Loudoun Valley VA Boys Cruise at Great American 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Even at something slightly less than full strength Saturday, the reigning NXN boys champion Loudoun Valley VA dominated the Great American Cross Country Festival at Wake Med Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C.

RESULTS

The Vikings scored 64 points despite a last-minute decision by Sam Affolder to skip the race. He cited soreness in his back, and though the injury isn't expected to be serious, it kept him from opening his season with his teammates. 

It hardly mattered. With Carlos Shultz and Jacob Hunter finishing seventh and 10th, Loudoun Valley had firepower up front and support from Kellen Hasle (15th), Connor Wells (28th) and Jacob Windle (49th). The team score (with unattached inviduals removed) was 64 points. 

The Bolles School FL finished second with 108 points, Bishop Hendricken RI was third with 123 points and Weddington NC was fourth with 132. 

Loudoun Valley also won the seeded invitational section with 52 points, led by a fourth-place finish by Mateo Barreto (15:57).

US#21 Carter Cheeseman from Forth Worth Christian TX got a validating win in the Race of Champions and edged out US#18 Camren Fischer of Fayetteville AR 14:50.7 to 14:50.9. Colin Baker of Academic Magnet SC was third in 14:53.6 and US#11 Charles Hicks of Bolles was fourth in 14:59.2.

The girls race belonged to Saratoga Springs senior Kelsey Chmiel (US#3) from start to fnish. She covered the 5,000-meter distance in 16:43.8 for a seven-second improvement over her winning time in 2017. Her time is the third-fastest ever on the course, trailing only course record holder Nevada Mareno (16:36.2 in 2015) and meet record holder Aisling Cuffe (16:40.9 in 2010). 

Lawton Chiles FL picked up a big team victory, with Emily Culley (15th) and Caitlin Wilkey (17th) leading the team to 127 points. Saratoga Springs NY was second with 154 points and Marietta GA was third with 189.