Brafford Top West Virginian at Battle of the Potomac

Rollie Jacobs Photo

Matthew Brafford, a junior, from George Washington High School in Charleston, WV was the lone bright spot at the Battle of the Potomac or Border War #7 as it is affectionately called on Saturday November 17th in Gaithersburg, MD. Brafford finished 6th in the seeded race with a time of 16:57. Maryland won the boys race and Virginia took the girls title.

Brafford, the 2012 West Virginia AAA Cross Country State runner-up has the second fastest 5000m time in the state in 15:42. Brafford has been very busy in the off season winning the AAU Youth Cross Country Championship, and he is scheduled to compete at the Foot Locker South Regional held at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, NC this weekend.

Matthew Brafford one yard from the finish line - Rollie Jacobs Photo

With most of the Jefferson High School varsity boys withdrawing due to illness/injury, the race (as far as team standings were concerned) did not pan out as planned for the West Virginia team which did not have enough runners to qualify for a team in each race. Paul (PJ) Louzy finished in 22nd in 17:32 for the 2nd West Virginia runner ot cross the line.