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BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Andy Eddleton  I  Christiansburg  I  Senior

Eddleton was a force all season, consistently leading Timesland’s other top runners in their head-to-head matchups. Despite having to endure a mild case of mononucleosis at the state championship, Eddleton earned all-state honors with a 14th-place finish in Group AA. His time of 16:41 was just 12 seconds out of the top five. Eddleton was second at the Knights Crossing Invitational and third at the Runnin’ with the Wolves Invitational, and won both the River Ridge District and Region IV titles.

FIRST TEAM

George Carter  I  Blacksburg  I  Junior

Carter peaked at the right time, leading the Bruins to a dominant team title by placing fifth in Group AA with a time of 16:29. He was third at Knights Crossing, second in the River Ridge and eighth in Region IV.

Robert Deis  I  Jefferson Forest  I  Senior

Deis steadily improved during the season, peaking with an eighth-place finish in Group AA with a time of 16:36. Other top performances included eighth at Runnin’ with the Wolves and fifth in Region III.

Frank Locascio  I  Blacksburg  I  Junior

Locascio was a consistent scorer for the Bruins, running in 16:43 to place 15th in Group AA. The runner-up in Region IV, he was seventh at both the Metro Invitational and River Ridge District championship.

Cody Seymour  I  Cave Spring  I  Sophomore

Seymour never had an off day in a major race, capping his season with a sixth-place finish in Group AA with a time of 16:31. He was sixth at Knights Crossing, third at the Metro, third in the River Ridge and third in Region IV.

Caman Skelton  I  Blacksburg  I  Junior

Skelton earned all-state honors with an 11th-place finish in Group AA with a time of 16:40. He was fourth at Knights Crossing, fifth in the River Ridge District championship and sixth in Region IV.

Patrick Woodford  I  Patrick Henry  I  Junior

Woodford won the Metro Invitational, as well as the Western Valley District championship. He was fifth at Knights Crossing and 13th at the Northwest Region meet before finishing 50th in Group AAA in 16:56.

SECOND TEAM

Travis Cockerham  I  Galax  I  Sophomore

Austin Grubb  I  Floyd County  I  Senior

Matt Howard  I  Blacksburg  I  Senior

Jared Miller  I  Radford  I  Senior

Anthony Noegel  I  Blacksburg  I  Junior

Kevin O’Connor  I  W. Byrd  I  Sophomore

Andrew Smith  I  Cave Spring  I  Junior



BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

James DeMarco  I  Blacksburg

After some lackluster early-season efforts from his team, DeMarco rallied his squad to win the Group AA state title. The five scoring runners’ average time of 16:45 over the 5K course was second only to the average posted by Group AAA champion Mountain View.

GIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Kathleen Stevens  I  Blacksburg  I  Senior

Stevens started the year fast and just got faster, winning the Group AA state title in a time of 17:34, breaking the Great Meadows course record set a year prior by Glenvar’s Megan Marsico. Stevens, who will run for UVa, also won the Knights Crossing Invitational early in the season and the Region IV title, and was fifth in the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C. She capped her season by winning the Nike Cross regional meet in Cary and finishing second at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore.

FIRST TEAM

Michelle Church I  Bassett  I  Junior

Church capped a strong season by finishing ninth in Group AA. She was seventh at Knights Crossing, won the Piedmont District crown and was 14th in Region IV.

Haley Cutright  I  Hidden Valley  I  Junior

Cutright continued her strong showings at the Group AA meet, finishing fourth for the second consecutive year. Cutright, who also plays soccer during the fall, was fourth at the Region IV championship.

Leah Fitchett I  Blacksburg  I  Senior

Fitchett was a solid force for the Bruins, finishing sixth in Group AA to go with a fifth-place finish at Knights Crossing, third at the Metro Invitational, third at the River Ridge District championship and fifth in Region IV.

Annie LeHardy  I  Hidden Valley I  Junior

LeHardy placed third at the Group AA meet to lead the Titans to the team title. She was fifth at the Nike South Invitational in Texas and was third at the Region IV championship. She was ninth at the Nike Cross regional meet and 52nd at the Nike Cross Nationals.

Claire Sibley  I  Hidden Valley I  Senior

Sibley, another of the Titans who splits her fall between cross country and soccer, was eighth in Group AA a year after finishing seventh at that meet. She was 20th at the Great American invitational and sixth in Region IV.

Joanna Stevens  I  Blacksburg  I  Senior

Stevens battled twin sister Kathleen all season, finishing second in the Group AA meet. She won the River Ridge District championship, was fourth at the Great American Festival, second at the Region IV meet and ninth at Nike Cross Nationals.

SECOND TEAM

Carolyn Bethel  I  Hidden Valley  I  Fr.Hannah Brown  I  Blacksburg  I  Soph.

Anna Paden Carson I  P. Henry  I  Soph.

Melanie Rice I  Marion I  Sr.

Mary Catherine Sowder I  H. Valley  I  Sr.

Melissa Teeple  I  Franklin Co.  I  Fr.

Erin Wheeler  I  Northside  I  Jr.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan King  I  Hidden Valley

King meticulously planned his team’s season, holding top runners out of certain meets and even having his runners compete in some early races in training shoes rather than racing spikes. The team responded by winning its first state crown and finishing 13th at the Nike Cross Nationals.