Third Battle Preview: Time For Some Fast Times


Preview by: Kevin Shirk and Third Battle Staff



Teams to Watch

In no particular order....

Loudoun Valley High School: Depth is the name of the game for the returning Class 4 state champion team as they bring only 3 of their top 7 runners to this year's Third Battle Invitational, but still plan to contend for the team championship.  Led by Elise Abbe, the Vikings look to put their entire team well under 20 minutes. The full Viking team most recently raced at Great American, coming in 2nd to Great Oak High School of California, where Abbe ran 18:18, followed by today's teammates who ran 19:27, 19:30, 19:39, and 19:42.    

West Springfield High School: The defending Class 6 state champions are led by two sub-19 runners in Amy Herrema (18:36) and Katie Orchard (18:52). The Spartans look to defend their 2018 Third Battle title and may pose a serious threat to Loudoun Valley's team if they can tighten up their 1-5 split.  Look for Rachel Mayberry (19:47) to be joined by Cordelia Curb and Riley Sucato in a push for sub-20.  

Stone Bridge High School:  The Bulldogs boast a team 1-5 spread of only 1:17, starting with a 19:06 from senior Suzie Muller.  If the pack can move forward a few points each, they also may contend for a team title.

Lake Braddock High School:  We are excited to see this Class 6 powerhouse make its first trip to Third Battle.  Much like Stone Bridge, Lake Braddock brings a tightly bunched 1-5, separated by just over a minute.  Unlike the teams aheadof them, they did not run their season bests on the Great American course, but rather back in mid-September at the Adidas XC Challenge on the same course a couple weeks prior.  Look for #1 girl Emilia Doran to push for her first sub-19 to get things started for the Bruins.


Individuals to Watch

Bethany Graham, John Champe HS:  The senior from John Champe has a nearly flawless season with 4 invitational wins in Great Meadows, Pole Green, Oatlands, and Octoberfest Invitationals.  Her only loss, a 3rd place at Great American, still resulted in a season best time of 17:09, which ranks her 1st in Virginia and 15th nationally. Graham ran, and led, only the first mile of the Third Battle Invite last year before reaggravating an ankle injury and dropping out.   You can be sure that she plans to not only redeem herself, but to stamp her name into the record books in the 2019 Third Battle Invitational. 

Ellie Desmond, Broad Run HS:  Desmond comes into Third Battle only one week removed from a phenomenal PR race at Albemarle Invitational where she used her 2:14 800m speed in a huge kick through the final 1000m to run away with a course record in 17:56, her first time under 18 minutes.  Desmond has also won the Loudoun County Championships and Chancellor Invitational this fall. This 4:50 miler looks to be peaking at the right time!

Elise Abbe, Loudoun Valley HS:  Although she has only two 5ks under her belt this season, Abbe has produced a time of 18:18 this season at Great American, second only to her PR of 18:08 from last year's Third Battle Invitational.  Look for Abbe to challenge the 18 minute barrier this year.

Gillian Bushee, Herndon HS: Here is a freshman who may surprise some people.  Bushee has run four 5ks this season- 21:22, 20:39, 19:31, and her PR of 18:53 in her 2nd place performance at Glory Days Invitational last weekend.  Clearly on a track for late-season success, look for this newcomer to shock a few people in her first trip to Third Battle.


Others to watch:

Amy Herrema, West Springfield............18:36              Sophie Tedesco, George C Marshall........18:38

Madison Murphy, Millbrook..................18:42              Hailey Yentz, Patriot.............................18:45     

Camilla McKinstry, Centreville..............18:52              Katie Orchard, West Springfield.............18:52






Teams to Watch

In no particular order....

West Springfield High School:   Fresh off of an invitational win at Glory Days last week, the Spartans are looking to make a statement as they enter the post-season.  Led by two solid front runners in Sean Stuck and Sam Pritchard, with 15:33 and 15:32 PRs, the team also has depth. Runners 3-5 range from just 16:14 to 16:33.

W.T. Woodson High School:  Sophomore David Dawson looks to lead the way for W.T. Woodson as he should contend for a top-10 finish.  Behind Dawson, it all comes down to depth, and the Cavaliers certainly have it with 5 boys under 17-minutes, and a #6 and #7 not far behind.  

Stone Bridge High School The Bulldogs come into the meet with arguable the best pack in the race.  Tristan Brodie leads with his season best 15:42, but only a minute later their #2-5 plans to have joined him in the finishing chute, all well under 17 minutes.  Current #5, Alexander Ryan, comes in ranked in the 60s with a 16:54 season best.

Calvert Hall High School: Attending Third battle for the first time, Calvert Hall hopes to come away with a team plaque.  With the top seeded runner of the meet in Owen Johnson (15:28), the team looks to push their #5 under the 17:00 mark for the first time, and will need to do so to compete with the West Springfield or Woodson!

Herndon High School: Don't say we didn't warn you about this school who's hiding down in the pre-meet rankings.  Herndon finished second by only a handful of points to West Springfield in last week's Glory Days Invitational.  With frontman Colin McCauley leading the way, they look for strong performances from the #4 and #5 to close the gap and gain valuable points on the teams above.


Individuals to Watch

Owen Johnson, Calvert Hall College HS:  Owen has raced just twice this season, but  ran a personal best of 15:28 in the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.  Owne started his season with a 15:46 2nd place showing at the PTXC meet, also in PA. A Georgetown University commit for next year, he has run 4:17 and 9:20 for the 1600 and 3200m.

Sam Pritchard & Sean Stuck, West Springfield HS: This duo has season bests of 15:32 and 15:33.  Pritchard's top time comes from just two weeks ago at Great American in NC, while Stuck ran his 15:33 during his victory at the VTCA meet 3 weeks ago.Pritchard looks to improve upon a streak of 5th place finishes at the Monroe Parker, Glory Days, and VTCA Invitationals.  Stuck, on the other hand, is fresh off a 2nd place finish at Glory Days.

Nick Karayianis, Bullis School: Nick has run in the 15:40s in each of his 3 5k races this fall, including wins at both the Barnhart Memorial Invitational and his home meet at the Bullis Cross Country Invite.  Look for Nick to break through the 15:40 mark in his first appearance at Third Battle.

Colin McCauley, Herndon HS: Colin's two most recent races were a 16-flat at Octoberfest for 2nd place, followed by his 15:51 season best in his 3rd place finish at last week's Glory Days Invitational.  McCauley's PR dates back to last year's Third Battle Invitational and we're sure he's looking to repeat that feat in 2019.


Others to watch:

Tristan Brodie, Stone Bridge............15:51                Sebastian Malave, George C Marshall.......16:02

Colin Capuano, Gonzaga.................15:56                David Dawsone, W.T. Woodson.................16:03

Jacob Hamacher, Patriot..................15:59                Ryan Hamblet, Lake Braddock.................16:08





Box Numbers & Participant List


1.Dominion

10.Millbrook

19. Clarke County

28. Hampshire

37. Trinity Christian

2.Handley/Individuals

11.Independence

20.Woodrow Wilson

29.Georgetown D.S.

38.Woodgrove

3. Calvert Hall

12. West Springfield

21.St. Sebastian Ac.

30. Fauquier

39.Thomas Edison

4.Patriot

13.Broad Run

22.W.T. Woodson

31.Skyline

40.Rockridge

5. Gonzaga C. HS

14.Trinity School MW

23.James Wood

32.Loudoun County

41.Stone Bridge

6.John Champe

15.Loudoun Valley

24. Liberty

33.Battlefield

42.Kettle Run

7.Osbourn

16. Park View

25.Briar Woods

34. South Lakes

43.Centreville

8.Lake Braddock

17.Herndon

26. Sherando

35.George C. Marshall

44.Stafford

9. Warren County

18. George Mason

27.Heritage

36. Potomac Falls

45.Osbourn Park