If you want to see cross country running done well, come to the Heart of Virginia in the fall.

The programs of Buckingham County, Cumberland County and Prince Edward County high schools and Fuqua School have all created highlights this season, with Cumberland and Buckingham standing out in particular.

The Cumberland boys won the James River District Championship Oct. 25 at Occoneechee State Park in a field of eight boys teams. The Dukes produced a team score of 42, which was 19 points better than their nearest competitor — talented Goochland High School.

In his first year as head coach, Cumberland’s Allen Waechter was named district Boys Coach of the Year.

Dukes team members contributing to the district title win included co-captain Hunter Cochran, co-captain Muhammad Fulani, Tanner Cochran, Jalen Foster, Tony Ingram, Devon Rivera-Reed and Justin Stimpson.

For the girls, Buckingham claimed second place out of five teams at the district championships, generating a team score of 54. Meanwhile, Cumberland’s girls were not far behind in third with a score of 66.

Both Buckingham’s girls and boys teams have had impressive, winning seasons this year.

Leaders for the Lady Knights include the two who earned all-district status Oct. 25 — senior Alyssa True, who came in fourth, individually, in the girls’ 5K race, and junior Jayda Chambers, who came in seventh.

Buckingham’s boys team placed fourth at the district championships, and Head Coach Kish Heslip noted that her top six male runners all produced personal best times.

Sophomore Tyler Moore, who finished seventh in the boys’ 5K race, earned all-district status.
The Buckingham boys produced a remarkable highlight Oct. 18 when they earned a rare win over host Goochland, edging the Bulldogs 44-47.

“Upsetting Goochland — at Goochland — was probably the pinnacle of our season for our boys,” Heslip said. “It measured how far we have come, not just this season but over the (last) several years.”

Titus Mohler is sports editor of The Farmville Herald and Farmville Newsmedia. His email address is Titus.Mohler@FarmvilleHerald.com.