VIRGINIA STATE MEET

Nayan Kasperowski Takes Down Drew Hunter's Course Record At Oatlands Plantation

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The 6A boys race certainly lived up to the hype. In a battle of some of the state's top distance stars at the Virginia Cross Country Championships on Saturday, it was South County High School’s Nayan Kasperowski that stole the spotlight.

At Oatlands Plantation, the senior tore down the final stretch to pull away from the pack and win in a course record time of 15 minutes, 9 seconds. Runner-up was Tristan Thurneysen of Chantilly in 15:18. Kasperowski’s time broke Drew Hunter’s record of 15:12 set in 2015. 

Kasperowski, who is committed to Virginia Tech, shaved off a minute from his time last year when he finished in third. Woodbridge won the team title with 62 points. 

The West Springfield girls barely edged out James Robinson, 62-64 to repeat as the 6A champions. West Springfield was led by senior Aidan MacGrath, who won in a time of 18:11. A year ago she finished third.

The 5A boys race couldn’t have been closer. Clover Hill and Albemarle both finished with 62 points, but Albemarle was awarded the state title due to the six-runner tie-breaker. Albemarle’s Hayes Costello finished in 27th overall to tip the meet in favor of his team. Individually, Mills Godwin senior Berkely Nance claimed the title with a winning time of 15:31. 

The 5A girls race was won by Kellam senior Jane Phillips in 18:58. Ocean Lakes finished with three runners in the top 20 to win the state title.

The Blacksburg boys repeated as 4A champions with four runners finishing in the top 20. Charlottesville was a close second with 63 points. Individually, Tarek Benlamkaddem of Broad Run won the race in a commanding time of 15:33. Second place went to Ethan Pratt-Perez of James Wood in 15:48. 

Jefferson Forest’s Zoie Lamanna was easily able to defend her 4A title, clocking 17:53. Lamanna, who is committed to run for Tennessee, won by nearly 30 seconds. In the team standings, Jamestown was led by Kylie Brooks’ runner-up finish in 18:21 as the team scored 62 points to hold off Loudoun Valley (73 points). 

3A-1A - Green Hill Park, Salem

When it mattered most the team showed up. After a slow start to the season, Western Albemarle came on strong in the postseason to win the 3A title with 58 point and hold off Spotswood (66 points). Sophomore Emerson Ritter, who ran a massive personal best on the season of 18:35.5 to finish in eighth place overall, led the team effort. Western Albemarle placed five in the top 28. 

The Maggie Walker boys ran away with the 3A title, putting up a low score of 56 points. Monticello was second with 101 points as senior Bazil Mathes, who recently signed with UVA, won the 4A individual title in 14:51.90. 

The Lebanon boys continued their winning ways. After claiming the 1A title a year ago, Lebanon went up to 2A and led from start to finish, as senior Derek Mitchell finished first (15:39.10) guiding his team to a state title. 

The Liberty (Bedford) girls held off Clarke County by five points to win the 2A title. Alexis Plaster led the way for Liberty with a third-place finish (18:52.80). Fort Defiance senior Abby Lane won in 18:12.10. 

A 1-2 finish led the Parry McCluer boys to the 1A team title. Senior Kovyk Chandler led the way with, winning the individual title in 15:54.40 and younger brother Kedryn second..  

Led by senior Carol-Anne Garrett’s first-place finish (19:03.70) Galileo placed three runners in the top 20 to score 67 points and dethrone defending champion George Wythe (85 points). 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

Class 6A: Woodbridge boys 62 points; West Springfield girls 62 points - RESULTS

Class 5A: Albermarle/Clover Hill 62 points; Ocean Lakes girls 75 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Blacksburg boys 52 points; Jamestown girls 62 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Maggie Walker boys 56 points; Western Albemarle girls 58 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Lebanon boys 69 points; Liberty (Bedford) girls 56 points - RESULTS

Class 1A: Parry McCluer boys 61 points; Galileo girls 67 points - RESULTS