Mustang Boys Finish 5th

For the third consecutive year, the George Mason High School girls cross country team has won the Virginia state championship.

The George Mason Girls cross country team won their third consecutive Virginia state championship Saturday.

Mustang Boys Finish 5th

For the third consecutive year, the George Mason High School girls cross country team has won the Virginia state championship.

In a sport where the team with the fewest points wins, Mason scored 35 points, with five of their seven runners placing in the top 20 in the single A race at the Virginia High School League State Cross Country Championships Saturday at Great Meadows in The Plains, Va.

The Mustang’s top finisher was sophomore Julia Estrada who ran a dramatic race against defending state champion Katelyn Ayers of Strasburg. Ayers ran out to an early lead ahead of the field of 128 runners. By the second mile of the rolling countryside course, Estrada had gradually closed a gap of more than 15 yards, running on the heels of Ayers for the final stretch of the 3.1 mile course.

Mason sophomore Julia Estrada was the top finisher for the Mustangs, helping them win their third straight state title.

Estrada earned All-State honors with a time of 19:11, three seconds behind Ayers.

The strength of the Mason program was evident as all the Mustang runners turned in strong performances. Juniors Michele De Mars (6th, 20:00), Eva Estrada (7th, 20:02) and Emma Vieillescazes (14th, 20:41), received All-State honors as well.

Sophomore Hannah Beaman placed 16th in 20:45, Abby Perez placed 24th in 21:16, and senior and co-captain Mollie Breen placed 32nd in 21:38.

The George Mason boys cross country team concluded their historic season with a fifth place finish at the state meet, its best showing since 2003. After winning their first Bull Run District and Region B titles, the Mustangs boys sought to continue to compete with their strong rivals.

They were led by senior Jordan Robarge (20th, 17:13) and sophomore Jeremy K. Brown (21st, 17:14), closely followed by sophomore Jesse Schaffer in 23rd place with a time of 17:16.

Senior Daniel Drawbaugh finished in 43rd in 17:40, senior Dane Warner placed 60th in 18:12, Paul Henninger came in 66th in 18:21 and Jeremy M. Brown in 80th in 18:34.