Maury, Princess Anne runners eye VHSL titles, Walsingham aims to repeat in VISAA – Daily Press

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Can Walsingham Academy repeat as state private school champ?

The Trojans graduated three runners from a team that won the VISAA Division III boys state title last season. Juniors Brody Cox and Nick Primich, who finished fifth and 11th, respectively, return, and they also have junior Andrew Robinson, who was 17th. In girls, Shea Mansisidor finished third at the state meet as an eighth-grader.

Hickory program has high hopes

The Hickory girls won region titles in cross country and outdoor track. This season they will be led by the 1-2 punch of senior Emme Malooly and sophomore Morgan Kimener. They also have senior co-captain Kate Michaelson. The boys will be led by seniors captains Jackson Fealy and Alexander Diaz as they try to lead the Hawks to the state meet for the first time since 2017.

Falcons coach reaches milestone

Cox coach Lanny Doan begins his 40th season as coach. “And it is still fun — most of the time,” he said. His boys team should be a region contender, led by Braden Cruz, Rex Lemmon and Mason Holland.

Norfolk Academy girls hope to make some noise

The Bulldogs are led by the sisters Anne and Jane Earp. Anne, a senior, finished runner-up at last season’s VISAA Division I state meet, while Jane, a freshman, finished third. They also have newcomers in sophomore Allie Keffer and freshman Kate Fine. Other contributors are Earp’s middle sister, Carol, along with seniors Sarah Bazil and Madi Kay, sophomore Ella Stufflebeem and freshman Catherine Adams.

Classification changes toughen Class 5 

Perennial powers Ocean Lakes and Kellam move down from Class 6 to Class 5 under the Virginia High School League’s latest reclassification, while always tough Great Bridge moves up from Class 4 to Class 5. The region, which already had strong teams with Princess Anne, Cox, Kellam and Hickory, just got much tougher. Don’t count out Eastern District rivals Maury and Granby in Region B.

757Teamz top 10 boys runners

1. Armaan Chopra, Princess Anne

Could this be the year that Chopra wins his first state cross country title? He won the Class 5 Region A title and placed fifth at the state meet last season. He also placed sixth at state as a sophomore.

2. Connor Linehan, Grafton

The junior finished fifth at the Class 3 state cross country meet.

3. Cameron Sadr, Maury

The senior finished 16th at the Class 5 state cross country meet and was the Class 5 Region B champion in the 3,200 meters in outdoor track.

4. Jayden Curry, Bruton

The junior placed eighth at the Class 2 state cross country meet.

5. Billy Driscoll, Peninsula Catholic

The senior finished runner-up at the VISAA Division II state cross country meet.

6. Preston Haney, Ocean Lakes

7. Davin Tietz, Tabb senior

8. Danny Rockey, Princess Anne junior

9. Braden Cruz, Cox senior

10. Brady Cox, Walsingham junior

757Teamz top 10 girls runners

1. Lily Guinn, Maury

The senior won the Class 5 Region B meet. At the state meet, she led at the 2.5-mile mark, but collapsed because of exhaustion and did not finish. She’s ready to challenge for state title this fall. “Lily is among the best distance runners in Virginia and the United States,” said Commodores coach Bryan Bennett. “She’s going to have a great season.”

2. Anne Earp, Norfolk Academy

The senior finished runner-up at VISAA Division I state cross country meet.

3. Emme Malooly, Hickory

The senior finished 17th at Class 5 state cross country meet.

4. Jane Phillips, Kellam

The senior finished 20th at the Class 6 state cross country meet. She also was the Class 6 Region A champion in the 1,600 meters and was third in the 800 meters.

5. Kylie Brooks, Jamestown

The senior finished third at the Class 4 state cross country meet.

6. Lauren Pegher, Tabb senior

7. Payton Roche, Kellam junior

8. Ysabel Wells, Princess Anne junior

9. Lindsay Meadows, Ocean Lakes junior

10. Jane Earp, Norfolk Academy, freshman

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, [email protected]. Twitter @LHRubama