VIRGINIA STATE MEET

 James Robinson Girls, Braddock Boys Win Class 6 Championships

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Under crisp skies and with fast fall footing, the largest schools in Virginia capped the state cross country season with a full day of championship racing at historic Oatlands Plantation. 

Oaktown;s Caroline Sapperstein went under 18 minutes (17:58.6) to claim individual Class 6 gold, while nationally ranked James Robinson High delivered the meet’s most complete team effort, scoring 58 points with all five runners in the top 19 to win comfortably over West Springfield (85). Karina Bird led Robinson by placing sixth. 

The 6A boys race was a family affair as Trent and Gavin Daniels of Gainesville finished first and third, pacing one another stride for stride. Will Fadden of Thomas Jefferson S&T split up the brothers and finished second.

Still, Lake Braddock’s depth - five inside the top 25 - clinched the team title ahead of West Potomac and Patriot.

The 5A boys race opened with Clover Hills’ Joshua Taylor pulling away early for the win, while Albemarle’s steady front five took control through the middle miles to capture the team title ahead of Hickory and Midlothian.

On the girls side, Ariana Longsdon of Warwick edged the field with a poised, wire-to-wire victory. Glen Allen put five in the top 20 and left no doubt in the team standings, earning a 5A state championship.

Charlottesville senior Elaina Pierce ran away with the individual crown in Class 4 (18:20.1), but the day belonged to Blacksburg. The Bruins placed six in the top 32 for a commanding team title, then doubled down behind sophomore Rivers Matthews’ runner-up finish in the boys race to seal a Class 4 sweep and another chapter in the team's distance dynasty.

The boys individual winner was Jonathan Grimm of Jamestown in 15:40.4. 

Class 1-3 - Saturday

A cold, clear morning and a rolling 5,000-meter layout at Green Hill Park set the stage Saturday as some of Virginia’s smallest schools put up some of the weekend’s biggest performances at the VHSL Class 1–3 State Cross Country Championships. 

Samantha Nitzsche of William Monroe and Kiera Lowman of Alleghany renewed their rivalry at the front of Class 3. Nitzsche controlled the last kilometer to defend her title in 17:28.6, with Lowman second in 17:45.7.

Spotswood repeated as Class 3 girls champions, scoring 87 points, just ahead of Christiansburg (88) and Fauquier (91), one of the tightest podium spreads of the state meet. 

The Class 3 boys race saw  Ethan Thorne and Eric Duncan of Lord Botetourt take it out from the gun to finish 1–2 in 15:08.8 and 15:29.0. The team trophy headed to Charlottesville. Western Albemarle used classic depth to post 50 points and secure its ninth state title. 

In boys Class 1, Parry McCluer’s Kebryl Chandler broke the race open to claim the Class 1 title in 15:16.8, keying a dominant performance from the Fighting Blues. Eastern Montgomery’s Calvin Wilbon and Grayson Welcher led the chase pack in second and third. With Chandler backed by a tight scoring five, Parry McCluer rolled to its third straight team championship with 36 points.

In the girls race, Emma Faulkner of George Wythe surged away late to capture the individual title in 18:37, closing out a strong senior campaign. Behind her, Eastside stacked five in the top tier, led by runner-up Allie Salyer, to secure the Class 1 girls team championship with 55 points, ahead of Auburn (66) and West Point (99). It marks a breakthrough state title for the Spartans’ program. 

In Class 2, Bradley Hamilton delivered a landmark win for Nottoway, clocking 15:45.9 to earn the school’s first individual state cross country title. Madison County’s Evan Roberts and Clarke County’s Landon Horton finished second and third.

Glenvar used a tight front five to total 80 points and take the team title.

Poquoson’s Elizabeth Trant capped her two-race cross country campaign in emphatic fashion, pulling away to win the Class 2 girls title in 18:40.1. Floyd County’s pack running delivered the Class 2 girls championship, edging Clarke County and Fort Defiance on the podium. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 6A: Lake Braddock boys 73 points; James Robinson girls 58 points - RESULTS

Class 5A: Albemarle boys 66 points; Glen Allen girls 62 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Blacksburg boys 67 points; Blacksburg girls 70 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Western Albemarle boys 50 points; Spotswood girls 87 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Glenvar boys 80 points; Floyd County girls - RESULTS

Class 1A: Parry McCluer boys 36 points; Eastside girls 55 points - RESULTS