Both the boys and girls cross country teams from George Mason High School advanced to the Virginia Class A State Meet this Saturday, Nov. 10 after finishing in the top four teams at the Region B Meet held last Wednesday in Charlottesville, Va. It is the first time both teams have made the State Meet since 2003 when the boys team was State Runner-Up and the girls placed fourth.
This time it appears that the Lady Mustangs will lead the way, as the girls team placed second at the Region B meet, again to Clarke County. The Eagles have won the State Championship four years in a row.
Individually senior Susanna Sullivan, the top-ranked Group A female runner in Virginia, continued her post-season success in Charlottesville, claiming the Region B race in a meet record time of 18:57. Clarke County's Sophia Holmes finished second in 19:50. Sullivan was named Region B Runner of the Year. Also named in the Region B awards was freshman Mollie Breen, whose 15th-overall time of 21:57 earned her All-Region status. Karen Hamill finished just back in 18th place for Mason.
Sophomore Miles Butler paced the Mason boys to a fourth-place finish in the team competition. Butler's time of 18:05 placed him 13th and earned him All-Region honors. A pack of Daniel Benn, Will Douthitt and Carlos Clark placed 24th, 27th and 30th.
The State Meet will be held at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. While Clarke County is favored to win both the boys and girls team titles, Alta Vista, Patrick Henry and Glenvar High Schools — in addition to Mason — could surprise this weekend in the girls race, while Mason Head Coach Julie Bravin pointed to Goochland, Nelson County, Radford and Galax as possible wild cards on the boys side.
