Providence Day Impress With A Win At Trinity/Valkyrie

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It was the first time we've gotten to see Providence Day's full top 7 race this year and they certainly did not disappoint.  On Thursday the Chargers flew out to Louisville, Kentucky to compete at the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational against some of the best programs from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and more.

We saw Providence Day race at Friday Night Lights two weeks ago where they were narrowly beaten by Chapel Hill and Weddington 109-111-117.  The Chargers did not have top runner and returning NCISAA 4A State Champion Christian Landis race that weekend.

Providence Day are defending NCISAA 4A State Champions as a team and return their entire team from a year ago.  

The Chargers certainly did not disappoint this weekend with a 41 point victory over the loaded Trinity/Valkyrie field. They were lead by a 9-10-12 finish from Christian Landis, Jason Krell and Adam Habas who ran 16:06, 16:08 and 16:12 respectively.  The only team at the meet with two boys in the top 10 and three in the top 15.

Not far behind was junior Colter Nichols who would run a PR of 16:23 to finish 17th overall as Andrew Riolo and John Alfred Smith would run 16:35 and 16:43 placing 33rd and 38th.  

Compared to the rest of the field Providence Day had 6 boys finish before every other teams 4th runner.  The Chargers had a 16:17 team average and just a 29 second split from their 1st to 5th runner.  

The course at Tom Sawyer State Park is all grass and isn't too hilly, but typically doesn't run as a very fast course.  Last years top two finishers Jake Renfree and David Ahlmeyer ran 15:32 and 15:36.  Both would go on to be Foot Locker Finalist and run 15:10 and 15:14 respectively at McAlpine's Foot Locker South Regionals.

It's certainly subjective, but if they were to race at adidas yesterday they likely would have been the team champions.  With Landis as a frontrunner who should improve each week after a late start to the season I think the Chargers are the team to beat so far this season.

They'll race next at Great American where they'll likely battle with the state and Southeast's top teams.