Three Lord Botetourt runners will be competing in the Class 3A state cross country meet this week. The Cavaliers will run on Saturday afternoon at the Great Meadow horse facility at The Plains, near Warrenton.

Sofia Hernandez and Brooklyn Hornback will represent LB in the girls race at 1 p.m. Hernandez finished 13th and Hornback was 15th in the Region D meet at Green Hill Park last week. The Cavalier girls were fourth in the team standings, just missing a chance to advance to the state as a team. Only the top three moved on, as Hidden Valley was first, Christiansburg was second and Cave Spring took third.

“The girls were so close to going as a team, losing by only two points,” said coach Robert Sullivan. “Six of the girls that ran varsity are ninth graders and running cross country for the first season. This gives us a strong foundation for the coming years if these young ladies stay together.”

Also scoring for LB were Brielle Jackson in 20th place, Claire Seibel in 22nd and Balor Harold in 34th place. There were 56 girls competing.

In the boys meet LB took fifth. Christiansburg was the team winner and Abingdon and Cave Spring also advanced. Hidden Valley was fourth, followed by LB.

“The boys had stiff competition to make it as a team, but gave it their all,” said Sullivan. “Four of them are seniors and I hate the other three didn’t make it to the state meet.”

Hayes advanced with a 15th place finish and three other Cavaliers were close behind as Benny Ford was 16th,  Bryson Cook was 17th and Maxwell Klimczak was 18th. Also scoring, in 42nd, was Cameron Turney.

“All of the boys and girls ran season best times,” said Sullivan. “We are so very proud of them because they left it all on the course. All you can expect from runners is for them to give their best effort and each one did that.”