Cross Country: Tuscarora Girls Take Region II Title; Loudoun County SR Patrick Joseph Wins Boys Title

Tuscarora Girls: 2012 Region II XC Champs! (
Nov. 1, 2012) - It may have been an overcast start to November but Loudoun athletes shined at the Region II cross country meet today at the Morven Park course adjacent to Tuscarora High School with the host Huskies taking the girls team title and Loudoun County senior Patrick Joseph winning the boys individual title.

The Potomac Falls boys also moved onto the AA state meet with a third place finish and seven area boys and five girls also qualified as individuals by finishing in the Top 15 including Woodgrove freshman Emma Gillies who placed third.

The Brentsville boys took the team title with 76 points followed by Handley (86), Potomac Falls (102) and Western Albeamrle (103). All four advance to States. Host Tuscarora finished fifth with 116 points followed by Briar Woods (131) and Loudoun County (135).

Joseph put on a big kick of the finishing hill to clock 15:33, some 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Thomas Madden of Skyline. Dominion's Trent Lancaster was fourth at 16:18 followed closely by Briar Woods' Ryan Hughes (16:20).

Tuscarora had three boys make the Top 15: John Dooney (16:26), Logan Feierbach (16:28), and Sam Brazer (16:34). Also making states was Briar Woods' Chris Schopper (16:31).

The Panther boys third place finish was testimony to the power of pack running as Potomac Falls' highest placed runner was Ethan Pacifico in 20th (16:53) but the other six Panthers all timed between 17:02 and 17:18.

On the girls side, it was pure joy when it was announced that the Huskies had captured their first ever regional title in just the program's third season competing. Tuscarora scored 87 points with runner-up Western Albemarle at 100. Third place was Handley (1-5) and Fluvanna County made States with 116.

Woodgrove took sixth with 140 while Loudoun County was eighth (146) and Heritage was 10th (213).

Gillies ran 19:02 for her third place finish behind winner Amber Hawkins of James Wood who cruise home in 18:26 and runner-up Annie Taylor of Western Albemarle at 18:55.

Loudoun Valley's Molly Polizotto was 7th with a 19:32 and Briar Woods Jackie Deffer, the Dulles District champion, took 9th at 19:36. Also advancing to States: Loudoun Valley Carolyn Conley (19:50) and Loudoun County's Ana Valdez (19:50).

Anna Wasko led the Huskies with a 10th place finish at 19:44. Tuscarora had two other girls in the Top 20 with Kelly Reilly (19:57) and Natalie Rosas (20:05). Scoring in the final two spots for the Huskies were Raiya Al-Nsour (20:26) and Lori Kostka (20:41). Courtney Walker (21:10) and Colleen Heberle (21:13) rounded out the champions runners.

For the Potomac Falls boys in addition to Pacifico: Jordan Ferbrache (17:02), Matt Celsa (17:04), John Deker (17:05), Kevin Ryan (17:10), Nick Clem (17:11) and Sai Kurra (17:18).