A L L - T I M E S L A N D J C R O S S C O U N T R Y

BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Blacksburg J Junior

NICK LINKGIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Hidden Valley J Junior

CAROLYN

BETHEL

Photo illustration by JEA

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Link led the Bruins to the VHSL Group AA championship,

finishing second to Skyline’s Thomas Madden in a time

of 15:47 over the 3.1-mile course. Link had several wins,

including the Blue Demon Invitational, the VMI Invitational,

and the Region IV championship. But his best performances

came in major races where he was the runner-up. In addition

to his second place finish in the state championship, Link lost

by 1 second to Group AAA all-stater Matthew Schwartzer

of Princess Anne in the Milestat.com invitational, and was

second to Group AAA champion Ahmed Bile at the Octoberfest

Invitational.

Bethel gave Hidden Valley an individual winner in the Group

AA state championship for the second consecutive year. Like

Titan four-year star Annie LeHardy in 2010, Bethel made her move

in the race’s final mile, pulling away to win comfortably in 18:13.

Bethel, who was ninth at the state championship a year earlier,

also won the Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational,

the Clash with the Titans, and the Region IV championship.

Bethel finished fourth in the Nike Cross Southeast Regional meet

in Cary, N.C., to earn a trip to the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland,

Ore., where she was 99th in a race featuring many of the country’s

top prep runners.What stands out about the 2011 season: “The impressive

showing the River Ridge District had at the state meet. …

Incredible.” What stands out about the 2011 season: “When one

succeeds we all succeed,” Bethel said of her team, “and I credit

all of my success to having a wonderful team behind me.”

MARK TAYLOR The Roanoke Times

Nick Link had a season full of first and second finishes.

MARK TAYLOR The Roanoke Times

Carolyn Bethel won the Group AA individual title.BOYS FIRST TEAM

ZACH CHASE CHRISTIANSBURG, Junior

Had by his best race of the season at the Group AA championships, finishing 12th in 16:17. … Ran 16:18.20 to place 7th in a deep field at the Great American Cross Country Festival. … Fifth in Runnin’ With the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational, third at River Ridge

Championship, fifth in Region IV, fourth at Bristol Cross Invitational.

CHRIS ELLIS ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Senior

Best race of year came in Group AA championship, where he earned all-state honors with a 12th place finish in 16:19. ... Fourth in the Blue Ridge District championship. ... Ran 16:23.63 to place third at VMI

Invitational ... Second at North County Classic.

WALKER MOGEN RADFORD, Junior

Dominated the Group A championship, winning in 16:33. … Won nearly every race he entered in 2011 — Maroon Tide Invitational,

Giles Invitational, Three Rivers District and Region C championship. … Time of 16:13 in Three Rivers District meet was personal best.

KEVIN O’CONNOR WILLIAM BYRD, Senior

Won the Blue Ridge District title for third consecutive year. … Time in the Blue Ridge District race was 16:07, a personal best. … Top finisher for the Terriers at the Region III team championship, finishing sixth

to pace Byrd to second consecutive team title. … Finished 21st in the Group AA championship in 16:31.

STUART ROBERTSON STAUNTON RIVER, Senior

Sixth in the Group AA championship in 15:58. … Fourth in the Knights Crossing Invitational in 15:57. … Won the Bedford County

Championships and Golden Eagle Invitational. … Second in the Metro Invitational, River Ridge District and Region III championships.

CODY SEYMOUR CAVE SPRING, Senior

Finished fourth in the Group AA championship for second consecutive year. … 15:50 time in state championship was just

3 seconds behind Blacksburg’s Nick Link. … Won the Metro Invitational for second straight year. … Won the Runnin’ With the Wolves Rocktoberfest Invitational and the River Ridge District

championship. … Third in Knights Crossing Invitational in 15:56.

GIRLS FIRST TEAMKATE BUSS BLACKSBURG, Senior

Had strongest performance of the season in the Group AA championship (fifth). … Top finisher at state meet for Blacksburg, helping pace team

win. … Fifth in the Region IV championships. … Seventh in the River Ridge District. … Won the Blue Demon Invitational … Ran career-best time of

18:53.7 to place 31st at Nike Cross Southeast Regional.

MARY DEIS JEFFERSON FOREST, Senior

Had best race of career at Group AA championship, finishing fourth in 19:01. … Time at state championship was more than a minute faster than her time in the Region III championship, where she was fifth. … Won the

Bedford County Championship. … Third in the Seminole District.

ELIZA EATON CHRISTIANSBURG, Senior

Peaked at the end of the season, finishing sixth in the Group AA meet. … Career best time of 19:09 at state championship . … Won the VMI High School XC Invitational in 19:18.66. … Fourth at Region IV championship.

KATIE FORTNER CAVE SPRING, Sophomore

Finished third at the Group AA championship, one spot higher than her finish as a freshman. … Ran a 17:35 at the Great American Cross Country Festival in late September. … Second in the Knights Crossing Invitational.

… Won the River Ridge District and Metro Invitational. … Second at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest and the Region IV championship.

ALYSSA SHUPE JEFFERSON FOREST, Freshman

Improved steadily throughout the season, culminating with a 17th place finish in Group AA. … Won the Region III championship in 19:23.59. …

Second in the Seminole District to teammate Erin Saunders. … Sixth at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. … Ninth in the Metro Invitational.

LINDSEY SISKA SALEM, Senior

Consistent performer who finished near the front in all of her races in 2011. … Earned all-state honors by finishing 11th in Group AA in 19:14 … Third in

the Metro Invitational in 19:23. … Third in River Ridge District and Region IV meets. … Fourth at Runnin’ with the Wolves Rocktoberfest. … Ran career-

best time of 18:32 at Foot Locker South Regionals, placing 60th.

SECOND TEAMMATTHEW BORNYBLACKSBURG, Junior

NOAH COMBSBLACKSBURG, Freshman

JOEL JOHNSTONMARTINSVILLE, Senior

JAMES KASPERGLENVAR, Senior

MATTHEW PAISERBLACKSBURG, Junior

CALEB SMITHPATRICK COUNTY, Junior

HARRISON TONEYPATRICK HENRY, Senior

SECOND TEAMBONNIE ANGERMEIER

BLACKSBURG, Freshman

HANNAH BROWNBLACKSBURG, Senior

HELENA HARDINGHIDDEN VALLEY, Sophomore

VICTORIA HUTCHENSPATRICK COUNTY, Junior

LAUREN JAEGERBLACKSBURG, Senior

DARBY McPHAILWILLIAM BYRD, Sophomore

MELISSA TEEPLEFRANKLIN COUNTY, Senior

BOYS COACH OF THE YEAR

JAMES DeMARCOBlacksburg

DeMarco, who will be relocating at the end of the school year, came into his

final season having lost the top five runners from his 2010 state championship

team. As usual, he had new stars ready to step up and the Bruins won their third consecutive state title in

dominant fashion.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

DAN KINGHidden Valley

After losing 2010 Group AA winner Annie LeHardy and runner-up Haley Cutright to graduation, the Titans couldn’t manage a third

consecutive Group AA title. But King was able to get

the most of his squad, with personal bests from all of

its runners to take second in state behind Blacksburg.