The boys and girls cross country teams battled a muddy and hilly regional course at Culpeper High School on Oct. 30. Both teams qualified for the 3A State Championship meet that will take place on November 13th in Salem, Va. 

The boys team were region runner up with 64 points and with four all-region finishers. Sophomore Tucker Albaugh led the Mustangs with a fourth place finish and junior Henry Hladky wasn’t far behind with a seventh place finish. Seniors Sean Pala and Eli Wildman also were also all-region finishers taking ninth and 14th place respectively.

“Our entire goal of the regional meet was to qualify for states and we did that,” senior team captain Lauren Mellon said. “We actually did really well.”

The girls placed third with 65 points, and they also had four all-region finishers. Freshman Molly Moore placed fourth in the regional meet and was the first freshman to finish. She was followed by Mellon’s third all-region finish in ninth place. Junior Alexis Niemi and freshman Ally Campbell were first-time all-region finishers taking thirteenth and fifteenth places.

The team is traveling to the 3A State Championship meet later this week and have high hopes for the future.

“At the state meet we are going to try for a top three finish which I think is totally doable,” Mellon said. “We’re excited to go again.”

Last season, alumnus Colson Board qualified individually for the state meet. The boys and girls teams last qualified for the state meet in 2019.

“We’re all friends outside and in school,” Mellon added. “I think that’s made for a very close girls team which I think has contributed to a lot of our success. There are a lot more underclassmen this year which is good for the team in the coming years because the team will have a lot of younger girls who can carry on the team in the next few years.”