Wildcats Face District Foes Today At NB State Park
Led by sophomore Leif Guse’s individual victory, the Rockbridge County High School boys cross country team won the Alleghany Shenandoah Quad last Wednesday evening at the Jackson River Sports Complex in Covington. In the girls’ race, RC freshman Reagan Imler placed third to lead the Wildcats to third place.
Guse finished the flat and fast course in a personal- record time of 17 minutes, 6.26 seconds. RC head coach Julie Tisone said Guse “felt strong” and was focused on setting a personal record (PR), “so he hit out front quickly and stayed ahead the entire race.”
Alleghany’s Maddox Wickline placed second of 52 harriers in 17:21.23, and Wilson Memorial’s Julian Galiano finished third in 17:23.79.
With four runners in the top six and seven in the top 13, the RC boys tallied 26 points for a comfortable victory, while Wilson Memorial placed second of four Shenandoah District teams with 47 points. Completing the standings were Alleghany (68) and Stuarts Draft (106).
The RC boys’ second runner was sophomore Grant Swenty, placing fourth in 17:30.97, and he was followed closely by teammates Tyler Ludtke (fifth, 17:31.97) and Oscar McClung (sixth, 17:43.41). Also cracking the top 10 for the Wildcats was Sammy Eastwood (10th, 18:03.62). Completing RC’s top seven were Trent Cash (11th, 18:14.49) and Lincoln Steele (13th, 18:30.09).
Claiming three of the top five individual spots, Alleghany won the girls’ meet with 35 points, while Wilson Memorial (38) placed second, and the Wildcats (52) finished third.
Alleghany’s Kiera Lowman was the individual winner, finishing in 19:37.65, more than a minute ahead of the runner-up, WM’s Thea Franklin (20:44.91).
Imler followed in third in a PR time of 20:51.89, and RC’s second runner was senior Evelyn Mc-Clung, placing seventh in 23:11.22, followed closely by teammate Dorothy Lewis (eighth, 23:12.22).
Wildcats after Lewis were Kate Holston (16th, 24:46.39) Hannah Ivins (18th, 25:56.28), Gemma Batis (23rd, 30:41.08) and Audra Roney (24th, 31:09.49.
In total, taking advantage of the fast course, the Wildcats set nine PRs at the meet.
Today, Wednesday, RC will hold its only home meet of the season at Natural Bridge State Park, where the Wildcats will face district rivals. To get to the course from Rte. 11 South, take a left on Golf Course Road and go to the Children’s Discovery Center. Before the meet, at 4:45 p.m., the Wildcats will honor their six seniors: Holston, Lewis and Evelyn McClung for the girls and, for the boys, Cash and Ben Erskine. The boys’ race is scheduled for 5:15 p.m., followed by the girls’ race at 5:55.
The Wildcats will race again on Saturday at the East Coast Elite Fast Times Invitational, the state meet preview, at Green Hill Park in Salem. The girls’ race is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by the boys’ race at 10:30.
