Submitted Article and Photos
Broadwater Academy’s cross-country team traveled to Williamsburg last weekend and posted impressive early season performances.
The girls team, led by grade 10 runner Mahika Patel, raced to a fifth-place team finish out of 20 schools. Running on a course that featured three steep uphill sections, seniors Kate Gomer, Carly Wardius, and freshmen Carrie Watson ran fast times for so early in the season. Ronnie Guinan was Broadwater’s fifth runner to cement the team’s strong fifth-place finish.
Grade 9 runner Ture Gustafson was the first Viking to cross the finish line in the 5-kilometer race, posting consistent split times for all three miles. Grade 10 Miles McIntyre ran a strong second for the team. Seniors Aiden Blair, Adam Buell, and Joseph Moretto, and Junior D.J. McCaleb handled the hills well and rounded out the team’s scorers. Broadwater boys placed 16th out of 20 teams.
Grade 6 runner Meredith Hill placed an impressive 15th in the girl’s JV race. Grade 6 John Watson placed 62nd in the JV boy’s race. At Broadwater Academy, students as young as sixth grade have an opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports.
“Our first two meets of the year have been on hilly courses, including Mt. Trashmore in Virginia Beach,” said Broadwater’s Cross-Country Coach Rob Gustafson.
“Despite the hills, the students ran fast times, so I am looking forward to getting a clearer gauge of where they are when they run on the flat, fast course at Norfolk Academy.”
Broadwater’s cross-country teams will compete next at Norfolk Academy on Friday, Sept. 28.