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All-Timesland: Girls cross country

Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times

Timesland girls cross country runner of the year: Carolyn Bethel, Hidden Valley High School.

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All-Timesland teams

Daniel Hamm of Fort Chiswell is our Timesland boys athlete of the year for 2012-13. Caroline Brailsford of Patrick Henry is Timesland's girls athlete of the year.

Check out all our All-Timesland teams.

Got a beef with our picks? Think they're perfect? Chime in on Robert Anderson's High School Sports blog.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Timesland Runner of the Year

CAROLYN BETHEL| HIDDEN VALLEY | Senior

BETHEL captured her second straight Group AA title, pulling away from River Ridge District rivals Katie Fortner of Cave Spring and Blacksburg’s Bonnie Angermeier to win in 18:11. At the Nike Cross Nationals, Bethel finished 26th a year after finishing 99th in the elite field, narrowly missing All-America status. An all-state performer for four consecutive years, Bethel repeated as the Region IV winner, and won her first River Ridge championship, a race she competed in wearing her heavy training shoes instead of her lightweight racing spikes. Bethel signed with Northern Arizona.

FIRST TEAM

BONNIE ANGERMEIER | BLACKSBURG | Sophomore

First season of not splitting time with travel soccer. ... Third in Group AA championship, edged by Cave Spring’s Katie Fortner in a photo finish at 18:31. ... Second in River Ridge District and Metro Championships. ... Third in Region IV. ... Fourth at Octoberfest Invitational.

KATIE FORTNER | CAVE SPRING | Junior

Continued trend of improving one place at Group AA championship, finishing second in sprint finish. ... Runner-up in Region IV a week after finishing third in River Ridge District. ... Repeat winner at the Metro Championships. ... First at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. ... Fourth at Great American Race of Champions in 17:41 for 5K.

RACHEL McCOY | BLACKSBURG | Senior

Came on strong at the end of her final season, peaking at the ideal time. ... Earned all-state honors with eighth-place finish in Group AA championship a week after finishing 12th in Region IV. ... Fourth in River Ridge District and Blue Demon Invitational.

DARBY McPHAIL | WILLIAM BYRD | Junior

Earned first all-state honors by finishing 14th in Group AA championship. ... Repeated as Blue Ridge District champion. ... Runner-up at Region III championship. ... Sixth at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. ... Fifth at Metro Championships. ... Tenth at Knights Crossing.

MIKAYLA RICHARDSON | CHRISTIANSBURG | Freshman

After 24th-place finish at early-season Knights Crossing, improved rapidly throughout the season. ... Best race of the year was in Group AA championship, where she was seventh to earn all-state honors. ... Also seventh in the River Ridge District Championship and Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. ... Fifth in Region IV.

ERIN SAUNDERS | JEFFERSON FOREST | Sophomore

Led Cavaliers to third place in Group AA team championship by finishing 5th in 19:05. ... Won Region III championship. ... Repeat Seminole District champion. ... Third at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. ... Fourth at Metro Championships.

SECOND TEAM

EMILY BEATTY | BLACKSBURG | Sophomore

HELENA HARDING | HIDDEN VALLEY | Junior

VICTORIA HUTCHENS | PATRICK COUNTY | Senior

ANA MARTHA LOPEZ | WILLIAM BYRD | Sophomore

ALLISON SHERMAN | CHRISTIANSBURG | Senior

MELISSA TEEPLE | FRANKLIN COUNTY | Senior

ALINA WOODFORD | PATRICK HENRY | Senior

COACH OF THE YEAR

JAMES DeMARCO | Blacksburg

While the senior-heavy Bruins boys team was expected to dominate, the Bruins girls team had just one senior among its top seven. Yet DeMarco patiently worked his young squad into peak shape as the season progressed and saw his Bruins win their second consecutive state title, and fifth in eight years.

Saturday, September 14, 2013