Cross Country Preview: Ridge View Blazers
By John Devlin (www.midlandspreps.com)
Ridge View’s boys cross country has been one of the most consistently successful harrier programs in the Midlands with 10 Top 10 state meet finishes in 11 varsity seasons. Expect more of the same in 2008.
Second-year Blazers coach Brian Rosefield welcomes back five runners off last season’s sixth-place Class 4A state meet starting lineup, including front runners David Jennings and Nick Gladden. Jennings led the team at state a year ago with a 12th place finish as a freshman. Gladden, a senior, placed 36th at state.
“David is a guy that wants to do well, and he’s really improved his speed in the last year, so he has a chance to move up at state,” said Rosefield.
The Blazers did receive bad news when freshman Chris Platenberg moved away. That means veterans Jay Lynch, Mimoun Annouri and Joseph Stogner will be asked to fill the void at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots created by the move of Platenberg and the graduation of Oscar Rivera.
“Losing Oscar and Chris will hurt, no question about it, but I think we have a realistic shot at finishing in the Top 10 at state again,” said Rosefield. “But to do that we have to have some guys step up into bigger roles.”
Ridge View moves from Region 5-4A to Region 4-4A and the Upper State this season, along with Richland 2 district mates Spring Valley and Blythewood. The other teams in the region are South Pointe, Rock Hill and Lancaster. The Blazers beat out Spring Valley for 5-4A honors last season. Jennings was the individual region champion prior to his earning all-state recognition at the season finale.
The Blazers open the season on Aug. 23 at the Providence Invitational at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C.
Cross country: Blazers open in Charlotte
Henderson, Jennings turn in top performances
By John Devlin (www.midlandspreps.com)
Ridge View opened the 2008 cross country season Saturday at the Providence Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. The Blazers boys team finished 10th in the 24-team field, while the RV girls placed 11th out of 21 teams.
The big story was the individual showings by senior Sierra Henderson and sophomore David Jennings. Henderson was second behind Dannielle Hobbs of Sun Valley (NC), 15 seconds off the winning pace with a time of 19 minutes, 38 seconds. Jennings was fifth in the tight scramble at the finish with a time of 16:23, just 15 seconds off the winning time.
Lining up behind Jennings were sophomore Jay Lynch (37th, 17:56), sophomore Ben Smick (87th, 18:54), senior Joseph Stogner (90th, 19:03) and sophomore Mimoun Annouri (20:22).
Sophomore Kiyanna Meuhammad (77th, 23:19), sophomore Lizzie Wilson (93rd, 24:10), junior Macy Gordon (25:12) and junior Tamara Smith (25:16) provided the scoring support behind Henderson.
Ridge View runners bring home top individual spots in Charlotte
By: John Olson - john@scrunners.com
Published: 2008-08-23 22:25:00 (www.scrunners.com)
Ridge View senior Sierra Henderson was the top finisher for South Carolina Saturday at the Providence Invitational at McAlpine Park in Charlotte. Henderson placed second in 19 minutes, 38 seconds.
Mauldin junior Alexa Neiling finished fourth overall (20:01). South Pointe's McKenzie Brannon placed ninth (20:15).
Mauldin failed to capture their third consecutive team title with a fourth place finish and highest team place for an instate team. Northwestern finished sixth in team standings.
Ridge View sophomore David Jennings placed fifth in the boys competition in 16 minutes, 23 seconds.
Northwestern boys were the top state team placer with a sixth place total of 243 points. Mauldin boys placed seventh (248) and Ridge View rounded out the top 10 with 325.
Following the first week of cross country action, Henderson and Jennings lead the state with fastest 5,000-meter times.
