After competing in four straight state meets, the Colonels are in a new era after losing six seniors. James Wood placed second at last year’s Judges Classic but was 13th on Saturday with only one scoring runner back from last year’s meet.
“It’s really hard to see the girls [this year] so far back in the pack, but they’re also running really well,” Colonels coach Matthew Lofton said. “We just have a shifted depth.”
Lofton notes that the Colonels have four new varsity runners, three of whom are freshmen.
“We keep getting quicker each week,” Lofton said. “These are some of the toughest courses — Oatlands last week and Handley this week. So I’m really excited about what Third Battle is going to bring at a fast course.”
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com