Richardson claims state title

James River senior Ted Richardson finished Saturday’s Virginia High School League Group AAA boys’ championship cross country meet with a huge grin on his face. It didn’t leave as he sat on the benches after the finish, and it certainly didn’t leave as he walked up the chute to be greeted by family, teammates and supporters.

The senior from James River High School completed his first running season back from a stress fracture with an individual state title.

“I feel great,” Richardson said. “This is what I’ve wanted for so long. Last track season I had a stress fracture, was out the whole season. This was my big thing to get me back training. It’s just so exciting, so exciting. I don’t even know what to go for next because this was my one big goal. This is great.”

Richardson’s quest began in earnest after the U.S. Army X-Country Festival at Maymont in September. He finished sixth. Good, but short of his goal for the big meet. His teammates publicly sent out words of encouragement but the loss still didn’t sit well with him.

“Maymont was disappointing, but then again we were really focused on states,” Richardson said. “My coach told me, ‘Take it with a grain of salt. We’ve got close to two months until states and a lot of things can change,’ and it did. It worked out for me.”

The competition surely didn’t get any less stiff.

Through the first mile, the group of 136 runners stayed bunched up. When they hit the hills in the second mile, the top runners made their move.

“Blake [Theroux of Western Branch] took it hard up those hills over by the bend and, I’m not sure if I get credit for making the move since I was just trying to make sure he didn’t run away from me.”

As runners came into view of the finish line, Richardson’s white and purple jersey clearly had the first spot. He simply needed to hold on.

“Down the straight I had it in my legs. I really focused on driving my arms. The last 300 meters I really laid it down,” Richardson said. He won by four seconds (15:34) over Thoreux (15:38).

The recent rains made the 3.1 mile course, through the pasture lands at the Great Meadow Foundation steeple chasing site in The Plains, slippery in spots; and runners were unable to walk the course in practice Friday due to conditions, so those with knowledge of the site gained a bit of an advantage.

“There’s certain parts of the course that are really key. If the person [in front] goes for it over by those hills, you’d better be following them or they’ll get away,” Richardson said.

Three of the top five finishers in the boys meet ran unattached.

In the team portion of the meet, Mountain View won. Central Region squads from Midlothian and Mills Godwin finished in the top five at third and fifth, respectively. The Trojans were led by Brayden Burleigh (4th in team scoring, 7th individually, 16:01). The Eagles were led by Grant Pollock (3rd, 6th, 15:56).