By Randy Arrington
SALEM, Nov. 11 — Five of the top 10 runners at the boys Class 2 state cross country championships hailed from Region B, showcasing the quality of competition in the area. After claiming the Region 2B title on Nov. 1 — and setting a new course and school record at Chrisman Field — Luray’s Davey Johnson improved his time by 19 seconds on Saturday in Salem.
It would prove to be 20 seconds behind state champion Derek Mitchell, a senior at Lebanon HIgh School. However, Johnson claimed second place, state runner-up honors, for the second year in a row, as well as earning an All-State medal for the third-straight year. Johnson posted a time of 15:59.6 in the 5000 meter run on Veterans Day at Green Hill Park in Salem.
Finishing in the Top 10 from Region B:
- 5th – Callaway Beckett, SR, Clarke (16:19.6)
- 6th – Evan Roberts, SO, Madison (16:33.9)
- 8th – Parker Blosser, JR, Ft. Defiance (16:45)
- 9th – Aidan Kreeb, JR, Clarke (16:45.3)
Among the 101 competitors in the field, Page County High School sophomore Aaron Henlsey finished 17th with a time of 17:00.5; while Luray junior Wyatt Seal finished 25th in 17:10.7. Hensley posted his career-best time and just missed out on All-State honors. His 17th place finish showed great improvement over last year’s 96th place finish as a freshman at the Class 2 state meet. Hensley will be competing at the Nike NxR Southeast Regional meet on Sunday, Nov. 19 in the Rising Stars division.
In the girls 5000 meter run, Page County senior Summer Kite earned All-State honors after finishing 13th among the 101 competitors in the Class 2 championship. Kite posted a time of 20:22.7 — her personal best by 1 minute, 9 seconds — and became the first cross country runner from PCHS to earn All-State since Cerrianne Leatherland in 2006.
The 2023 Class 2 girls cross country champion hailed from Fort Defiance, senior Abby Lane (18:12.1).
The Eagles of Clarke County won second place as a team in both the boys and girls division. In girls cross country, Fort Defiance finished third as a team, while Strasburg was fifth.
Check out full cross country results
from the VHSL Class 2 state championships
by CLICKING HERE.
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