Hood Invitational Recap

Results LVHS Tracker GIRLS Varsity RECAP BOYS Varsity RECAP JV RECAP

At the start of each new season, Coach Shirk sets the expectations for the team's first meet by repeating a simple rhyme, "First race....worst race." The goal, he explains, is to start the season with what will ultimately be the team's worst meet of the year, setting a tone for consistent, steady improvement in the two months that follow.

If today's season opener was the team's "worst race," the Viking's may have their rivals a little worried.

The Loudoun Valley boys' and girls' cross country teams ventured across the state lines to challenge 36 squads from not only Virginia, but also Maryland and Pennsylvania, in Hood College's High School Invitational at Utica District Park in Frederick, Maryland.

GIRLS RECAP

First to blast off from the unorthodox starting commands was the Lady Vikings varsity team. It took only a few quick strides for Scarlet Fetterolf, the team's top returner and All-State runner in 2021, to establish an early position in the lead pack. Following closely behind through the first mile was the trio of Ella Peterson, Eryn Lackey, and Sam Bolen, who, along with Fetterolf, comprise perhaps the strongest top-4 combination in Virginia.

While the top four members of the team relied on their years of experience to guide them through the race, the back half of the Valley pack was only composing the first line of their running resumés with Jolie Brackins, Anna Ramos, and Madeline Platt all making their varsity invitational debuts.

Although the Loudoun Valley team looked strong, regional rival James Wood High School was pressing hard to make a statement of their own, with 5 girls running in the top 25 through nearly 2/3 of the race. Experience paid off, however, for the Viking's top 4. Fetterolf held steady to cruise to a 4th place finish in a time of 19:10 to beat all other Virginia High School League competition.

Peterson clung to her top-20 position, ultimately finishing in 16th place, while Lackey pushed hard through her final mile to pass approximately 10 runners before finishing 17th, nearly side-by-side with Peterson in times of 20:11.4 and 20:11.6, with the slight edge going to Peterson. Fetterolf, Peterson, and Lackey all earned individual medals with their top 20 finishes.

Sam Bolen, who faded briefly in the middle mile of the race, regained composure to run a stunning last mile that saw her climb to 36th place overall.

With 4 already through the chute, team scoring rested on the shoulders of Ramos, Platt, and Brackins. Of the three, it was Ramos who first crested the final hill as she sprinted toward the finish in a time of 22:28.7 in 65th place. Ramos's time was an improvement of 43 seconds from her debut race only 3 days earlier. Behind Ramos, Madeline Platt willed her way through a course misjudgment that saw her unleash her finishing kick a few hundred meters too early. Still, Platt crossed the line in 22:44.2 for 72nd place. Brackins rounded out the team finishes with her 23:43, missing her all-time personal record (PR) by only 2 seconds.

In team scoring, although the Vikings bested their regional rivals, it was ultimately Dallastown High School of Pennsylvania who claimed the team title with a total of 106 points, while the Vikings settled for a respectable 2nd place finish of the 32 teams with a score of 130. James Wood claimed the final team award with 152 points in 3rd place.

BOYS RECAP

Next to toe the starting line were the varsity boys. Eagerly anticipating their first race after months of consistent training, the Viking's were eyeing a team victory to start their season, and made their intentions known early in the race.

Leading the way early on was the trio of Jake Rimmel, Ty Blair, and Rylan Wells, all of whom wanted to showcase their improvements since last fall as they stayed within the top 10-15 places through the first mile. With sub-10 minute 3200m Gabe Cates as their 4th man and a rapidly improving Julian Israel as their 5th, the Viking's hoped to issue a crushing blow to their district and regional rivals: Dominion, James Wood, John Handley, Loudoun County, and Heritage high schools.

While the first mile went to plan, the rest of the race presented its challenges. Rimmel, a 4:20 1600m runner last spring, began to experience abdominal pains that left him nearly unable to run as he approached the halfway point of the race. Rimmel, unable to continue racing, stepped to the side of the course, saving his statement race for next weekend.

With their senior leader out of the race, the remaining Vikings rose to the challenge. Ty Blair spent the middle mile clawing his way into, and eventually leading, the front pack. Blair battled with James Wood's Ethan Pratt-Perez through the final 800m circuit before finishing second overall (to Pratt-Perez) in a personal record of 16:19, tallying a mere 2 points for the team.

Rylan Wells never relinquished his early positioning, holding tightly to a 14th place finish in 16:57, the second fastest time of his career. Cates was next to cross the timing mat in 32nd place in a personal record time of 17:31. Julian Israel, making his varsity debut, finished in a tremendous 26-second personal best time of 18:02, scoring 59 points for the team.

With the top 4 through the chute and Rimmel out of the race, the decisive 5th position rested at the feet of freshman Max Panica and junior Baylor Bartlett. Panica, who earned his varsity position with his Wednesday debut of 18:52 at Morven Park, made the most of his opportunity by setting a 10-second best of 18:42 in 86th place. Baylor capped off the team with his debut finish of 18:50.2 in 97th place in the 240-man race.

In team scoring, despite losing a top scorer, the Viking's reigned supreme with a score of 193 points, edging regional rival John Handley High School by a mere 2 points.

JV RECAP

With 5 individual medals and two team trophies already in the bag, the Valley JV squads looked to add to the impressive team haul. Earning medals (top 20 finishes) and setting personal records were: