INDEX:
* Sam Rich ran 14:59 to take the victory at the Great American XC Festival
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All eyes were on Sam Rich this weekend at the Great American XC Festival, as this was his second time competing at the WakeMed Soccer Complex.
The last time he was seen this course was his sophomore year when he ran a 5K time of 15:17.80.
The Catawba Ridge (SC) senior took the lead from the start and continued to add separation throughout the race. This time when he crossed the finish line, though, he became the 23rd runner to break 15 minutes for 5K at this meet. The Notre Dame commit clocked a 14:59.80, making this his second sub-15 minute performance of the season.
Rich's performance earned him a 190 speed rating.
Ryan Motondo finished second to Rich with a 15:09.50 and Tyler Canaday of Severna Park (VA) clocked a 15:10.00 for third.
Mont Tabor edged out Severna Park by five points to take the team title. The Spartans had their top five runners finish in the top 48. Severna Park's top three runners finished in the top 18 and had all five runners crossed the line within the top 55.
* Race of Champions 5K
CHAMPIONSHIP BOYS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Sam Rich 12 Catawba Ridge HS 14:59.80 1 2 Ryan Motondo 12 Williams, Walter M 15:09.50 0 3 Tyler Canaday 12 Severna Park High School 15:10.00 2 4 Will Soule 12 Mount Tabor 15:14.90 3 5 James May 12 Marietta High School 15:16.90 4 6 Jimmy Mullarkey 12 Fern Creek 15:17.40 0 7 Graham Mussmon 12 Loudoun Valley 15:22.50 5 8 Jacob Laney 11 Porter Ridge 15:23.30 0
* Ciara O'Shea reflects on her performance from the Great American XC Festival
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In the girls Race of Champions, Ciara O'Shea, the junior from Madison Central (KY), took down a loaded field after traveling 7.5 hours away from Kentucky to compete.
The lead pack consisted of O'Shea, Abby Faith Cheeseman, Reese Fahys, Irene Riggs, Jolena Quarzo, and Mia Cochran -- the latter being the only senior in this lead group.
Coming up the final hill, O'Shea and Fahys pulled away from the field. Within the last 200m of the race, O'Shea shifted into another gear to cross the finish line with the victory.
O'Shea earned a 147 speed rating after she clocked a 17:08.90. This was over a 30 second personal best for her.
Fahys finished four seconds behind O'Shea for second and Cheeseman finished third in 17:12.30.
When it came to a team title, three points separated Weddington and Cambridge Christian.
*Race of Champions 5K
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CHAMPIONSHIP GIRLS 5000 METER RUN FINALS PLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT POINTS 1 Ciara O'Shea 11 Madison Central 17:08.90 0 2 Reese Fahys 11 East Greenwich High School 17:12.30 1 3 Abby Faith Cheeseman 9 The Webb School 17:15.20 0 4 Irene Riggs 11 Morgantown 17:17.10 2 5 Jolena Quarzo 11 Brownsville Area 17:17.10 0 6 Mia Cochran 12 Moon Area 17:18.00 0 7 Caroline Bauer 12 Jamestown 17:27.50 0 8 Juliette Whittaker 12 Mount De Sales Academy 17:44.10 0
Related Links:
- Great American XC Festival Results
- Interviews and race videos from the Great American XC Festival
- Photos from the meet by Dan Loughlin