This Friday the VHSL will not be the only league with a state XC meet as some of Virginia's best runners and teams will also be attempting to win VISAA State titles. These races will take place on one of Virginia's finest and most beautiful XC courses, Woodberry Forest. The Championships will feature four races over two divisions.
The first race up will be the D1 boys. This race will include the largest and most historic programs in VISAA history. Leading the way this year though is Norfolk Academy with senior Traywick leading the team. His team is being chased by St. Christopher's who is looking to get back to their winning ways.
Defending Champions Woodberry Forest and last year's runners-up Trinity Episcopal will look to place highly but after a third place finish last year Norfolk Academy is definitely hungry and poised for a huge weekend.
Individually last year's champion, Owen Richards, is back to defend his title with John Moxley and Nick Jean chasing him. Those three guys went 1-2-3 last year and will also be joined by Bishop O'Connell's Max Greczyn who leads the entire VISAA with his 15:48.
Next up with be the D2 boys race. This race, mostly dominated by Veritas in the past, is currently be dominated by Peninsula Catholic who yet again enter as the strong team favorites. They are led by Andrew Via who ranks second overall but Dan O'Brien of Virginia Episcopal leads the way individually. Both will be looking for that first individual state XC title Friday.
First up for the girls will be the D1 race featuring the most exciting team battle of the meet between Collegiate, Norfolk Academy, and Saint Catherine's. All three of them are running very well and hungry for that title. Collegiate being the runners-up last year.
Individually the heavy favorite will be track star Hannah Ballowe of Saint Catherine's. She owns a season best of 18:28, well ahead of second which is Mary Kehoe of Trinity Episcopal at 18:46. Those two are the only girls under 19:20 this year in D1.
Finally in the D2 race we will be treated with a great team battle between Walsingham and Nansemond Suffolk Academy. Trinity Christian's Kayla Shelkey leads big individually with her 18:48 season best. She was third last year and her biggest competition will definitely be now-sophomore and last year's runner-up, Ella Dalton of the Covenant School.
Be sure to check back on MileStat for photo and video coverage from the meet tomorrow!