Region cross country meets are scheduled for today

Both the James River and Lord Botetourt cross country teams will be running in region meets today.

River will be running in the Region 2C meet at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County. The girls are scheduled to run at 3 p.m. with the boys at 3:45 p.m. River has not had a meet since the Metro Cross Country meet on October 22.

Lord Botetourt will run in the Region 3D meet at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol today. The Cavaliers participated in the Blue Ridge District meet at Waid Park in Franklin County last Wednesday, but coach Elizabeth Smith ran all jayvee runners except for sophomore Rye Jackson of the boys.

“We use this race as an opportunity for the jayvee to run with the varsity for a change,” said Smith. “Give them a taste of those races. It also works to give our varsity runners a break before regions.”

The Franklin County boys and girls swept the BRD team championships. LB, running the jayvees, finished last in both races.

Individually, Nathan Atchue of Franklin County was the individual district champion with a time of 17:08. Botetourt’s Jackson was seventh overall in 18:38. Also scoring were Tristan Dodson in 24^th, Gage Hornback in 27^th, Jacob Malue in 35^th and Kent Basham in 44^th.

Kylie Cooper of Franklin County won the girls’ district championship with a time of 20:24. Amelia Dietrich led LB with a 14^th place finish in 24:57. Also scoring were Alexa Carillo in 15^th place, Molly Caldwell in 20^th, Falan Peters in 23^rd and Elizabeth Meadows in 24^th.

The top three teams in today’s region advance to the state meet, as well as the top five runners in each race not on one of the qualifying teams.