The Shadow
BLACKSBURG – The impossible happened.
There’s a new Class 3 female state champion.
Samantha Nitzsche, a freshman at William Monroe, outlasted the reigning two-time state champion, Kiera Lowman by 18 seconds to win the state title with a time of 18:03.20.
This wasn’t new for Nitzsche as she won the Valley District and Region 3B titles prior to the state meet.
The junior from Alleghany, Lowman, was still a machine with a second place finish and a phenomenal time of 18:21.00 Lowman’s time was 23.20 seconds faster than in her previous performance at Virginia Tech which took place at the East Coast Elite meet two months ago in September.
Meanwhile Faith Barron, only a sophomore, finished 31st for Alleghany. Barron recorded a time of 20:43.80. Much like Lowman, Barron too was faster this time around on the track as she was nearly two minutes faster this time around than when the Cougars were there at the East Coast Elite meet where she ran a 22:04.90.
The girls race was featured by 103 runners.
The overall girls team event belonged to Spotswood as the Trailblazers won the state championship. SHS outlasted Abingdon High School by over 19 seconds. The Blazers were led by three top-10 runners; 3. Marika Dickel (18:27.00), 5. Ashland Dickel (18:38.20), and 10. Hayley Mancini (19:00.30).
Tristan Yoder of Broadway High School won the individual boys Class 3 state championship with a time of 15:34.00. Yoder bested Spotswood’s Peyton Keene by just under two seconds.
It was the first of Yoder’s championship day as the individual state champion also guided the Gobblers to a team state title as they outlasted Maggie Walker High School by 17 seconds.
3A Girls Individual 5k Top 5
1. Samantha Nitzsche, William Monroe – 18:03.20
2. Kiera Lowman, Alleghany – 18:21.00
3. Marika Dickel, Spotswood – 18:27.00
4. Josie Jackson, Abingdon – 18:30.70
5. Ashland Dickel, Spotswood – 18:38.20
31. Faith Barron, Alleghany – 20:43.80
3A Girls Team Scores Top 5
1. Spotswood 49
2. Abingdon 68
3. Christiansburg 110
4. Western Albemarle 114
5. Maggie Walker 121
3A Boys Individual 5k Top 5
1. Tristan Yoder, Broadway – 15:34.00
2. Peyton Keene, Spotswood – 15:35.40
3. Cole Boone, Pulaski County – 15:44.00
4. Eric Duncan, Lord Botetourt – 15:46.50
5. Gregory Poisson, Abingdon High School – 15:56.70
3A Boys Team Scores Top 5
1. Broadway 73
2. Maggie Walker 83
3. Lafayette 124
4. Hidden Valley 128
5. Abingdon 129
