Wednesday, November 1 -- This time they all wore spikes. And properly shod, Page County ran over the highly-competitive Region B.

The Panthers, who won last month’s Stonewall Jackson Invitational wearing training shoes and cotton singlets, had new footwear for Wednesday’s Region B cross country championships. On the same New Market Battlefield course, they put five boys in the top sixteen to easily win their first regional title with 43 points. Brentsville was a solid second but well-back with 70 points.

"It kind of lightened the mood the last couple of weeks," Page coach Stan Price said. "One guy got spikes and had a good race and now they all have spikes."

All season long it looked like Clarke County would have a tough time just getting back to the state cross country championships. But when they needed it most, the Eagles turned in their best performance of the year to place third with 92 points. Buffalo Gap edged Strasburg, 102-109, for the final state-qualifying spot.

In the girls’ meet, Brentsville was even more impressive than Page’s boys, placing its top five in the top 10. The Tigers showed they are more than ready to extend their reign as state Group A champions to six straight years, scoring 30 points. Strasburg finished second but was well back with 78. Not that the Tigers took the region lightly.

"The regional meet is the regional meet – they were keyed up," Brentsville coach Rob Dulin said. "We wanted to be prepared going in to state. We’re not looking past anybody."

Individual titles went to the course record holders but each had their hands full. Strasburg’s Leslie Grant won the girls race, beating Brentsville’s Mindy Peele for the first time this season. And in the boys’ race, Clarke’s Dustin Sweeney found himself in unusual position before winning.

Gap’s pack took it out hard but and then Page’s Jason Roberts settled into a quick tempo. Sweeney didn’t catch him until close to the mile marker which he passed in 5:07. While Roberts faded to 16th, Sweeney never did get comfortable on the course.

"I wasn’t used to having someone in front of me," Sweeney said. "He forced me to go out harder than normal – I’m used to sitting back more the first mile. [Later] I relaxed a little too much – more than I should have."

The senior still won comfortably, crossing in 17:12 over the 3.1- mile course but was well off his course mark of 16:48. Page freshman Todd Somers wasn’t far back in 17:26 for second while Mason’s Andrew Montgomery was third in 17:29.

"We had one of our guys go out fast to try to pull Sweeney out," Somers said. "I didn’t feel that good at the starting line but after the mile I starting feeling better."

While Roberts faded, the rest of the Panther pack worked together. Jonathan Frazier, Jeremy Grey and Brandon Price crossed in seventh, eighth and ninth, just three seconds apart (17:46, 17:48 and 17:49.)

"They fed off each other – they got confidence from each other," Price said. "I thought we had a great effort. Going in I told them not to worry about medals and places. I wanted them to be in good shape at the first mile point. They seemed tight right before the race and I was concerned. But when I saw them at half mile I felt a little better.

"I hope we got one more good race in us," he said.

For Grant, much like Clarke’s boys, the race was something of a grudge match. The Ram changed her strategy in hopes of changing her fortunes.

"After last week, I knew I couldn’t take charge like I always do," Grant said.

So this time Grant stayed back with Peele through the first mile (passed in 6:18) instead of forging to a huge lead. The plan was to stay with her until near the finish then try to out-kick her. But Grant got antsy.

"On the hill I could tell she wasn’t feeling good," she said. "I knew if I wanted to go I had to go now. I wasn’t supposed to but I felt good and I knew I could do it. You know when it’s time to go."

Grant opened a five-second lead by two miles, passed in 13:01, then stretched it out to the finish. But she couldn’t resist looking back.

"It’s a habit, I can’t help it," said Grant who finished fourth in the 98 state meet but missed last year with an injury. "I wasn’t sure how far back she was."

But she wasn’t about to relinquish her hold on the course record. The Ram junior lowered her mark to 20:25, 12 seconds faster than her last time out. Peele held on for second in 20:46 with Strasburg’s Sara Hines closing for third in 21:00.

"The goal was to catch up to her," Hines said. "It didn’t work out but I still got another PR [personal record] here."

Peele seemed almost relieved to lose.

"I wasn’t as mentally prepared as I should be," said the freshman. "I’m actually happy that [Leslie] beat me – I’m glad I got second. She beat me mentally but now I know what I have to do at state."

"Mindy knows Leslie is a strong runner and probably one of the top runners going into the state," Brentsville coach Rob Dulin said. "Leslie has more experience than Mindy and I think that showed today – she ran a smart race."

So did the rest of the Tigers. Behany Kitonis crossed in fourth (21:35) then came Heather Waters in fifth (21:45). Carrie Canda (22:18) and Jennifer Page (22:21) were ninth and 10th.

"[Having a deep team] really helps to keep me stabilized," Peele said. "I am disappointed I didn’t get first though."

After impressive running up front, Strasburg also needed a strong showing from their 3-4-5 runners. They got it as Alicia Painter (26th), Susan Plum (29th) and Krystle Kibler (30th) finished far enough up to leave little doubt about a second-place finish.

"They all ran a tremendous race – outstanding races," Strasburg coach Matt Hiserman said. "I couldn’t ask for any more. I was afraid Leslie may have pulled away too soon but she knows the course and she felt strong."

Wilson Memorial (106) and George Mason (115) rounded out the top four and also advanced to state.

Dulin was also pleased with his boys. Matt Truschel (6th, 17;44) and Andrew Cheshire (14th, 17;56) each earned all-region honors while Dylan Haas (18th), Victor Basher (19th) and Ben Truschel (22nd) were just outside of the top fifteen.

"I’m as happy about our guys as our girls," Dulin said. "That’s the best we’ve run on both sides. You’ve got a good course, phenomenal weather and a fast race. You throw it all together and you’re going to get some good races."

Which is what Clarke needed.

"We knew coming in [to regionals] it would be tough," Clarke’s Tim Tomblin said. "But being the underdog inspired us."

So did motivational talks from coach Nancy Specht and fellow all-staters Sweeney and Grayson Sponseller as the team prepared.

"I think I’ve given more pep talks this week than I have all together in my life," Sweeney said.

"We’ve been doormats all year," Specht said. "We wanted to make a statement today. We knew we had no more time. I didn’t draw on them being the defending state champions and not even getting out of their own region, but it was in the back of their minds."

Tomblin crossed in 17:40 while Sponseller placed 23rd. Franz Szymansky stepped up for the Eagles and finished 31st while Matt Tomblin rounded out the Eagles’ contingent in 42nd.

"I think they knew they were down and they had to produce," Specht said. "They stuck to their game plan and that made a huge difference."

The Ram boys’ game plan, however, was lost on the course. After getting out in good position, they faded and to a man looked flat. Chad Neff finished first on the team for the second straight week but he managed no better than 17th.

Hiserman was hard-pressed to explain what happened to his Rams. In last month’s Stonewall Jackson Invitational, a Region B prelude, they finished a close second to Page and ahead of Gap and Clarke.

"I don’t know what happened -- I’m at a loss for words," he said. He suggested that long hours at work and lack of summer running took its toll. But he had praise for the Eagles: "Nancy had them ready today – they showed why they were state champions last year."

Stonewall twins Leslie and Launa Forehand each moved on to the state meet by finishing in the top fifteen. Leslie Forehand placed 8th (22:11) while Launa placed 12th (22:28) to earn all-region honors. The Generals finished sixth in the team standings.

"I wanted to go to state so I wanted to run a smart race," Leslie Forehand said. "I was extremely confident on this course. It wasn’t a hard race for me – I felt good and solid."

Clarke’s Kathe Krumich just missed a trip to state as she finished 16th – four seconds out of 15th. The state meet will be held next Saturday at Great Meadow.

Boys team scores:

1. Page County 37, 2. Brentsville 70, 3. Clarke County 92, 4. Buffalo Gap 102, 5. Strasburg 109, 6. Madison County 119, 7. Riverheads 173, 8. Prince Edward County 224, 9. Stonewall Jackson 260, 10. Amelia County 299, 11. Randolph-Henry 342, 12. Cumberland 351.

Individuals:

1. Dustin Sweeney (CC) 17:12

2. Todd Somers (PC) 17:26

3. Andrew Montgomery (GM) 17:29

4. Adrien Lamatrie (PE) 17:39

5. Tim Tomblin (CC) 17:40

6. Matt Truschel (B) 17:44

7. Jonathan Frazier (PC) 17:46

8. Jeremy Gray (PC) 17:48

9. Brandon Price (PC) 17:49

10. Paul Hanger (R) 17:50

11. Holt Harmon (BG) 17:52

12. Jimmy Brock (GM) 17:53

13. Maurice Styles (MC) 17:54

14. Andrew Cheshire (B) 17:56

15. Charles Cecil (BG) 17:56.

Girls team scores:

1. Brentsville 30, 2. Strasburg 78, 3. Wilson Memorial 106, 4. George Mason 115, 5. Madison County 133, 6. Stonewall Jackson 163, 7. Buffalo Gap 180, 8. Prince Edward County 184, 9. Luray 212, 10. Amelia County 250, 11. Goochland 291.

Individuals:

1. Leslie Grant (S) 20:25 Course Record, old record 20:37, Grant, 2000.

2. Mindy Peele (B) 20:46

3. Sara Hines (S) 21:00

4. Bethany Kitonis (B) 21:35

5. Heather Waters (B) 21:45

6. Daphne Propst (WM) 21:52

7. Jessica Karnic (GM) 22:06

8. Leslie Forehand (SJ) 22:11

9. Carrie Canda (B) 22:18

10. Jennifer Page (B) 22:21

11. Valerie Cutlip (WM) 22:26

12. Launa Forehand (SJ) 22:28

13. Kathleen Sullivan (B) 22:30

14. Jessie Pastore (MC) 22:41

15. Ashley Talaber (L) 22:47