Loudoun Valley boys score perfect 15 for state title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

It was finish fitting for the No. 1 team in the country. And also a surprise.

At the Virginia state cross country championships Friday in The Plains, US#1 Loudoun Valley compiled a perfect score of 15 -- a best in state meet history -- to win the Class  4A title. 

"It was a little confusing to me, that in the first 800 (meters) we had our sixth man and our four man leading, but I guess they were feeling good, then who am I to tell them you shouldn't be up there leading it? If they were feeling like they are a state champion, then they should go out and run like that," Loudoun Valley junior Sam Affolder said. 

The historic performance at Great Meadows was ultimately led by Affolder, who clocked 15 minutes, 20 seconds to finish first. Senior teammate Peter Morris was runner-up in 15:26. Following the two were Colton Bogucki (15:55), Jacob Hunter (15:56) and Connor Wells (16:04). 

"Teamwise, we definitely wanted to go for that state record of 17 points, so to come away with a perfect 15 is such a remarkable feeling that it can't ever be bested (and) only rarely be tied," Affolder said.

Loudoun Valley, ranked No. 1 all season by DyeStat.com, heads to the Nike Cross Southeast Regional meet Nov. 25 on a positive note, and ready to qualify for NXN for the first time as a team.

"I think it boosts our confidence a lot," Affolder said. 

The 4A girls meet was headlined individually by Loudoun Valley senior Natalie Morris (18:16) who edged out  Kaitlynn Wolfe of Blacksburg (18:17) for the title. Blacksburg claimed the team title with 34 points.

In the 5A race, Zachary Levet of Deep Run ran 15:52 to claim first place, while Albemarle scored 95 points to win the team crown to beat out Deep Run. 

The girls crown went to senior Ryann Helmers of Albemarle in 18:16, while Tuscarora won the team title with 43 points, placing three runners in the top 10. 

Senior Brent Bailey of Ocean Lakes won the 6A title in 15:33, with senior Olivia Beckner of South Lakes winning the girls title in 18:12. The Lake Braddock boys and girls swept the team titles. 

In the 3A race, Western Albemarle boys dominated with 47 points, while Karl Thiessen of Abingdon defended his title in 15:41. 

The girls 3A team battle came down to a tiebreaker as Western Albemarle edged out Hidden Valley, 55-56 to make it a program sweep. The individual title was won by Parker Albright of Cave Spring in 18:25.  

William Miller of James River easily repeated as the 2A champion in 15:40, with Maggie Walker's Mary Caroline Heinen claiming the girls individual title in 18:41. Maggie Walker won both the boys and girls team titles. 

In 1A, Nolan Harris won the boys individual title in 16:03, with freshman Rachel Weghorst of Rappahannock County claiming the girls crown in 19:49. The Auburn boys and girls swept the team titles.   

Team Champions

Boys 6A - Lake Braddock 74 points

Girls 6A - Lake Braddock 86 points

Boys 5A - Albemarle 95 points

Girls 5A - Tuscarora 43 points

Boys 4A - Loundoun Valley 15 points

Girls 4A - Blacksburg 34 points

Boys 3A - Western Albemarle 47 points

Girls 3A - Western Albemarle 55 points

Boys 2A - Maggie Walker 61 points

Girls 2A - Maggie Walker 48 points

Boys 1A - Auburn 40 points

Girls 1A - Auburn 58 points