Miller School of Albemarle Invitational

Having run and defeated Hargrave the day before, it was a challenge for the Caisson runners to bounce back and take on a XC course that Miller School likes to call “the hardest XC course in Virginia”. It’s a well deserved title, with the second mile a steady climb up a mountain. Cadets Avery Romp and James Kelley rose to the challenge, even passing runners on that hill. At the first mile mark, they were in ninth and eleventh places. They turned those into 2nd and 3rd places at the finish line. Evan LaQuaglia shaved time from his Hargrave time and finished in 9th place.

It was up to a seventh and eighth grader to finish out the scoring five. William Regi and Gareth Romp (Regi in his first XC race), picked up where some of the upperclassmen faded, and finished 17th and 16th respectively. Regi and Romp stuck together throughout the race with Romp shouting encouragement to his teamate on the final hill before the finish. It paid off for the team as without their efforts the Caissons would have taken away a last place finish instead of the second place finish that they earned. Blue Ridge School had the low point total to take the win. The Caissons defeated the home course Miller team.

On Tuesday the 13th, the Caissons will have the home course advantage. It will be a great opportunity for the Caissons to out run Blue Ridge as well as Eastern Mennonite, whom they have yet to beat this season. Personal records are often set on the Coyner Springs course, undoubtedly with the help of encouraging Caisson supporters spread along the course.  Race time 1630.