~ PVN staff report
LURAY, Sept. 18 — In the opening weeks of the 2026 cross country season, one local runner has stood out among county competitors, Brylee Painter. The LHS sophomore has won two events in the girls division since the end of August and placed 28th among 340 competitors at a highly competitive meet last week in Salem.
Painter started off by winning the 13th annual Central High School Cross Country Invitational on Aug. 29 in Woodstock. She finished the three-mile race in first place among 51 female competitors with a time of 18:46.80. A tenth-place finish by senior Isabela Rizek (21:18.30) helped the Bulldogs earn fourth place as a team. Page County freshman Layah Heiston finished eighth (21:13.9)
In a dual meet with Stonewall Jackson High School on Sept. 9, Painter once again crossed the finish line first among a dozen competitors in the girls division. She completed the 5,000 meter run in 21:58.80. A second-place finish by Rizek (24:14.98) secured first place for LHS as a team. LHS senior Landon Good recorded a Top 5 finish among 15 competitors in the boys division with a time of 22:24.56.
Last week, Painter finished 28th at the Knights Crossing XC Invitational held Sept. 12 at Salem’s Green Hill Park. There were 340 female competitors at the prestigious event. Painter finished the 5,000 meter run in 19:25.80.
The event in Salem featured a long list of Class 2 and Class 3 schools, which speaks well of Painter’s chances of making some waves in the cross country postseason at the Class 1 level later this fall.
For more information on Luray High School Athletics,
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~ Athlete of the Week selected by the publisher ~
~ Athlete of the Week is sponsored by local Realtor, Andew Horn, give him a call at 540-421-2440.
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