New Hoover Ridge course opens, Lohr sets record

By Don Richeson
Eagle Editor

Published: October 3, 2008

Madison County senior Kenny Lohr christened the Mountaineers’ newly re-routed home cross country course last week by running the five-kilometer trail in a blazing 17 minutes, 59 seconds – a Madison home course record. Lohr easily fended off challengers from Clarke County, George Mason and Strasburg to surpass all other runners at the four-way Sept. 24 meet – the first using the new “out-and-back” Hoover Ridge route, which replaces an earlier one at the site, which is behind Madison Primary School. (Parts of the previous route were destroyed by ongoing construction work on the county’s sprawling 11-field athletic complex.)

“Kenny felt as if the course was slow and I feel that this is an impressive time on a slow course,” said Madison Coach Jennifer Rehm.

But in spite of the apparent sluggishness of the new, sometimes hilly course, Rehm said that the meet there went smoothly, especially because of the weather that day, which she described as “ideal.” The new course retains a small portion of a woods loop from the previous one, a stretch that Rehm said some runners describe as “infamous.”

Finishing in the No. 2 slot for the Madison boys (and 10th overall) was sophomore Hunter Welch. “(Hunter Welch) has set his goals high for the season,” said Rehm. “He cuts time from his runs each time he races. He works hard in practice and also outside of practice and it is showing.”

Sophomore Clare Moretz ran the fastest for Madison’s girls and was third overall with a time of 20:47. Ashley Sealander was the Mountaineer girls second fastest and finished fifth overall with a time of 21:32, which is only a few seconds off of her personal record.

“Both (Clare Moretz and Ashley Sealander) always run hard and I am very pleased with their performance,” Coach Rehm said. “I feel that if they keep training hard they both could have a successful season.”

Rehm is pleased as she takes stock of her teams at the season’s mid-point. “The teams have performed really well at the meets in the first half of the season,” she said. “Many of the runners have beaten their personal bests which shows that the training we are doing in practice is working.”

At press time, the boys are 3-5 and the girls are 3-3 (the girls didn’t have enough participants to compete as a team in as many meets as the boys.)
Looking to what’s ahead, Rehm said, “We will continue working on speed and maintaining that speed for larger distances. We will also continue to emphasize the importance of being aware of form while running.”

Top five Sept. 24 Hoover Ridge cross country meet individual boy finishers:

• First — Kenny Lohr, Madison County, 17:59 (course record).

• Second — S. Trayer, Clarke County, 18:24.

• Third — J. Robarge, George Mason, 18:33.

• Fourth — M. Baker, George Mason, 18:37.

• Fifth — C. Christensen, Clarke County, 18:41.

Overall Sept. 24 Hoover Ridge cross country meet boys results (by school):

• First — Clarke County, 32 points.

• Second — George Mason, 48 points.

• Third — Madison County, 66 points.

• Fourth — Strasburg, non-scoreable because the Rams didn’t have enough boy participants.

Top five Sept. 24 Hoover Ridge cross country meet individual girl finishers:

• First — N. Young, George Mason, 19:49 (course record).

• Second — K. Ayers, Strasburg, 20:15.

• Third – Clare Moretz, Madison County, 20:47.

• Fourth – E. Estrada, George Mason, 20:59.

• Fifth – Ashley Sealander, Madison County, 21:32.

Overall Sept. 24 Hoover Ridge cross country meet girls results (by school):

• First — George Mason, 22 points.

• Second – Madison County, 58 points.

• Third — Clarke County, 60 points.

• Fourth – Strasburg, non-scoreable because the Rams didn’t have enough girl participants.