all-timesland cross country runners of the year: nick link and carolyn bethel
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Link led the Bruins to the VHSL Group AA championship, finishing second to Skyline’s Thomas Madden in a time of 15:47 over the 3.1-mile course.Bethel gave Hidden Valley an individual winner in the Group AA state championship for the second consecutive year.TRANSCRIPT
A L L - T I M E S L A N D J C R O S S C O U N T R Y
BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Blacksburg J Junior
NICK LINKGIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Hidden Valley J Junior
CAROLYN
BETHEL
Photo illustration by JEA
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Photo illustration by JEA
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Link led the Bruins to the VHSL Group AA championship,
finishing second to Skyline’s Thomas Madden in a time
of 15:47 over the 3.1-mile course. Link had several wins,
including the Blue Demon Invitational, the VMI Invitational,
and the Region IV championship. But his best performances
came in major races where he was the runner-up. In addition
to his second place finish in the state championship, Link lost
by 1 second to Group AAA all-stater Matthew Schwartzer
of Princess Anne in the Milestat.com invitational, and was
second to Group AAA champion Ahmed Bile at the Octoberfest
Invitational.
Bethel gave Hidden Valley an individual winner in the Group
AA state championship for the second consecutive year. Like
Titan four-year star Annie LeHardy in 2010, Bethel made her move
in the race’s final mile, pulling away to win comfortably in 18:13.
Bethel, who was ninth at the state championship a year earlier,
also won the Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational,
the Clash with the Titans, and the Region IV championship.
Bethel finished fourth in the Nike Cross Southeast Regional meet
in Cary, N.C., to earn a trip to the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland,
Ore., where she was 99th in a race featuring many of the country’s
top prep runners.What stands out about the 2011 season: “The impressive
showing the River Ridge District had at the state meet. …
Incredible.” What stands out about the 2011 season: “When one
succeeds we all succeed,” Bethel said of her team, “and I credit
all of my success to having a wonderful team behind me.”
MARK TAYLOR The Roanoke Times
Nick Link had a season full of first and second finishes.
MARK TAYLOR The Roanoke Times
Carolyn Bethel won the Group AA individual title.BOYS FIRST TEAM
ZACH CHASE CHRISTIANSBURG, Junior
Had by his best race of the season at the Group AA championships, finishing 12th in 16:17. … Ran 16:18.20 to place 7th in a deep field at the Great American Cross Country Festival. … Fifth in Runnin’ With the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational, third at River Ridge
Championship, fifth in Region IV, fourth at Bristol Cross Invitational.
CHRIS ELLIS ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Senior
Best race of year came in Group AA championship, where he earned all-state honors with a 12th place finish in 16:19. ... Fourth in the Blue Ridge District championship. ... Ran 16:23.63 to place third at VMI
Invitational ... Second at North County Classic.
WALKER MOGEN RADFORD, Junior
Dominated the Group A championship, winning in 16:33. … Won nearly every race he entered in 2011 — Maroon Tide Invitational,
Giles Invitational, Three Rivers District and Region C championship. … Time of 16:13 in Three Rivers District meet was personal best.
KEVIN O’CONNOR WILLIAM BYRD, Senior
Won the Blue Ridge District title for third consecutive year. … Time in the Blue Ridge District race was 16:07, a personal best. … Top finisher for the Terriers at the Region III team championship, finishing sixth
to pace Byrd to second consecutive team title. … Finished 21st in the Group AA championship in 16:31.
STUART ROBERTSON STAUNTON RIVER, Senior
Sixth in the Group AA championship in 15:58. … Fourth in the Knights Crossing Invitational in 15:57. … Won the Bedford County
Championships and Golden Eagle Invitational. … Second in the Metro Invitational, River Ridge District and Region III championships.
CODY SEYMOUR CAVE SPRING, Senior
Finished fourth in the Group AA championship for second consecutive year. … 15:50 time in state championship was just
3 seconds behind Blacksburg’s Nick Link. … Won the Metro Invitational for second straight year. … Won the Runnin’ With the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational and the River Ridge District
championship. … Third in Knights Crossing Invitational in 15:56.
GIRLS FIRST TEAMKATE BUSS BLACKSBURG, Senior
Had strongest performance of the season in the Group AA championship (fifth). … Top finisher at state meet for Blacksburg, helping pace team
win. … Fifth in the Region IV championships. … Seventh in the River Ridge District. … Won the Blue Demon Invitational … Ran career-best time of
18:53.7 to place 31st at Nike Cross Southeast Regional.
MARY DEIS JEFFERSON FOREST, Senior
Had best race of career at Group AA championship, finishing fourth in 19:01. … Time at state championship was more than a minute faster than her time in the Region III championship, where she was fifth. … Won the
Bedford County Championship. … Third in the Seminole District.
ELIZA EATON CHRISTIANSBURG, Senior
Peaked at the end of the season, finishing sixth in the Group AA meet. … Career best time of 19:09 at state championship . … Won the VMI High School XC Invitational in 19:18.66. … Fourth at Region IV championship.
KATIE FORTNER CAVE SPRING, Sophomore
Finished third at the Group AA championship, one spot higher than her finish as a freshman. … Ran a 17:35 at the Great American Cross Country Festival in late September. … Second in the Knights Crossing Invitational.
… Won the River Ridge District and Metro Invitational. … Second at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest and the Region IV championship.
ALYSSA SHUPE JEFFERSON FOREST, Freshman
Improved steadily throughout the season, culminating with a 17th place finish in Group AA. … Won the Region III championship in 19:23.59. …
Second in the Seminole District to teammate Erin Saunders. … Sixth at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. … Ninth in the Metro Invitational.
LINDSEY SISKA SALEM, Senior
Consistent performer who finished near the front in all of her races in 2011. … Earned all-state honors by finishing 11th in Group AA in 19:14 … Third in
the Metro Invitational in 19:23. … Third in River Ridge District and Region IV meets. … Fourth at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. … Ran career-
best time of 18:32 at Foot Locker South Regionals, placing 60th.
SECOND TEAMMATTHEW BORNYBLACKSBURG, Junior
NOAH COMBSBLACKSBURG, Freshman
JOEL JOHNSTONMARTINSVILLE, Senior
JAMES KASPERGLENVAR, Senior
MATTHEW PAISERBLACKSBURG, Junior
CALEB SMITHPATRICK COUNTY, Junior
HARRISON TONEYPATRICK HENRY, Senior
SECOND TEAMBONNIE ANGERMEIER
BLACKSBURG, Freshman
HANNAH BROWNBLACKSBURG, Senior
HELENA HARDINGHIDDEN VALLEY, Sophomore
VICTORIA HUTCHENSPATRICK COUNTY, Junior
LAUREN JAEGERBLACKSBURG, Senior
DARBY McPHAILWILLIAM BYRD, Sophomore
MELISSA TEEPLEFRANKLIN COUNTY, Senior
BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR
JAMES DeMARCOBlacksburg
DeMarco, who will be relocating at the end of the school year, came into his
final season having lost the top five runners from his 2010 state championship
team. As usual, he had new stars ready to step up and the Bruins won their third consecutive state title in
dominant fashion.
GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR
DAN KINGHidden Valley
After losing 2010 Group AA winner Annie LeHardy and runner-up Haley Cutright to graduation, the Titans couldn’t manage a third
consecutive Group AA title. But King was able to get
the most of his squad, with personal bests from all of
its runners to take second in state behind Blacksburg.