The Rockbridge County High School boys cross country team placed second of 13 teams at the Region 3C meet on Wednesday afternoon in Palmyra, advancing to the Class 3 state meet for the first time in recent history.
Racing on the Pleasant Grove course, the RC boys scored 63 points, only trailing Region 3C champion Western Albemarle, which had five runners in the top nine and won with 27 points. Turner Ashby placed third with 126 points. Rounding out the top seven were Harrisonburg (138), Rustburg (163), Monticello (163) and Broadway (169).
The top three teams and the top five individuals outside of those teams advanced to the state meet.
Spotswood freshman Caden Erickson won the boys’ race, completing the hilly 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 48.7 seconds. Western Albemarle’s Christophe De Wekker placed second of 99 harriers in 16:06.2.
Junior Sammy Eastwood led the Wildcats, who won the Shenandoah District title last Wednesday in Waynesboro, placing fifth in 16:13.4. RC’s second runner was junior Oscar McClung, finishing 12th in 16:29.7. Also earning all-regions by placing in the top 15 was RC sophomore Leif Guse (14th, 16:33.6).
The Wildcats’ fourth runner was junior Tyler Ludtke (17th, 16:49), and senior teammate Trent Cash followed in 19th in 16:51.8. Also racing for RC were sophomore Grant Swenty (33rd, 17:23.4) and junior Lincoln Steele (47th, 17:51.5).
Alleghany senior Kiera Lowman won the girls’ race in 17:46.7, while Fluvanna County’s Ruby Frazier placed second of 96 harriers in 17:56.5.
Three RC girls competed individually, coming up short of advancing to the state meet. Freshman Reagan Imler led the way, placing 24th in 20:54.9. RC senior Dorothy Lewis came in 47th in 22:40.5, and senior teammate Kate Holston finished 63rd in 23:33.1.
Spotswood won the girls’ race with 61 points, Western Albemarle (69) placed second of 13 teams, and Harrisonburg (90) finished third. Rounding out the top seven were Monticello (113), Alleghany (161), Fluvanna County (161) and Waynesboro (169).
The Class 3 state meet will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Green Hill Park in Salem, with the boys’ race at 11:15 a.m.
For the full story on the regional meet, please see our Nov. 5 newspaper.
