Photo by Mark Hall For the first time in the meet's three year history, Team Virginia swept both of the team titles at the Battle of the Potomac on Saturday at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In the post-season event pitting runners from Virginia and Maryland against each other, Virginia had been swept in the inaugural event in 2006 and split wins in 2007 with the Virginia girls winning. Photo by Mark Hall Virginia was led by the individual race winners in both seeded races with Leoule Degfae of Thomas Edison pulling just ahead of DeMatha Catholic's Cory Puffett in the downhill finish for a 16:27 victory in the seeded boys race, while the top 2 girls finishers and only runners breaking 20 minutes were both from Virginia as two transfers this year in Kaitlin Davis of Mountain Virginia (originally from North Carolina) and Erica Howes of W.T. Woodson (originally from New York) were first and second with Davis at 19:49 and Howes at 19:57. Photo by Mark Hall The first 10 finishers from each state comprised the team scoring with the boys scores at 79 points for Virginia and 131 for Maryland, while the girls scores were 82 points for Virginia and 128 for Maryland. Battle of the Potomac Complete Results Battle of the Potomac Race Videos by Kevin Milsted: Seeded Boys - Seeded Girls Battle of the Potomac Photo Gallery by Mark Hall - 68 total photos. Battle of the Potomac Photo Gallery by Tim Hagen - 116 total photos.
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Course Ready: BATTLE XC 3 IS ON Rain expected.... will add to fun XC racing at SMOKEY GLEN FARM BATTLE XC 3 staff completed course preparations for tomorrow's 3rd running of the BATTLE OF THE POTOMAC. Rain is forecast, yet the Smokey Glen Farm venue is the ideal site: rolling hills, varied terrain and now an added element to the course: a stream crossing. "While remeasuring the course today, we realized we had a natural stream crossing that was just not as visible before the leaves came down", commented Race host and director Dave Watt. Despite the rainy forecast, the BATTLE XC 3 staff is prepared for warm post-race environs: hot fire roasted chicken, hot apple cider and a covered pavilion to help competitors dry off after some classic cross country conditions. "All races will be run tomorrow. The course and venue are ideal for the expected rainy conditions", added Watt.
The unique cross country team event pitting two states separated by the Potomac River returns for its 3rd running on November 15, 2008. The site and course remains at Smokey Glen Farm in Gaithersburg Maryland. What makes the BATTLE OF THE POTOMAC Cross Country Championship special? It could be the dual starting lines that are separated by 50-60 meters, or the double loop course that includes a run through a Christmas Tree farm and across a covered bridge; or it might be the barbecue chicken dinner that caps the day’s races. “It’s all about camaraderie for kids who battled each other during the season”, says Executive Director Dave Watt of the nonprofit American Running Association.