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[dsquires]

Eastern Region cross country preview

WHEN: Today. Boys meet begins at 3:00 p.m.; girls begin at 3:30.

WHERE:

Bells Mill Park, Chesapeake.

COST:

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for students.

BOYS’ OUTLOOK:

Gloucester’s Douglas Fenstermacher is a contender for the individual title after his Peninsula District win last week. He is likely to challenge Kellam’s Bobby Peavey for the championship. The district champion Dukes also have a chance to qualify for the state meet with a top four team finish, but Western Branch, Ocean Lakes, Hickory and Kellam are formidable. Menchville, Kecoughtan and Bethel join Gloucester in the regional field, but none are likely to be serious contenders. Among individuals, Heritage’s Orlando Burton (PD runnerup) could slip into the top 15 and secure a spot in the state meet.

GIRLS’ OUTLOOK:

Last week’s duel between Gloucester’s Hannah Varnell and Hampton’s Kristina Woodard proved they are the class of the Peninsula District. Varnell edged Woodard by one second, while the rest of the field lagged nearly two minutes behind. The competition this week is tougher, including South Hampton Roads stars like Tallwood’s Octavia Rinehardt, Ocean Lakes’ Stacy Nobles and Western Branch’s Callen Powers and Natalie Wynn. Rinehardt should add to her fantastic senior year with a regional crown. Varnell and Woodard can be expected to place highly and advance to the state meet. Gloucester heads the list of PD entrants, which also includes Bethel, Hampton and Kecoughtan. Quality competition from Ocean Lakes, Western Branch, Great Bridge, Hickory and Kellam will probably thwart any PD squad from advancing to states.

DANIEL MAHER

[davidbaer]

I just want to know if any of the staff at the Daily press has any background in running? This article is pretty pathetic, and as a preview is very negative toward the teams and runners and is very inaccurate even if some of the teams did not advance to the state meet. Many of the Peninsula District teams did have a shot at making the top 4 in the Region (Gloucester Girls, Menchville Boys). If you or anyone from the Daily press would have made it to the Peninsual District XC meet you would know this (Team scores Boys gloucester=35, menchville=46)

By the way...Orlando Burton didn't just slip into the top 15 he was in the top 7. David Gerlach who finished 3rd at Disrticts, finished 12th overall in 16:40. He was ranked 15th before the race began, why was there no mention of him having a shot at placing in the region? The coverage from the Daily Press is pathetic. Please stop any attempts to continue writing about running. Please call a coach and ask for their opinion before you sit down and look at times and decide based on those what to write. I think Doug from Gloucester's performance sums it up the best. Un-pushed at the District race (in the rain) he ran 15:59 on a flat easy course. Today at the Regional race on a little tougher course and in the heat he ran for the win and won easily in the last 200 meters in 15:50.

Who ever is writing these runner writeups needs to do a lot more research before hand. Please take a little time out of your busy day where you write a few hundred football previews for this week and next week and the game summaries before you write the next XC article--which will be next season.

Thanks!