Crossfire Invite Meet Recap: 2A State Picture Coming Into Focus

Photo by Brandon Miles

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Tuesday's Crossfire Invite provided a good preview of what this year's 2A state meet might look like. The boys race featured a rematch from last year's meet between Liberty's Nick Tilson and Oakland Mills' Joey Navarro, as well as Century's Jacob Spera who beat Tilson (and everybody else) at last week's Mountain Run. This time it was Tilson emerging victorious for the second straight year on his home course, winning for the first time in his senior cross country season. Spera and Navarro finished fourth and fifth, respectively - Liberty's Daniel Saxon and John Lemaster rounded out the team's 1-2-3 finish.


Even with Liberty's 1-2-3 finish, the Century boys still made for a close team battle. Liberty pulled out the win, 37-43, possibly putting them back in the position as the 2A favorite after Century handed them a large defeat last week. The team battle between these two teams will be an amazing one to watch as the season progresses, as they will see each other at the county, regional and state championships.


The girls' race featured even more state previews. The Catoctin girls have looked strong all season behind their #1 runner, senior Julien Webster, who once again showed why she is a serious state title contender by placing over 40 seconds between herself and the next closest finisher, Damascus' Heather Delaplaine. Notably absent from Tuesday's race was Middletown's Reilly Caldwell who will hopefully be healthy in time to join Webster, Hayley Jackson and Kelly Wesolowski on the course at this year's 2A state championships.



Meanwhile, Webster and the Catoctin girls are developing an affinity for close races. After defeating the Century girls by one point at last week's Mountain Run, the Cougars beat another 2A West rival, Winters Mill, by one point on Tuesday. All three teams should be in the running for the team trophy at the 2A West regionals later this season, and probably the state meet as well.