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Varsity distance runners from 21 high schools converged on Pole Green Park Saturday for the Central Region’s cross-country championships, where the top-four teams and top-15 individuals all earned spots in the Group AAA state meet next weekend in Great Meadows.
  Following weather almost too chilly to train early in the week, cloudless skies and temperatures in the seventies greeted the large crowd of participants and fans on Saturday. 

  “This is what the coach tells their kids about all year long,” Lee-Davis coach Neil Matthews said. “By the time we get to championship season we’re practicing in 40-50 degree weather and you get to the regional meet and it’s 70. If you’re not hydrated and prepared for that you’re in trouble.”

  The Indian-summer conditions posed an unexpected challenge for some, but the usual front-runners came through with flying colors.

  After pacing with teammate Amy Witt ahead of the pack through the first two miles of the girls’ event, Midlothian’s Kathleen Lautzenheiser found a little extra down the stretch and won by nearly half a minute. Witt finished second, followed by Maggie Walker’s Susannah Piersol and Clarissa Schick. Cosby’s Jenna Moye rounded out the top five.

  “Amy and I were running next to each other the whole way,” Lautzenheiser said. “I guess I just had a little more in the last 800 this time.”

  The one-two punch highlighted Midlothian’s five pointers, who each earned All-Region honors as top-15 finishers and came together to defend the team’s Central Region title, followed by Maggie walker, Deep Run and Cosby.

  “They’re outstanding young ladies – very talented,” Midlothian coach Stan Morgan said. “I feel very fortunate to have this great group of girls. Anytime you go one-two that’s very good. Next week (Group AAA state) is the most important meet of all for us.”

  After pacing himself through the first mile, Atlee’s Ben Dejarnette surged ahead to a 23-second victory in the boys’ varsity event and looked ready for more following the finish.

  “I don’t mind this kind of heat, it didn’t change the strategy at all,” Dejarnette said. “The plan was to stay in control in the pack for at least a mile and then try to pull away. I built a pretty good gap by the second mile, and after I came up the hill it was just a matter of staying focused enough to hold a pace to the finish.”

  James River’s Ted Richardson trailed Dejarnette, followed by Douglas Freeman’s Alec Ward, Roger Cooke of Hermitage and fifth-place Eric Williamson of Thomas Dale.

  Led by Ward, Freeman’s top-five all finished 23rd or better to edge Atlee for the Central Region crown by seven points. Led by fourth-place Roger Cooke, Hermitage bested Maggie Walker by eight points to round out the four qualifiers that advance to the state meet.

  “There’s lots of competition next week. Thomas Porter (Mountain View High School) is one of the best runners in the nation,” Dejarnette said. “But I’m more confident in my fitness than I’ve ever been.”

With an eighth place finish, Lee-Davis’ Stephanie Cario advanced to the girls’ state meet while fellow Confederate Cody Snyder claimed the final state slot for the boys with a 15the place finish.

Girls’ varsity results:
  Team (top four advance to state meet): 1)Midlothian-40 points; 2)Maggie Walker–55; 3)Deep Run–97; 4)Cosby–127; 5)Mills Godwin–159; 6)Lee-Davis–159; 7)Hermitage–179; 8)Clover Hill–200; 9)Atlee–249; 10)James River–259; 11)Hanover–317; 12)Matoaca–345; 13)Varina–362.

  Individual: 1)Kathleen Lautzenheiser (Mid-18:47); 2)Amy Witt (Mid-19:16); 3)Susannah Piersol (MW-19:25); 4)Clarissa Schick (MW-19:26); 5)Jenna Moye (Cos–19:26); 6)Megan Moye (Cos–19:27); 7)Katie Ardiff (MW–19:34); 8)Stephanie Cario (LD–19:36); 9)Abby Badura (CH–19:38); 10)Erica Dobbs (DR–19:47); 11)Kaila Blackburn (Monacan–19:49); 12)Krista Willard (Mid–19:54); 13)Paige Johnston (Mid-19:54); 14)Madalyn Nuckols (DR–19:54); 15)Leia Lautzenheiser (Mid–19:55).

Boys’ varsity results:
  Team (top four advance to state meet): 1)Douglas Freeman-61 points; 2)Atlee–68; 3)Hermitage–90; 4)Maggie Walker–115; 5)Deep Run–123; 6)Midlothian–198; 7)Manchester–215; 8)Lee-Davis–215; 9)Cosby–221; 10)James River–243; 11)Thomas Dale–248; 12)Hanover–315; 13)Matoaca–384; 14)Varina–398; 15)Dinwiddie–448; 16)Prince George–454.

  Individual: 1)Ben Dejarnette (Atl–15:49); 2)Ted Richardson (JR–16:12); 3)Alec Ward (DF–16:31); 4)Roger Cooke (Her–16:37); 5)Eric Williamson (TD–16:42); 6)Booth Hornsby (DR–16:44); 7)Justin Kendall (LCB–16:45); 8)Silas Frantz (DF–16:46); 9)Wes Steenburgh (Atl–16:49); 10)Dupree Bostic (Her–16:50); 11)Peter Askin (MW–16:51); 12)Greg Kaczka (DR–16:53); 13)Evan Niciphor (Cos–16:53); 14)Kyle Ward (DF–16:55); 15)Cody Snyder (LD–16:56).

Compete freshman girls results

Compete freshman boys results

Compete Sub-Varsity girls results

Compete Sub-Varsity boys results

Compete Varsity girls results

Compete Varsity boys results