Loudoun Valley Boys 'Business-like' As They Pursue Another Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The celebrations that followed the Loudoun Valley VA boys cross country team's 2017 national-title run resembled something straight out of an old-time sports movie. There was a small parade in February in Purcellville, where the team rode through town on a trolley car.

The boys met the local Congresswoman and the Mayor, and there was a temporary sign put up in the center of town recognizing the accomplishment -- fitting for a close-knit community of just under 10,000 people.

Attention soon turned to basketball. 

"We kind of faded away and our town and student body focused on our championship basketball team," co-head coaches Joan and Marc Hunter said via e-mail.

As fall rolls back around, cross country has returned and so have the Vikings. 

After being ranked No. 1 all last season in the DyeStat rankings, and winning the program's first Nike Cross Nationals title, putting up the lowest boys score in race history (89 points), Loudoun Valley is the preseason No. 1 and favorite to capture back-to-back crowns -- something no boys team has ever done since the meet began as Nike Team Nationals in 2004.

"From a coach’s perspective the sentiment is 'repeat' and there is no reason not to think that way," Joan Hunter said. "Last year, as you alluded to, was very exciting for us. We went from an also-ran to being ranked No. 1, then to winning the national title in record fashion. We think the boys handled that pressure very well. It got to be overwhelming at times because everyone wanted a piece of us. This year it seems to be more business-like."

The Vikings return a deep lineup loaded with talent and experience. Seniors Sam Affolder, Jacob Hunter, Conner Wells and junior Kevin Carlson lead the way and were a part of the 2017 NXN squad.

Jacob Hunter, Affolder and Wells also ran on the 4xMile relay that set a national indoor record (17:01.82) in March.

Junior Kevin Hassle and Jacob Windle, who battled health issues last season, is coming off a great track season and will also be in the mix.

Joan Hunter mentioned a handful of other names knocking on the door and fighting for a spot in the top seven, including several strong transfers, most notably Carlos Shultz from Pennsylvania.

Loudoun Valley isn't taking its depth for granted. There is a lot of work to do in order to win another national title.

"Yes, we are starting from scratch … last year is over. Let’s build the 2018 team piece by piece," Joan Hunter said. "The great thing about our sport is that the stopwatch and your place within a race don’t lie. It's pretty cut and dry. So, if you think you deserve a spot on the varsity because you ran well last year you better be careful, because that is not how we will choose the team. Effort and results outweigh complacency and seniority. We don’t think that will be an issue with this team, especially our veterans."

The Vikings' schedule is highlighted Oct. 6 by the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C. This will serve as a tuneup for the Virginia state meet and NXR Southeast. 

Joan Hunter said she plans to enter two club teams at the regional because “the B team will be one of the better teams in the Southeast and should easily be picked for the championship race at NXR.”

While the goal is another championship for this group, and maybe another parade to go with it, what makes this team special is the bond that has been established for years. 

"It's great the town came out to support us after we have worked hard all year. We meet and practice every day and we are basically a family to each other," graduated senior Peter Morris told the Loudoun Valley Times.

The new team is building something new and evolving from last year's experience.

“We would not call this team unique but an extension of the previous team, which was an extension of the team before that,” Hunter said. “They don’t stray too far from the cultural tenets of the program: train smart, do the little things, be good students and be men of character.”