Multiple cross-country runners from Fairfax County high schools placed high at the Nov. 30 Foot Locker South Regional meet.
The highest local finishers came in the girls championship race on the 5K McAlpine Park course in Charlotte, N.C.
West Springfield High senior Adeline Barker finished 17th in 17:55. From Herndon High, senior Meghan Sullivan was 18th (17:56), followed by West Springfield sophomore Allie Horner in 19th (17:57), West Springfield sophomore Reagan Leone in 25th (18:03) and West Springfield junior Rickelle Bush in 34th (18:16).
Those runners helped Virginia finish second to Tennessee in the team competition.
For Sullivan, finishing the race was satisfying. She didn’t get to finish last year’s Foot Locker meet, having been injured when she became entangled with other runners and fell at the start.
Her strategy at the start was different this season — avoiding the biggest pack of runners at the sharpest angle in the first few meters.
For Herndon during the fall season, Sullivan won Liberty District and 6D North Region championships.
In the boys championship race at the Foot Locker meet Nov. 3, Centreville High School teammates Danny McGlynn (junior) placed 24th (15:35) and senior Elijah Post was 27th (15:37).
They helped Virginia finished third in the boys team scoring.
