PM Harriers Gear Up For Postseason Run
Racing in a large invitational meet that included the best distance runners from several states, the Parry McCluer High School boys cross country team ran well at the Virginia XC Showcase on Saturday at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville.
Competing in the boys’ Showcase race, senior Kebryl Chandler led the Fighting Blues, placing fourth of 313 harriers, completing the mostly flat 5-kilometer race in 15 minutes, 1.5 seconds, the highest place of any Virginia runner. The three runners ahead of him were from Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Winning the race was Yosuke Shibata of South Eugene (Ore.) in 14:53.7.
Praising Chandler, PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, “It was a good race for him, but the biggest takeaway was that he beat a few guys that had beaten him in some past races this year. Specifically, the kid from Blacksburg [Rivers Matthews], who he had lost to at Knights Crossing.” Matthews, who placed 15th in 15:20.2, is the topranked runner in Virginia, according to Milestat. Also competing for PM in the Showcase race was junior Caleb Cooper, finishing 56th in 15:55.50.
In the boys’ Small School division, the Blues had five runners, enough for a team score, and placed 31st of 46 teams, tallying 745 points. Trinity Christian School won the race with 168 points, Fork Union (216) placed second and Norfolk Academy (259) finished third. Rounding out the top five were Abingdon (276) and Archbishop Spalding (305).
Norfolk Academy’s Brogan Brown was the individual winner, finishing in 16:20.7.
Sebastian George led the Blues, placing 36th of 370 harriers in 17:32.3. PM’s Matthew Cooper followed in 84th place in 18:18.9, a personal record. “That one has been coming for him,” said Poluikis, “Without the mud from the morning rain, all of those guys in the later race could have probably been, give or take, twenty seconds faster.”
Teammate Sam Carpenter (18:19.30) was less than a second behind Cooper in 86th place. Victor Poluikis (23:48) and Seven Medina (24:42.5) were the last finishers for PM, and finished in 335th and 344th, respectively.
Today, Wednesday, the Blues will face Eastern Montgomery and Narrows at the Pioneer District meet at Camp Alta Mons in Shawsville. The girls’ race is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by the boys’ race at 4:30.
Poluikis emphasized the Region 1C meet as a bigger focus, with many runners using the district meet as a tune-up. The Region 1C meet is scheduled for next Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Blacksburg High School. The girls’ race is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., followed by the boys’ race at 5:15.
