By Jessica Hoerter
Local athletes braved some of the coldest temperatures of the year Wednesday to compete at the VHSL Regions 1D and 2D cross country championships.
Local Region 1D teams traveled to Enoch’s Branch Park in Grundy, while Region 2D teams battled it out at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol.
VHSL Region 1D: Chilhowie Warrior Boys Team Clinches Spot and Somervell Qualifies Individually, Rural Retreat’s Hammack Advances
In the VHSL Region 1D championships, the Chilhowie boys team continued their successful season by claiming third, earning them a coveted team spot in the VHSL Class 1 state meet. Lucas Hubble led the Warriors with a third-place finish, clocking in at 18:09. His teammate, Mason Lee, secured 16th place with a time of 19:51. JT Moore (20:14) and Bryson Kelly (20:15) finished in 20th and 21st place respectively, also contributed to the team’s success. Mason Adams (22:38) clinched the 35th spot.
Other runners on the boys varsity team for Chilhowie were Nate Thomas (27:10), who took 45th place, and Edgar Bal (40:21), who finished in 48th place.
In the girls’ VHSL Region 1D championships, Chilhowie’s Tess Somervell finished with a strong time of 21:48. Somervell secured second place overall and an individual state qualifying spot for the VHSL Class 1 state meet. Teammate Tori Blackwell (26:28) also ran well for the Chilhowie girls team, finishing 27th.
Kelly Russell, Chilhowie High School principal, said, “It was a chilly, breezy set of races in Grundy yesterday but our Warriors worked hard! Our boys team placed third in the region and will compete, as a team, next weekend in Salem. As individuals, Lucas Hubble placed third and Tess Somervell placed second. We are “Warrior Proud” of Coach Osborne and all our student athletes and can’t wait for state – Go Warriors!” Another Hogoheegee district team, Rural Retreat, also saw success at the VHSL Region 1D championships on Wednesday. In the Region 1D boys race, Talan Hammack (19:25) secured 11th place, earning an individual state qualifying spot for the VHSL Class 1 state meet. Rural Retreat teammate, Jacob Howard, also represented the Indians well by finishing 30th with a time of 21:46.
In the Region 1D girls race, Rural Retreat’s Annabelle Fiscus secured 14th place with a time of 24:38, followed by Kylea Davis (25:16) in 17th place. Olivia Cregger (25:52) clinched 23rd place, while Olivia Bailey (27:19), Elaina Terry (29:03), and Lydia Brewer (29:04) secured 32nd, 41st, and 42nd places, respectively.
Other area Hogoheegee competitors who competed at the VHSL Region 1D cross country championships were runners from Northwood High School. Shaylee Phillips finished in 39th place with a time of 28:26 in the girls race, while Jake Cook ran a 22:32 and placed 34th.
VHSL Region 2D: Marion Produces Two Class 2 State Qualifiers
At the VHSL Region 2D cross country championships, Marion saw two individual qualifiers. Ruby Hoerter finished fourth with a time of 22:39, securing her place in the VHSL Class 2 state meet, and Domenic Bruzzo-Morello finished 14th with a time of 17:27, also qualifying. Hoerter and Bruzzo-Morello were joined by teammate, Alex Armbrister, in receiving all-region honors given to the top 15 overall runners. Armbrister clinched the 15th spot with a time of 17:37.
Marion saw other strong performances in the boys’ race from Elijah Wheatley (18:03, 19th place), Will Burkett (20:07, 43rd place), and Wyatt Hall (20:20, 45th place). Rounding out Marion’s top seven varsity runners were Gage Stamper (22:09), who finished 59th, and Collin Creggar (23:07), who finished in 63rd place.
In the girls’ race, Marion’s Alexa Blevins ran 27:19, securing 31st place, while teammate Emily Hash (28:35) finished 33rd. Marion’s Gracie Widener crossed the finish line in 39th place at 29:53.
Marion’s head coach Susan Hanna had this to say about her team, “This team has worked hard this season to get where they are, and their efforts showed yesterday, despite the cold. Almost everyone achieved a new personal record. Ruby and Domenic have worked very hard this season. They each had a goal of advancing to the state and made it! We are eager to see what they achieve next week.”
Looking Ahead for Cross Country
The VHSL Class 1 and Class 2 state cross country championships are slated for November 11 at Green Hill Park in Salem, where these talented athletes will continue to represent their schools and local communities.
