2021.09.11 Cross Country: Oatlands Invitational

Leesburg, VA (September 11, 2021) - The Oatlands Invitational course is known for it's named hills capped by "the Hill" in the last mile. Runners come out of the woods already lacking energy and are faced with a steep climb as they head toward the finish. On a schedule that features competitors at multiple levels--rank beginners in their first high school race to seasoned veterans who know the pacing required--there is no rest for the weary.

The best break of the day came with unseasonably cooler weather. Well, actually, the cooler weather was seasonable, but not typical of the annual races in Leesburg. It's usually hot and dusty even during the early races. At least this time around, only runners in the last mile of the last four events of the day were truly bothered by late summer temperatures.

In the varsity team competitions, Loudoun Valley took the boys title with Freedom and Independence coming in 9th and 10th, respectively, out of fifty-three teams with five qualifying finishers. The Tuscarora girls claimed the title as well, beating out forty other teams with at least five finishers.

And for those of you athletes who were out there for the first time, congratulations! You are now officially cross country runners.

Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the meet.

Top Finishers from Loudoun County Public High Schools

Varsity A Boys:  5. Graham Mussmon (Loudoun Valley); 8. Ethan Stansbury (Loudoun County); 10. Zach Mitchell (Briar Woods)

Varsity A Girls:  17. Taylor Gibson (Lightridge)

Varsity B Boys:  8. Bradley Bernard (Loudoun Valley); 9. Luke Blair (Loudoun Valley)

Varsity B Girls:  29. Ahria Mehta (Dominion)

JV Upper Boys:  3. Hehman Burre (Freedom); 6. Reagan Gary (Freedom); 7. Kyle Mirra (Park View)

JV Upper Girls:  5. Charlotte Hassebrock (Tuscarora); 8. Pallavi Rustogi (Riverside)

JV Under Boys:  4. Joe Tafe (Loudoun County)

JV Under Girls:  1. Anna Downey (Heritage); 3. Mackenzie Milburn (Woodgrove); 4. Rachel Keller (Broad Run); 8. Ella Williamson (Riverside)

Photos by Race

Varsity A and B Boys
Varsity A and B Girls
JV Upper Boys
JV Upper Girls
JV Under Boys
JV Under Girls

Photos by School

Briar Woods
Broad Run
Dominion
Freedom
Heritage
Independence
John Champe
Lightridge
Loudoun County
Loudoun Valley
Park View
Potomac Falls
Rock Ridge
Riverside
Stone Bridge
Tuscarora
Woodgrove