Trojans repeat as champs

Kathleen Lautzenheiser and the Midlothian girls successfully defended their Central Region title yesterday at Pole Green Park.

With about a mile remaining, Lautzenheiser and teammate Amy Witt began to break away from the pack.

"I think pretty much it was me and Amy the entire way," Lautzenheiser said. "I could hear people behind me, but I never actually saw anyone. . . . During the last mile, I kind of tried to push a little bit ahead to see if she would hang with me, I guess. And it was hot, so both of us were tired and I just happened to maybe have a little bit of a better day."

A tiny heat wave after a chilly week didn't seem to affect the Trojans girls. The defending champion continued pulling away as she looped back in front of the woods and into the long stretch to the finish line, taking 18 minutes, 47 seconds to win her second regional title in a dominant fashion. Witt finished 29 seconds back.

"I just wanted to go out with the pack at the beginning," Witt said, "and then just try to stay with Kathleen and see how it goes."

This was Lautzenheiser's second win in the regional meet. She finished second as a freshman in 2006. Midlothian's top five all turned in strong performances yesterday. Each of the scoring runners placed in the top 15, earning all-region honors.

"I love my girls," Trojans coach Stan Morgan said. " . . . Now that the leaves are starting to fall and change colors, and we're starting to, you know - things are starting to happen. This is when you want to start running well."

Maggie Walker was second in the team competition, led by Colonial District champion Susannah Piersol in third. Clarissa Schick, who was seventh last week in the district race, finished one second back of Piersol in fourth. The top four teams advance to the Group AAA meet next week at Great Meadows. Again, Midlothian and Kathleen Lautzenheiser will be defending championships.

"Next week is the most important meet of the season," Morgan said. "That's the only meet that counts."

RESULTS

Team : 1. Midlothian (Mid) 40; 2. Maggie Walker (MW) 55; 3. Deep Run (DR) 97; 4. Cosby (Cos) 127; 5. Mills Godwin (MG) 159; 6. Lee-Davis (LD) 159; 7. Hermitage (H) 179; 8. Clover Hill (Clo.) 200; 9. Atlee (A) 249; 10. James River (JR) 259; 11. Hanover (Han) 217; 12. Matoaca (Mat) 345; 13. Varina (V) 362.

Individual : 1. Kathleen Lautzenheiser (Mid) 18:47; 2. Amy Witt (Mid) 19:16; 3. Susannah Piersol (MW) 19:25; 4. Clarissa Schick (MW) 19:26; 5. Jenna Moye (Cos) 19:26; 6. Megan Moye (Cos) 19:27; 7. Katie Ardiff (MW) 19:34; 8. Stephanie Cario (LD) 19:36; 9. Abby Badura (Clover Hill) 19:38; 10. Erica Dobbs (DR) 19:47; 11. Kaila Blackburn (Monacan) 19;49; 12. Krista Willard (Mid) 19:54; 13. Paige Johnston (Mid) 19:54; 14. Madalyn Nuckols (DR) 19:54; 15. Leia Lautzenheiser (Mid) 19:55.