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In the final meet before the postseason, the Rockbridge County High School girls placed second of 12 teams at the Metro XC Championships last Wednesday in Blacksburg, while the RC boys finished fifth of 18 teams.
The RC girls tallied 82 points, trailing only Blacksburg (38), which had three runners in the top 10. Cave Spring (100) placed third, William Byrd (149) finished fourth, while Roanoke Catholic (165) rounded out the top five.
Blacksburg (61) also won the boys’ race, while Cave Spring (83) placed second, and North Cross (100) came in third. Salem (131) followed in fourth, RC (167) placed fifth, and Hidden Valley (173) came in sixth.
Proud of her runners, RC head coach Julie Tisone said, “We had a great race at Metro. We always love going there and competing against teams that we don’t see much during the season.”
“We had really good results, so we are feeling prepared for districts,” added Tisone.
North Cross’s Kerrigan Chaney won the girls’ race, completing the hilly 5-kilometer course in 18:22.1. Senior Deena Ludtke led the Wildcats, placing second of 116 harriers in 20:14.6, about 36 seconds faster than her time on the course last year. Blacksburg’s Reese Bradbury finished third in 20:31.6.
The Wildcats’ second finisher was freshman Anna Nye, placing 20th in 22:20.2, and she was followed by teammates Dorothy Lewis (25th, 22:34.4) and Nicole Black (26th, 22:41.4). Wildcats finishing after Black were Brooke Eichelberger (29th, 22:56.4), Kate Holston (59th, 25:00.5) and Cassandra Silver (82nd, 26:23.7).
Roanoke Valley Christian’s Eric Duncan won the boys’ race in 16:36.9, narrowly beating RC freshman Preston Spangler, who placed second of 159 harriers in 16:38. Cave Spring’s Ryan Connelly finished third in 17:03.4.
RC’s second runner was Alexander Miller, finishing 33rd in 18:40.1, about 35 seconds faster than his time on the course last year. The Wildcats’ next two finishers were freshmen Sammy Eastwood (40th, 18:54.9) and Tyler Ludtke (53rd, 19:21.4). Wildcats following Ludtke were Trenten Cash (58th, 19:31.9), Fisher Howald (61st, 19:44.1) and Oscar McClung (74th, 20:14.4).
Today, Wednesday, the Wildcats will compete in the Valley District meet at Grottoes Town Park, starting at 4 p.m., with East Rockingham playing host. The top three teams from Class 3 and the top four individuals outside of those teams will advance to the Region 3C meet, which will take place next Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Pleasant Grove course in Palmyra.
The RC girls will be attempting to repeat as district champions, while the boys will aim to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish.
“I am always hoping to advance both teams,” said Tisone.
