Moments following his strong race at last week’s Region II cross country championships Oct. 30, Potomac Falls High senior Josh Hardin was more focused on what the final results would be for the Panthers in the boys’ team standings as opposed to any individual accomplishments.
"We’re just really hoping to get a region championship," Hardin said, realizing that the final team totals were being tallied at that very moment. "The season has been going really great. We started off slow, but have been picking it up."
Hardin had no reason to fret in regards to the Panthers’ region placement. Potomac Falls, it turned out, earned the team title at the 12-team postseason competition, which took place on a gorgeous fall afternoon on the 5K course at Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. The team title came one week after Potomac Falls had captured first at the Dulles District championships.
<b>HARDIN, WHO</b> two weeks ago captured the individual championship in leading Potomac Falls at districts, finished a solid fourth overall at regionals, with a time of 16 minutes, 14.8 seconds. Tyler Stutzman of Western Albemarle High (Crozet, Va.) was first with a time of 15:48.73.
The first-place Panthers (65 points) edged Western Albemarle (72) in the team standings. Sherando High (Stephens City) was third with 104 points and local team Dominion High (114) of Sterling was fourth. Other local schools to compete were Loudoun County (fifth place) and Briar Woods (10th).
Hardin said winning a team or individual title is no easy matter at the Region II race.
"I’ve competed in the region all four years," Hardin said. "This region is the toughest in the entire state. It has the fastest runners by far."
Potomac Falls senior Ryan Hagen (eighth overall) was the second Panther to cross the finish line. Other strong outings for champion Potomac Falls came from senior Brian Robinson (16th), junior Alvaro Morales (19th), senior Andrew Mott (27th), senior Josh Belin (33rd) and sophomore Patrick Wilson (34th).
Potomac Falls will be competing at the state AA championships this Saturday at Great Meadows in The Plains.
<b>J.T. DUKE</b> of Potomac Falls earned a top-15 medal by finishing 10th overall to lead fourth-place Dominion, which qualified for states.
Duke said he started the race a little sluggish before getting into a rhythm.
"After [the first mile] my stride started loosening up and I ended pretty strong," Duke said. "I was hoping to get in the top 15."
Last year as a freshman, Duke was 11th at the Dulles District championships, but did not place at regionals. Two weeks ago, he was third at districts and followed that up with his stellar race at regionals.
His teammates also put together strong outing at regionals. Senior Nick Phillips and sophomore Nick Sharp finished 21st and 23rd overall, respectively, to help boost the Titans, while seniors Jimmy Rion (35th), Steven Ochocki (41st) and Matt Weber (59th) and freshman Axel Tarnvik (82nd) all contributed to the fourth-place finish.
<b>ON THE GIRLS’ SIDE</b>, Potomac Falls earned a trip to states by finishing third at regionals with 114 points, finishing behind first place Brentsville District (67) of Nokesville and second place Millbrook (81) of Winchester. Western Albemarle (116) was fourth. Other local teams competing in the 12-team event were Loudoun County (fifth place), Briar Woods (eighth) and Freedom High (10th) of South Riding.
Potomac Falls’ top finisher was sophomore Melissa Saunders (16th overall).
"It was a very good race with lots of competition out there," Saunders, who two weeks ago finished second overall in helping the Panthers capture the Dulles District team crown, said. "Everyone [on the team] did amazing. It’s a tough course."
Saunders was hoping to earn a top-15 medal, but had a strong race nonetheless. Perhaps the toughest stretch of the Oatlands course is the final hill at the final mile mark.
"That’s one of the toughest hills and it’s just straight up," Saunders said. "I try not to look straight up at it. That psyches you out."
Saunders said the day at school was difficult, knowing she and her teammates had a big race to compete in that afternoon.
"I was nervous all day," she said with a smile. "I woke up at [around 8] and thought 'I have eight hours [to wait] until the race.’"
Of her race, Saunders had mixed feelings.
"I thought it went pretty well," she said. "I was a little disappointed at the end, disappointed I didn’t get a medal."
But she was thrilled that the Panthers qualified for states by finishing in the top four at regionals.
"It’s been an amazing year," Saunders said. "We’ve all pulled together and stuck together. We came in here [at regionals] thinking we had a pretty good shot."
Along with Saunders’ outing, Potomac Falls received stellar efforts at the region race from senior Shannon Brady (20th overall), freshman Kaeley Brady (24th), sophomore Rachel Hagen (27th), junior Rachael Diniega (32nd), sophomore Noor Natour (47th) and senior Kaitlyn Hunter (48th).
Dominion High was well represented by sophomore Buffy Misanin (52nd overall).