Co-Coaches of the Year...Stan Morgan (Midlothian) & Vic Kelbaugh (West Springfield)
Finishing second and third at last year's AAA state cross country meet respectively, few could have expected both Midlothian
and West Springfield to return to those same spots on the podium a year later after the hard hits they were taking because of
graduation. Midlothian was looking five of their top seven, while West Springfield was losing lots of their depth that helped
get them to the podium with three of their top four runners. However, Coach Morgan at Midlothian and Coach Kelbaugh simply
would not allow this year to be a rebuilding one for their teams.
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At Midlothian, Coach Morgan was fortunate to get the services of Brandon Miles, a transfer from last year's AA state
champions Jamestown. The addition gave Morgan then three state meet seasoned runners to work with Miles, junior Ryan Witt,
and senior Andrew Baker. With Miles and Witt, Morgan was able to bring out one of the best 1-2 punches in the state as the
two ran off each other all season as the team's top runners as both ended up earning all-state honors (12th Witt, 14th Miles)
after both neither broke 17 on the state course the year before. Morgan was then able to convert 1:57 800m runner Taylor
Matthews into a true 5K runner as the senior Matthews ran a consistent number three for the team all-season and boasted a
season best of 16:28. Morgan's probably biggest improvement that he was able to get out of any of runners was junior Billy
Berlin, who just a year ago was running 20 minute 5K's yet this season was dipping well under 17 minutes. Along with holdover
Baker, two other newcomers on the varsity squad in sophomore Ryan Call and junior Pat Harding, who ran consistently around 17
flat all-season, Midlothian was able to put together a formidable squad that remained un-defeated against state competition
until the state meet, where they made what was thought to be a blowout victory for nationally ranked Thomas Jefferson a nail
biter as Thomas Jefferson squeaked by Midlothian with an eight point win. It was Coach Morgan's fourth straight year taking a
team to the podium with a third place finish in 1999, two runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2002, and a state title in 2001.
With four runners returning from this year's team, Morgan has even more to work with to try and make a fifth trip to the
podium next fall.
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Like Morgan, Kelbaugh knows how to get his team to podium and bring out the best in his runners. In the early 1990's,
Kelbaugh had a streak of state champion teams. The three loses to graduation were hard hit ones as after those three and
returning front runner Jeff Day, there was a big drop off that left some gaping holes in the Spartans lineup. However, this
call for others to step up was answered and in a big way by junior Steve Tobin. Having ran number five on last year's third
place finishing team, Tobin was the next in line to fill in the number two spot on this year's squad. Well he stepped into
that spot big time. Tobin was a remarkably improved runner this fall as he was finishing behind and beating guys in races
that the year before he was not even on the same level on. Tobin's finest race was when it all counted at states as he
garnered an astonishing seventh place finish, not far behind senior team leader Jeff Day who took third. This nucleus made up
for the best tandem in the state and gave them the momentum for their next three to give support for the two. Newcomer
sophomore Dan Beale and holdover seniors Adam Buckley and John Cook were able to finish in the top 75 in the race to give the
Spartans the edge over the rest of the field vying for that last podium spot. It was a pretty remarkable finish considering
how they started the season as they remained unranked for most of the season and it was even more so surprising just
considering the week before, West Springfield had finished fourth in the regional meet and had barely made it out of the
race. While much credit has to be given to the West Springfield runners for coming up at the right time, the majority of that
right timing was all the master plan of a great coach in Vic Kelbaugh.
Runner of the Year...Kippy Keino (Fork Union)
The Fork Union senior from Kenya started his year with a bang is definitely looking to close it with another as he heads off
to compete at the Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships in San Diego in a few weeks. Keino was dominant all year
long in his domain, the state of Virginia. He began his year with a blistering new course record at his home at the Fork
Union Invitational with a 15:06 three mile clocking. He then had two more dominating invitational wins in running the second
fastest time ever at Woodberry Forest's 5K course (record is held by Alan Webb) with 15:51 win at the Woodberry Invitational.
He then went onto win the William & Mary Invitational with the second fastest time ever (record held by FL finalist Matt
Keally) of a 14:50 3.05 mile clocking. He then suffered his sole setback the week after at the Albemarle Invitational, where
he was defeated in a hard fought battle with eventual AA state champion John Crews of Rockbridge. However, after breezing
through wins at the Independent School State Meet and Prep League Championships, Keino reasserted his claim as the state's
top cross country runner by being the first finisher and sole national qualifier for the state with his amazing race at Foot
Locker South in Charlotte, where he took fifth place honors with a smoking personal best of 15:01. His year isn't done yet
though, he's shown the entire state he is the real deal, it's time for him show the rest of the nation what he's made of in
San Diego on December 14th.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:01.79/5th 11/08/2002 @ Prep League XC Championships 5000m 16:06.00/1st 11/01/2002 @ VA Independent State Meet 5000m 16:05.43/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 15:24.80/2nd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A Race) 3.05mi 14:50.00/1st 09/21/2002 @ Woodberry Forest Invitational 5000m 15:51.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ Fork Union Invitational 3Mile 15:06.39/1st |
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Most Improved Runner of the Year...Steve Tobin (West Springfield)
If someone would have betted before the season started that Steve Tobin would be an all-state runner beating the likes of
Rasheed Thompson, Hari Mix, Keith Bechtol, and Derrick Robbins, the odds would have been stacked against them and much less
probably laughed at as a fool. However, it is Tobin who has made everyone else the fool this season with his remarkable
improvement. Tobin started off the season decent, but nothing exceptional as he had a decent top 15 showing at the William &
Mary Invitational. However, it was after that race that he started to really turn on the jets. He really started closing the
gap on teammate Jeff Day at the Manhattan Invitational where he covered the 2.5 mile course just a few ticks behind Day. Then
after establishing some regional credentials with a fine third place finish at his district meet and sixth place showing at
his regional meet, it was Tobin's chance to shine on the state stage which he took full advantage of. Through the mud, cold,
and rain, Tobin powered his way through to his greatest race ever with a 16:21 clocking and seventh place finish to show for
his hard work. Quite a substantial improvement for a runner who a year ago at the state meet with much better weather, ran
almost a full minute slower.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 16:30.26/130th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:21.61/7th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 15:23.00/6th 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.4mi 17:15.00/3rd 10/12/2002 @ Manhattan Invitational (E) 2.5mi 13:05.30/4th 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A Race) 3.05mi 16:07.00/14th |
First Team All-MileStat
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John Crews (Rockbridge County)
Despite the Rockbridge senior's poor finish at Foot Locker South, it was still one gutsy race and by no way means tarnish
what was a great fall for John Crews. Crews was undefeated in state competition prior to Foot Locker as he took regular
season wins at the Eastern Mennonite Invitational, Virginia Tech Invitational, and Albemarle Invitational, which at Albemarle
he defeated Foot Locker finalist Kippy Keino in a season best time of 15:13. At Great American, Crews posted the state's
fastest time as he finished fourth in the seeded invitational division. Crews was unpressed in winning his regional meet and
then was able to capture his first ever cross country state title in the 15:42 in the AA race, which was the fastest time of
the day.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:34.76/24th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 15:42.36/1st 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 15:34.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 15:13.40/1st 09/27/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 16:23.70/4th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 14:24.60/1st 09/07/2002 @ Eastern Mennonite Invite 5000m 16:14.00/1st |
Jeff Day (West Springfield)
West Springfield senior Jeff Day truly elevated himself as one of the elite runners in the state this fall with a handful of
great performances. Day began the year with a dominating win at the Monroe Parker Invitational and then had solid high finish
showings at the Virginia Tech Invitational, William & Mary Invitational, and Manhattan Invitational. He took it up another
notch once the championship season began as he won the Patriot District title, took fourth at the Northern Region Meet, and
then had a stellar state race as he finished third overall. His best race though was his last one at the Foot Locker South,
where he earned all-south honors with a 16th place finish in the seeded race as he was the fourth fastest Virginia finisher.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:25.37/16th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:14.98/3rd 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 15:14.00/4th 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.4mi 16:44.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Manhattan Invitational (E) 2.5mi 13:02.80/2nd 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 15:28.00/5th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 16:39.00/3rd 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 15:26.00/1st |
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Daniel Kane (Louisa County)
Having been one of the top cross country runners in the state since he was an underclassman, many were worrying what was
wrong with Danny Kane as he had a streak of subpar performances early on. However, just like the Kane of past years, he
turned it on when it counted as he nearly chased down John Crews for the AA state title with his 15:45 clocking and then went
onto be the third fastest finisher for Virginia at Foot Locker with his new 15:18 PR he posted.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:18.85/13th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 15:45.09/2nd 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 16:02.00/4th 10/23/2002 @ Jefferson District Meet 5000m 16:14.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 15:56.30/5th 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 15:27.00/4th 09/21/2002 @ Woodberry Forest Invitational 5000m 16:54.90/3rd 08/30/2002 @ Ragged Mountain Cup 3200m 10:21.00/1st |
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Christo Landry (Thomas Jefferson
Landry had great weight on his shoulder being the leader of the top ranked Thomas Jefferson team, but Landry did an
outstanding job being the consistent front runner for his to depend on. Landry started off the year with a win at the Great
Meadows Invitational as he was closely followed behind teammate Keith Bechtol. At Great American in the Race of Champions,
Landry helped lead his squad to a sixth place finish with a high showing himself of ninth. At William Tennent, Landry did
battle with Jamestown's Jonna Reinhardt for three miles as Landry lost out on a kick at the end to Reinhardt in a great
showdown. Landry then led his team to district, regional, and state titles with win at the Concorde District Meet, runner-up
finish at the Northern Region Meet, and then a fourth place finish at states. Landry then gave his services to a new team at
Foot Locker South, the team of Virginia as he was the fifth fastest finisher with a 20th place clocking of 15:32 to help
secure the state team title win for Virginia..
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:32.98/20th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:18.20/4th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 15:02.00/2nd 10/26/2002 @ Concorde District Meet 3.4mi 16:46.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ William Tennent Invitational 3Mile 15:03.18/2nd 09/28/2002 @ Great American (ROC) 5000m 17:03.90/9th 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 16:02.05/1st |
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Alex Tatu (Thomas Dale)
It was a shaky fall for the returning AAA state champion. There would be moments that he would show flashes of brillance in
his racing and then there would be other not so spectacular races. The year started off with a resounding defeat by Kippy
Keino at the Fork Union Invitational with Tatu still running one of the fastest times on the course with his 15:26 clocking.
Great American was not one of Tatu's best races nor one he'd like to remember as he finished 23rd in the seeded invitational
division. After a so-so third place performance at the William & Mary Invitational, Tatu went on a undefeated streak for over
a full month as he took the Central District and Central Region titles with ease. Still there were doubts whether Tatu could
defend his state title, but he proved those doubters wrong as he easily ran away with his second cross country state title.
After losing his shoe in last year's Foot Locker South race, bad luck struck Tatu again in Charlotte as he became ill the
entire week leading into the race and the effects of the sickness obviously showed its affects as Tatu was not the same
runner as he could only muster a 104th place.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 16:17.60/104th 11/23/2002 @ MileStat.com Invitational 3Mile 16:22.60/1st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:04.64/1st 11/09/2002 @ Central Region Meet 5000m 15:56.00/1st 11/01/2002 @ Central District Meet 5000m 16:12.70/1st 10/09/2002 @ Thomas Dale Meet 5000m 15:59.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 15:34.00/3rd 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 17:30.10/23rd 09/14/2002 @ Fork Union Invitational 3Mile 15:26.58/2nd |
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Rasheed Thompson (Herndon)
The 2002 cross country season was a work in progress for Thompson as he was coming off a stress fracture and still working
his way into shape. However, once the Herndon senior got back into shape, he was pretty tough to beat. Just taking a look at
his first race at the Great Meadows Invitational, where he finished a dismal 37th place in a time of 17:20 and then looking
at his final race where he earned all-south honors with a 11th place finish in the seeded race with a swift time of 15:16,
shows this obvious improvement in Thompson's condition and shape throughout the season. Thompson also was the Northern Region
champion this fall as well. The old Thompson isn't back, a newer and better Thompson is back and will be looking to turn a
few more heads during track.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:16.91/11th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:22.16/8th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 14:58.00/1st 10/26/2002 @ Concorde District Meet 3.4mi 16:52.00/3rd 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 17:15.50/16th 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 17:20.26/37th |
Second Team All-MileStat
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Ryan Foster (Sherando)
Little attention was given to Foster throughout the season, but he quietly produced week after week with a combination of
some great race performances and constant consistency. Foster was the race winner at his first three invites as he won the
James Wood Invitational, Judges Classic, and Octoberfest Invitational with ease. Once he raced a competitive field, he
performed just as well as at the Albemarle Invitational, he took third in the race behind the state's two best in Kippy Keino
and John Crews. He took the district title and then made it a close race with Crews at the regional meet to take second with
a season best of 15:38. Foster kept of his streak of no worse than top three finishes at states where he finished third
behind Crews and Kane. At Foot Locker, Foster posted the 10th fastest time by a Virginian with his 15:47 clocking, which was
good enough for 43rd in the seeded race.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:47.31/43rd 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 16:02.19/3rd 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 15:38.00/2nd 10/31/2002 @ Northwestern District Meet 5000m 16:10.13/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 15:45.80/3rd 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 16:13.00/1st 09/21/2002 @ Judges Classic 5000m 16:42.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ James Wood Invitational 5000m 16:50.00/1st |
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Steve Hoogland (Lake Braddock)
Whenever the course and weather conditions went bad in races, it seemed like Hoogland always rose to the occassion.
Hoogland's two finest races on the season were when the conditions were anything but pleasant. At Great American, where a
torn up and muddied golf course seemed be slowing every down and affecting even the elite runners, Hoogland was unphased as
he motored his way to a 13th place finish in the seeded invitational division, finishing ahead of the likes of Rasheed
Thompson and Alex Tatu. After having decent performances at his district meet with a runner-up finish and a his regional meet
with a fifth place finish, Hoogland rose to occassion again when bad weather struck at the state meet. Through the rain and
cold, Hoogland garnered a sixth place finish and outperforming a few of the runners who had beaten him at the regional level.
Hoogland then went onto run a personal best time of 15:47 at Foot Locker South as it was the 11th fastest time of the day by
a Virginian.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:47.65/44th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:20.74/6th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 15:19.00/5th 10/24/2002 @ Patriot District Meet 3.04mi 17:06.00/2nd 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 17:12.30/13th 09/04/2002 @ Monroe Parker Invitational 3Mile 15:48.00/2nd |
Hari Mix (Albemarle)
The Northwest Region champion this fall had a very succesful season. Through the regular season, Mix had taken a few
impressive finishes at major invitationals such as the Fork Union Invitational, Woodberry Forest Invitational, William & Mary
Invitational, and Albemarle Invitational. His state race was decent with all-state finish of 9th place, but not truly
indicative of how he had been racing all season long. However, he made up for it with a great Foot Locker South race as he
did not finish too far off of all-south honors with a 30th place finish and a new PR of 15:39 in the seeded race.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:39.54/30th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:27.02/9th 10/31/2002 @ Northwest Region Meet 5000m 15:49.20/1st 10/23/2002 @ Commonwealth District Meet 5000m 16:04.15/1st 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 15:50.40/4th 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (B) 3.05mi 15:39.00/2nd 09/21/2002 @ Woodberry Forest Invitational 5000m 16:43.60/2nd 09/14/2002 @ Fork Union Invitational 3Mile 15:42.07/4th 08/30/2002 @ Ragged Mountain Cup 3200m 10:39.00/4th |
C.W. Moran (Potomac Falls)
Moran had a strong cross country season as he was steadily one of the top harriers in AA. A winner at the Frank Keyser
Invitational and the Dulles District champion, Moran posted his season best at the Region II Meet with a 15:42 and then went
onto have a great state race where he earned a fourth place finish.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 16:03.68/71st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 16:03.10/4th 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 15:42.00/3rd 10/31/2002 @ Dulles District Meet 5000m 15:56.59/1st 10/05/2002 @ Octoberfest Invitational 5000m 16:27.00/3rd 09/14/2002 @ Frank Geyser Invitational 3Mile 15:20.10/1st |
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Jonna Reinhardt (Jamestown)
The lone holdover from last year's state championship team, Reinhardt had to go out for his own individual glory in his
senior year at Jamestown. He ran well early in the season with a win at the Run For The Hills Invitational and high finishes
at the Great Meadows Invitational and William & Mary Invitational. Reinhardt then had probably his best race of the season at
the William Tennent Invitational where he outkicked Christo Landry for the win in a time of 15:01 on the three mile course.
After winning the Bay Rivers District and Region I meets uncontested, Reinhardt finished fifth in the AA state race and ran
the 14th fastest time of the day by a Virginian at Foot Locker with a 15:52 clocking in the seeded race.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:52.48/49th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 16:15.97/5th 11/07/2002 @ Region I Meet 5000m 15:53.00/1st 10/25/2002 @ Bay Rivers District Meet 5000m 16:05.00/1st 10/12/2002 @ William Tennent Invitational 3Mile 15:01.45/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 3.05mi 15:45.00/9th 09/25/2002 @ Eastern State Quad Meet 5000m 16:12.00/1st 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 16:20.27/3rd 08/31/2002 @ Run For The Hills Invite 3Mile 15:54.00/1st |
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Mike Stoop (Bayside)
What was looking like to be one disappointing fall for Stoop was made into a great one with just one race. At Foot Locker
South, coming off a poor state race where he failed to even break 17 minutes, Stoop surprised many as he finished 23rd and
earned all-south honors with a big personal best of 15:34.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:34.35/23rd 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 16:09.00/2nd 10/23/2002 @ Beach District Meet 5000m 16:45.68/3rd 09/28/2002 @ Lee-Davis Invitational 5000m 16:40.00/2nd 09/21/2002 @ Wolverine Chase Invitational 5000m 16:26.85/3rd 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 16:31.00/5th |
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Steven Walters (Green Run)
Walters was a solid performer all-season as he racked up numerous wins. Walters was a race winner at the Newport News
Invitational, Lee-Davis Invitational, Beach District Meet, and Eastern Region Meet. However, his best race was when he took
second, in the AAA state race as he had a great run to take runner-up behind Tatu. Walters also ran well in Charlotte as he
finished just outside of the all-south top 24 with a 26th place finishing time of 15:37.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 15:37.82/26th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:09.84/2nd 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 16:02.00/1st 10/23/2002 @ Beach District Meet 5000m 15:57.64/1st 10/05/2002 @ William & Mary Invitational 3.05mi 15:36.00/7th 09/28/2002 @ Lee-Davis Invitational 5000m 15:58.00/1st 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 15:42.00/1st |
Third Team All-MileStat
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Tommy Antenucci (Abingdon)
Antenucci probably had one of the heaviest racing schedules out of anyone as just before his district meet, he had already
ran in six major invitationals. In which all of the races he ran in prior to states, he had done no worse than second as he
had made sure it was clear he was to top harrier in all of southwest Virginia. Antenucci was a race champion at the Kingsport
Optimist Invitational, Gathering of the Harriers, and Abingdon Invitiational. Antenucci took runner-up honors at the Run For
The Hills Invitational, Radford Fall Classic, and Wendy's Invitational. Along with the awards he earned from those races, he
was also a district and regional champion and had a fine showing at states in the AA race, where he finished sixth.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 16:23.86/6th 11/01/2002 @ Region IV Meet 5000m 16:42.00/1st 10/24/2002 @ Highlands District Meet 3Mile 15:18.00/1st 10/16/2002 @ Abingdon Invitational 3Mile 15:26.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ Wendy's Invitational 5000m 16:35.62/2nd 09/21/2002 @ Gathering of the Harriers 3Mile 15:35.00/1st 09/07/2002 @ Radford Fall Classic 5000m 16:58.00/2nd 09/04/2002 @ Kingsport Optimist Invite 5000m 16:25.00/1st 08/31/2002 @ Run For The Hills Invite 3Mile 16:04.00/2nd |
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Keith Bechtol (Thomas Jefferson)
Bechtol was the number two man all-season on what was one of the best tandems in the state with him and Christo Landry.
Landry had some fine showings throughout the season such as finishes of runner-up at the Great Meadows Invitational, third
place at the William Tennent Invitational, runner-up at the Concorde District Meet, and third place at the Northern Region
Meet. Bechtol also earned all-state honors in the AAA state race and then ran a season best of 16:04 at Foot Locker South.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Seeded) 5000m 16:04.76/74th 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:30.02/11th 11/07/2002 @ Northern Region Meet 3Mile 15:09.00/3rd 10/26/2002 @ Concorde District Meet 3.4mi 16:48.00/2nd 10/12/2002 @ William Tennent Invitational 3Mile 15:12.96/3rd 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 17:33.30/38th 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 16:06.48/2nd |
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Cary Chaffee (Hermitage)
Chaffee had a very streaky fall of cross country. When he was on, he was really on and when he wasn't, he bombed. The Central
Region Meet where he took runner-up honors to Alex Tatu and the AAA State Meet, where he finished fifth and beat some quality
runners were examples of Chaffee at his best. However, Chaffee at his worst, such as failing to even break 17 minutes at Foot
Locker South held Chaffee back from truly establishing his rank further up on the totem pole.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (A) 5000m 16:19.47 11/09/2002 @ Central Region Meet 5000m 16:05.00 11/02/2002 @ Colonial District Meet 5000m 16:41.00 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational (A) 5000m 16:06.00 09/21/2002 @ Wolverine Chase Invitational 5000m 16:16.00 09/18/2002 @ Pole Green Meet 5000m 16:32.00 09/11/2002 @ Pole Green Meet 5000m 16:38.00 |
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Brandon Miles (Midlothian)
Miles steadily progressed throughout the season as he performed his best in the championship season. A Dominion District
runner-up, fourth place finisher at the Central Region Meet, and all-state finisher in AAA, Miles capped off his season by
winning the Foot Locker South senior race in a race record breaking time of 15:51 as it was the 13th fastest time of a
Virginian on the day.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Senior) 5000m 15:51.15/1st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:33.19/14th 11/09/2002 @ Central Region Meet 5000m 16:13.00/4th 10/31/2002 @ Dominion District Meet 5000m 16:23.30/2nd 10/12/2002 @ Manhattan Invitational (B) 2.5mi 13:09.90/5th 09/24/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 17:55.40/45th 09/18/2002 @ James River Meet 5000m 16:28.50/2nd 09/14/2002 @ Great Meadows Invitational 5000m 16:45.98/13th |
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Derrick Robbins (Denbigh)
Robbins started off his sophomore year off cross country on fire after taking runner-up honors at the Newport News
Invitational, winning the CNU Invitational, and then finishing second in a strong field at the William & Mary Invitational
and besting the likes of returning AAA state champ Alex Tatu. William & Mary was by far his best race of the year as he
clocked a 15:09 on the 3.05 mile course. Robbins seemed poised at having a great shot of winning the state title at that
point. However, Robbins was unable to finish as strong as he started as he went backwards. Robbins finished a disappointing
seventh at the Eastern Region Meet and then continued to falter at the state meet as he nearly was knocked out of the top 15
for all-state. Nonetheless, his last two races still cannot fully tarnish what was a great season prior to regions.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AAA) 5000m 16:32.55/14th 10/31/2002 @ Eastern Region Meet 5000m 16:48.00/7th 10/24/2002 @ Peninsula District Meet 5000m 15:45.00/1st 10/05/2002 @ W&M Invitational 3.05m 15:09.00/2nd 09/14/2002 @ CNU Invitational 5000m 15:57.00/1st 09/07/2002 @ Newport News Invitational 5000m 15:49.00/2nd |
Steve Tobin (West Springfield)
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Will Williams (Rockbridge)
Miles was not the only Virginian setting a new race record at Foot Locker South as Will Williams of Rockbridge capped off
what had been an up and down season with injuries and mishaps into a great one as he shattered the junior race record in a
time of 15:49. His time was the 12th fastest posted by a Virginian for the day. Williams had started the season off strong
with a runner-up finish at the Virginia Tech Invitational behind John Crews as he beat the likes of Jeff Day, but then
suffered injuries that nagged him all season long. However, once healthy, Williams showed what he was full capable of doing
at Foot Locker South.
Date Meet Event Time/Place 11/30/2002 @ Foot Locker South (Junior) 5000m 15:49.12/1st 11/16/2002 @ VHSL State Meet (AA) 5000m 17:03.86/23rd 11/07/2002 @ Region II Meet 5000m 16:12.00/6th 10/12/2002 @ Albemarle Invitational 5000m 16:12.60/7th 09/28/2002 @ Great American (Seeded Inv.) 5000m 18:00.30/37th 09/21/2002 @ Virginia Tech Invitational 4600m 15:05.20/2nd |
Close calls... Anthony Arena (Osbourn Park), Bryan Buckland (Westfield), Chris Clarke (Atlee), Kris Cruz (Oakton), Neil Duffy (Kempsville), Justin Hatch (Christiansburg), Justin Kirk (Loudoun County), Dan Nally (Liberty), Joel Parker (Churchland), Levi Thompson (Marion), and Ryan Witt (Midlothian).