates Steck and Watrous. It was an especially big race for Watrous; last week the senior finished out of the top 15 in the district, but on Friday he crushed last year’s time on the same regional course by more than a minute.
Jamestown and New Kent will also send their boys’ teams to the state championship.
Grafton’s girls, led by senior Rachel Rabbitt – who’d held on to second place until the last several hundred yards – finished first in the team standings. With Rabbitt finishing fourth, junior Nicole Goff in fifth and sophomore Rachel Bloxom in sixth, the Clippers had an easy job of claiming the team title as their two other points runners, Katie McGovern (17) and Risa Grandon (20) finished in the top 20.
Jamestown’s girls will also make the trip to next weekend’s state meet at Big Meadow in The Plains. Senior Tia Mearns paced the Eagles to a third-place team effort with a 20:47.8 race and an 11th place finish.
For complete results, click here for Milestat.com’s coverage.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (LOCAL RUNNERS)
Boys
1. Kurtis Steck (Lafayette), 16:21.8 2. Simon Watrous (LHS), 16:39.4 3. Dawson Connell (York), 16:45.7 4. Jason Menzies (LHS), 16:47.0 5. Baron Kieffer (Tabb), 16:52.5 6. Austin Savage (New Kent), 17:00.2 7. Andrew Richards (Jamestown), 17:05.0 8. Chris Crowder (JHS), 17:08.3 10. Michael Connell (JHS), 17:19.4 14. Derek Holdsworth (LHS), 17:24.6 16. James Sabin (Warhill), 17:31.7 17. Andrew Loper (LHS), 17:33.6 18. James Hart (LHS), 17:33.8 19. Makinnley Casey (Poquoson), 17:38.8 20. Max Weidman (YHS), 17:44.5 22. Severin Blenkush (THS), 17:49.5 25. Greg Modzelewski (JHS), 17:56.1 26. Andrew Carlin (NK), 17:59.2; 28. Gage Moreno (LHS), 18:02.3 30. Daniel McKay-Roberts (JHS), 18:04.6 31. Tyler Brightwell (NK), 18:06.7 32. Tanner Smith (NK), 18:12.5 33. Tristan Goering (JHS), 18:14.8; 35. Micah Scorsone (NK) 18:17.1; 38. Levi Rees (JHS), 18:21.1 39. Chris Rolince (NK), 18:21.5; 41. Max Poelker (YHS), 18:27.0 44. Jason Knight (THS), 18:37.7; 45. Ben Kempton (YHS), 18:38.0; 46. Ben Johnston (NK), 18:39.5; 47. Mitchell Hesse (YHS), 18:39.9; 51. Scott Teresi (THS), 18:44.6 53. Nicholas Schuff (THS), 18:50.9 56. Bryce Williams (THS), 19:02.7 59. Bryan Moon (THS), 19:19.3 60. Aaron Kramer (YHS), 19:20.9 63. Scott Kramer (YHS), 19:26.5
Girls
1. Carley Shannon (Bruton), 19:44.5; 2. Miriam Buscher (Warhill), 19:53.9; 4. Rachel Rabbitt (Grafton), 20:03.5; 5. Nicole Goff (GHS), 20:12.0; 6. Rachel Bloxom (GHS), 20:17.0; 11. Tia Mearns (Jamestown), 20:47.8 16. Kristy Robles (York), 21:12.2 17. Katie McGovern (GHS), 21:15.2 18. Adriana Hooks (Lafayette), 21:17.5; 20. Risa Grandon (GHS), 21:32.4 22. Sarah Jeon (LHS) 21:38.6 23. Avery Gillem (JHS), 21:39.5 24. Camille Freeman (Poquoson), 21:41.9; 28. Lindsey Blanks (Tabb), 22:04.2 29. Gaylin Glueck (JHS) 22:05.8 31. Lori Santos (JHS), 22:10.0 32. Sasha Strakhova (WHS), 22:16.8 33. Haley Simonsen (JHS), 22:18.2 34. Jessie Verive (LHS), 22:20.5 35. Bailey Watkins (WHS), 22:24.4 38. Lauren Simonsen (JHS), 22:27.8 39. Jane Winthrop (JHS), 22:28.6 42. Sora Edwards (YHS), 22:33.2 45. Deborah Allison (LHS), 23:05.9 47. Summer Chambers (LHS), 23:10.1 48. Taylor Worthington (WHS), 23:17.1 49. Morgan Crookston (LHS), 23:17.8 51. Theresa Martin (GHS), 23:46.1 54. Cassidy Clements (YHS), 24:06.7 55. Kesa Reck (YHS), 24:11.6 56. Rachel Curtis (GHS), 24:17.8 57. Olivia DeSilva (LHS), 24:27.1 58. Teresa Alvarez (YHS), 24:37.3 61. Ashley Odden (WHS), 25:05.3 62. Moona Hoppula (WHS), 25:13.7 66. Jessica Chandrasekhar (YHS), 25:45.9 71. Kelsey Rogers (WHS), 26:40.7
TEAM STANDINGS
Boys
1. Lafayette 35
2. Jamestown 74
3. Courtland 113
4. New Kent 118
5. York 142
6. Tabb 157
7. Chancellor 160
8. Spotsylvania 160
9. Culpeper 197
10.Greensville 318
11.Southampton 355
Girls
1. Grafton 45
2. King George 70
3. Jamestown 104
4. Courtland 122
5. Chancellor 139
6. Lafayette 141
7. Warhill 151
8. York 195
9. Eastern View 202
10.Park View 295
11. Southampton 310
