Konyar race to wins at Judges Classic

WINCHESTER — Even though the Region 4C cross country championship at Kernstown Battlefield is about two months away, Handley’s John Delaney and James Wood sophomore Kenzie Konyar sure looked to bein postseason form on the hilly, 3.1-mile course in Saturday’s 43rd annual Judges Classic.

Both Delaney and Konyar pulled away to impressive victories, and Millbrook’s girls’ team, led by junior Kaycee Cox-Philyaw in 10th overall, showed its depth by placing all five scoring runners in the top 30 to take first place.

Delaney won with a time of 16 minutes, 47 seconds, finishing 10 seconds ahead of Dominion’s Omar Aougab. Aougab led the way for Dominion, which placed all seven varsity runners in the top 20 — including its scoring five all in the top 15 — to easily win the boys’ title with 34 points.

Briar Woods (118), James Wood (126), Handley (166) and Harrisonburg (169) completed the boys’ top five. Clarke (223) took seventh, and Millbrook placed 10th out of 16 boys’ teams.

For Delaney, Saturday’s race marked a strong start to his senior year and steady improvement in his team’s invitational on his home course.

Delaney was a step behind Osbourn Park’s Michael Blaes through the opening mile, but the Judges senior pulled way through the middle portion of the race.

By the time Delaney made the turn at the 13/4-mile mark, he had pulled ahead of Blaes by eight seconds. From there, Delaney powered to the finish to win by just over 10 seconds, while Blaes faded to seventh.

It marked Delaney’s first win at the Judges Classic, and he hopes it sets him up for a strong season.

“It means a lot and it’s a good omen, I think,” said Delaney, who placed third as a junior and sixth as a sophomore in the Judges Classic. “The past two years I’ve been moving up in place at this meet and this year the goal was definitely to win.

“I would’ve liked a faster time even with kind of being off by myself after a mile-and-a-half, but I’m happy. There’s a long way to go [this year] though.”

James Wood, led by Kevin Konyar (eighth, 17:27), took third as the top area boys’ team. Joshua Arce (18th, 17:51), Bryce Ratlief (27th, 18:20), Nathan Shade (29th, 18:26) and Ethan Pierce (44th, 18:53) completed the Colonels’ top five.

Delaney paced Handley in fourth place. The rest of the Judges’ scoring five included Grayson Westfall (21st, 18:03), Bennett Cupps (35th, 18:39), Brian Tufts (56th, 19:05) and Joseph Rosenfeld (57th, 19:06).

Handley coach Mark Stickley said Delaney’s performance was even better than he envisioned.

“I didn’t know if he’d be able to breakaway and win like that, but that was a nice win for him,” Stickley said. “It’s his senior year, on our course in our invitational so that’s great. I’m really happy for that.”

Nick Dawson (19th, 17:55) led Clarke to seventh place (223 points). Connor Hanson (32nd, 18:31), Kyle Erickson (37th, 18:43), Chase Ervin (62nd, 19:14) and Spencer Jackson (88th, 20:00) counted in the Eagles’ top five.

Millbrook, led by John Pullen (20th, 17:59) took ninth (240 points). Dylan Wallace (39th, 18:50), Angus Derrick (48th, 18:55), Chance Crosen (72nd, 19:33) and Christopher Simonelli (78th, 19:44) completed the Pioneers’ scoring runners.

On an overcast day with occasional drizzle and the temperature in the low-to-mid 50s, Kenzie Konyar improved on her conference-winning time from last year at Kernstown by six seconds.

The Colonels’ sophomore standout ran stride-for-stride with Harrisonburg’s Hannah Miller through the first mile, both clocking a 6:02 split, but Konyar pulled away from there.

Just before the two-mile mark, Konyar held a 10-second advantage over Miller. She crossed the finish line in 19:39, finishing 24 seconds clear of runner-up Miller.

Konyar said the cool weather made for ideal racing conditions, and after competing on the 5K course a few times last year, she felt more comfortable at Kernstown this time.

“Last year, I remember placing in the top 15 [at the Judges Classic] and the hills killed me last year,” said Konyar, who earned All-Group 4A honors by placing 10th at the state meet last year. “This year, I kind of knew what to do, so it was a lot easier.

“I like running when it’s overcast and drizzling — that’s my favorite weather to run in, and I always perform in that weather.”

While Konyar took the top individual honor, the top team performance belonged to Millbrook’s girls.

The Pioneers placed all seven in the top 35 and Millbrook’s scoring five finished within a 53-second span. Cox-Philyaw (10th, 20:53), Sophie Edlich (14th, 21:00), Maddie Lloyd (16th, 21:13), Mellany Groll (21st, 21:29) and Shannon Mulvaney (28th, 21:46) rounded out the Pioneers’ top five.

Cox-Philyaw said Saturday’s win should boost the team’s confidence because the Pioneers aren’t 100 percent healthy.

“We have a few people who are injured right now, so it’s a little hard for the team, but it’s nice to come out here and see everyone working together, pushing each other and getting first because that’s what it’s all about,” Cox-Philyaw said. “We’ve run this course a lot over the years, so it’s nice to get to know it. As far as the team goes, we’re looking really strong in practice so I think we’ll do really good this year.”

The Pioneers won the team title with 89 points, finishing 30 points ahead of runner-up Loudoun County (119 points). Handley (124), the defending race champion, followed in third, but the Judges were not at full strength with Kenzi Fergus — the conference runner-up and an all-region runner last season — out of the lineup.

Kristin Blake (ninth, 20:48) led the way for the Judges. Melanie Morgan (31st, 21:30), Kendall Felix (27th, 21:39), Riley Fisher (32nd, 21:55) and Sydney Aschenbrenner (34th, 22:00) completed Handley’s top five.

Harrisonburg (141) and Briar Woods (147) followed Handley in the top five.

Millbrook coach Kevin Shirk said he put his team’s times into a virtual meet on Milestat.com and thought his team would have a chance to win if it performed well.

Shirk believed the Pioneers’ victory was a first for the program.

“I don’t know if the girls have ever won this before and we haven’t — at least since I’ve been [coaching] here,” Shirk said. “It feels good to get a victory.”

Clarke juniors Madison Webster (third, 20:06) and Skylar Bragg (fifth, 20:37) paced the Eagles to seventh place (161 points) out of 14 girls’ teams. Catherine Lewis (25th, 21:35), Arianna Montgomery (59th, 23:07) and Maeve Lyman (69th, 23:47) also factored into the Eagles’ team scoring.

James Wood’s girls placed 10th (213 points). In addition to Konyar, the rest of the Colonels’ top five included Hayley Witt (20th, 21:26), Hayley Schwasta (57th, 22:58), Abbey Esparza (65th, 23:32) and Kendall Pierce (70th, 23:53).

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