Tri State
TEAM VA sweeps to victory in both Boys and Girls “Battles”
Bethesda, MD— TEAM VA was clearly the group of cross country runners prepared to handle the wind, rain and ensuing mud.
The VA boys’ squad had lost the Potomac XC Cup each of the first two years of the “Battle of the Potomac”.
The girls of TEAM VA were buoyed by the upset win in 2007. The VA Girls team last year proved that depth can overtake a few stars.
Optimism for a repeat win was apparent when the TEAM VA Girls walked to the line to face their cross river rivals.
Maybe it was just a day for both teams to revel in the elements and have fun. It came down to who wanted to dig deeper into the rain soaked grass and jump farther across the rain swollen stream.
TEAM VA was the “mudders” and victors. The VA Boys toppled MD’s Boys for the first time 79 -131 while VA’s Girls won their 2nd straight Potomac XC Cup 82 – 128.
Bethesda, MD— TEAM VA was clearly the group of cross country runners prepared to handle the wind, rain and ensuing mud.
The VA boys’ squad had lost the Potomac XC Cup each of the first two years of the “Battle of the Potomac”.
The girls of TEAM VA were buoyed by the upset win in 2007. The VA Girls team last year proved that depth can overtake a few stars.
Optimism for a repeat win was apparent when the TEAM VA Girls walked to the line to face their cross river rivals.
Maybe it was just a day for both teams to revel in the elements and have fun. It came down to who wanted to dig deeper into the rain soaked grass and jump farther across the rain swollen stream.
TEAM VA was the “mudders” and victors. The VA Boys toppled MD’s Boys for the first time 79 -131 while VA’s Girls won their 2nd straight Potomac XC Cup 82 – 128.
SEEDED GIRLS WINNER - KAITLYN DAVIS (Mountain View HS - Stafford VA)
Depth was what TEAM VA’s honorary coach Mike Mangan (Lake Braddock Secondary School) was banking on for his boys’ group.
Prevailing opinions of sideline XC pundits were that VA’s high school teams had an edge when it comes to runners #3 through #5.
Maryland’s boys appeared to have the pre-race speed despite the absence of Maryland’s top 2 boys Solomon Haile and Andrew Palmer.
TEAM VA Boys top state finisher was Le Degfae of Edison with his 3rd place finish in the VA AAA Championship while TEAM MD had the MD-DC Private School Champion in Zach Sullivan and the MD 2A Champion Craig Morgan.
You could make the argument that Maryland’s team with two state champions had the edge. Yet cross country racing comes down to who wants to gut it out the toughest. Give the nod to TEAM VA for their gutsy win.
The VA boys were led by Edison High School senior Leoule Degfae as he battled Team MD’s Corey Puffett of DeMatha over the second half of the 5K course at Smokey Glen Farm.
Degfae and Puffett ran an impressive 5:14 pace over the challenging double loop course bogged down by the downpour in earlier races. Degfae edged out Puffett in an exciting sprint to the finish as both runners were timed in 16:27.
Prevailing opinions of sideline XC pundits were that VA’s high school teams had an edge when it comes to runners #3 through #5.
Maryland’s boys appeared to have the pre-race speed despite the absence of Maryland’s top 2 boys Solomon Haile and Andrew Palmer.
TEAM VA Boys top state finisher was Le Degfae of Edison with his 3rd place finish in the VA AAA Championship while TEAM MD had the MD-DC Private School Champion in Zach Sullivan and the MD 2A Champion Craig Morgan.
You could make the argument that Maryland’s team with two state champions had the edge. Yet cross country racing comes down to who wants to gut it out the toughest. Give the nod to TEAM VA for their gutsy win.
The VA boys were led by Edison High School senior Leoule Degfae as he battled Team MD’s Corey Puffett of DeMatha over the second half of the 5K course at Smokey Glen Farm.
Degfae and Puffett ran an impressive 5:14 pace over the challenging double loop course bogged down by the downpour in earlier races. Degfae edged out Puffett in an exciting sprint to the finish as both runners were timed in 16:27.
Le Degfae stalks Corey Puffett on muddy trail on way to exciting finish
VA’s Girls sought a repeat of 2007. Led by a group of intra-District rivals from VA’s AAA Patriot District, the VA girls had prevailed in their first Potomac XC Cup win. Almost half the teams’ scoring came from Patriot District All-Stars. Could the same formula work in 2008?
MD’s Honorary Coach Seann Pelkey (Quince Orchard High School) hoped that his MD State Meet Hereford-seasoned girl runners could hold off VA’s girls on the second loop of Smokey Glen’s 5K course, especially the final trip up the “hill”. Kaitlyn Davis, Erica Howes and Paige Kvartunas had other plans.
Their experience at the VA State Meet’s course at Great Meadows seemed to energize them as this trio sandwiched MD’s lone front runner in Maura Linde, the MD State 2A Champion. As this group entered the second loop, Davis and Howe pulled away and Kvartunas stayed close on Linde’s heels.
Davis pulled away to win in 19:49 and Howes followed in 19:57, as the lone runners to break 20 minutes on the tough 5K course. The other Patriot District rivals filled in behind Paige Kvartunas and helped TEAM VA’s girls to another impressive win.
Other races held included two Middle School 2500m events and two OPEN 5K races. Victors in the middle school races were VA’s Zach Campbell in an impressive 9:21 (6:01 pace) and WV’s Amber Hawkins in 9:40, an equally impressive 6:14 pace. Amber was the national AAU age group XC champion last year.
In the BOYS OPEN 5K, West Potomac’s Khoki Bernier led 9 of the first 10 finishers from VA with an 18:07 clocking. The most impressive grit was shown by the entire OPEN GIRLS race field. As the girls got set on the starting line, 40-50 mph wind gusts and torrential rain hit Smokey Glen Farm.
Not one girl left the line as spectators and other runners scattered for cover. Once the timing gear was set, the OPEN Girls race took off in the rain and West VA’s Kaetlyn Whisler brought home the win in 21:16.
The 3rd running of the Battle of the Potomac was a day framed by classic cross country weather: wind, driving rain, chill in the air and mud flying everywhere.
The host and producer, the American Running Association (ARA) is showcasing cross country as a shining example of a pure sport and form of activity that can help encourage more of America’s youth to start running and get fit. If judged by the smiles and nods from the participating kids, then America can thank these young boys and girls.
The Battle of the Potomac XC Championships is produced by the Bethesda, MD - based American Running Association (ARA). “We see the Battle of the Potomac XC Championship Meet as a perfect event to entice more kids into running.
All event proceeds help produce this meet and our free youth walk-run training programs”, added Watt. ARA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to promote healthy living and active lifestyles among all Americans.
It is dedicated to supporting runners through education and specialized programs, as well as encouraging all individuals from youths to adults to run and be fit. For more information about the ARA or to learn more about the Walk and Run programs, visit www.americanrunning.org.
MD’s Honorary Coach Seann Pelkey (Quince Orchard High School) hoped that his MD State Meet Hereford-seasoned girl runners could hold off VA’s girls on the second loop of Smokey Glen’s 5K course, especially the final trip up the “hill”. Kaitlyn Davis, Erica Howes and Paige Kvartunas had other plans.
Their experience at the VA State Meet’s course at Great Meadows seemed to energize them as this trio sandwiched MD’s lone front runner in Maura Linde, the MD State 2A Champion. As this group entered the second loop, Davis and Howe pulled away and Kvartunas stayed close on Linde’s heels.
Davis pulled away to win in 19:49 and Howes followed in 19:57, as the lone runners to break 20 minutes on the tough 5K course. The other Patriot District rivals filled in behind Paige Kvartunas and helped TEAM VA’s girls to another impressive win.
Other races held included two Middle School 2500m events and two OPEN 5K races. Victors in the middle school races were VA’s Zach Campbell in an impressive 9:21 (6:01 pace) and WV’s Amber Hawkins in 9:40, an equally impressive 6:14 pace. Amber was the national AAU age group XC champion last year.
In the BOYS OPEN 5K, West Potomac’s Khoki Bernier led 9 of the first 10 finishers from VA with an 18:07 clocking. The most impressive grit was shown by the entire OPEN GIRLS race field. As the girls got set on the starting line, 40-50 mph wind gusts and torrential rain hit Smokey Glen Farm.
Not one girl left the line as spectators and other runners scattered for cover. Once the timing gear was set, the OPEN Girls race took off in the rain and West VA’s Kaetlyn Whisler brought home the win in 21:16.
The 3rd running of the Battle of the Potomac was a day framed by classic cross country weather: wind, driving rain, chill in the air and mud flying everywhere.
The host and producer, the American Running Association (ARA) is showcasing cross country as a shining example of a pure sport and form of activity that can help encourage more of America’s youth to start running and get fit. If judged by the smiles and nods from the participating kids, then America can thank these young boys and girls.
The Battle of the Potomac XC Championships is produced by the Bethesda, MD - based American Running Association (ARA). “We see the Battle of the Potomac XC Championship Meet as a perfect event to entice more kids into running.
All event proceeds help produce this meet and our free youth walk-run training programs”, added Watt. ARA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to promote healthy living and active lifestyles among all Americans.
It is dedicated to supporting runners through education and specialized programs, as well as encouraging all individuals from youths to adults to run and be fit. For more information about the ARA or to learn more about the Walk and Run programs, visit www.americanrunning.org.
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Zachary Campbell 8 9:21 Va
Amber Hawkins (WV) 8 9:40
Middle School
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Results
Girls Seeded Video Boys Seeded Girls Open Boys Open
Middle School Courtesy of MoCo Running
Photos MS Boys MS Girls Open Boys Open Girls Elite Boys Elite Girls
Middle School Courtesy of MoCo Running
Photos MS Boys MS Girls Open Boys Open Girls Elite Boys Elite Girls
Open
Elite
Khoki Bernier So 18:07 Va
Kaetlyn Whisler (WV) Fr 21:16
Leoule Degfae Sr 16:27 Va
Kaitlyn Davis Jr 19:49 Va
