The Mathews High School cross country teams started off the 2011 racing season last Wednesday at Beaverdam Park, with victories over King William, Essex and West Point.
Each squad scored 17 points in the meet, very nearly a perfect score of 15. Kyle Slaughter and Nancy Barnhardt easily took first place overall for the Blue Devil boys and girls.
All of the runners experienced a fantastic first race, with conditions not exactly in their favor; the course was slick from an earlier rain and temperatures unseasonably hot and humid. Although this was the case, both squads achieved success.
Slaughter won the boys’ race with a time of 19:44. The only competition in sight of Slaughter were his own teammates—Andrew Merz (second place, 20:18), Elisha Kane (third place, 20:25) and Tucker Blackwell (fourth place, 20:58).
Finishing off the boys’ top seven were Sam Spadaccini (21:12), Phillip Machen (21:32) and Nick Brown (21:44). Others who had an exceptional race include...
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