As the defending NCAA Division III Champion in cross country and the outdoor 1500 and 5000 meters, Buttry hopes to earn even more accolades during her junior year in 2004.

With key runners and teams gone, the girls' race will be just as competitive as the boys' race. With last year champion Anne Carpenter from Giles gone, this year's race will be the battle of the underclassmen. Out of the top thirty from last year's state meet, twenty-two were underclassmen (only four will return as seniors). Just picture the state meet in another three years. Key returners are rising sophomores Lori Crofts (Craig County), Nina Pfeiffer (Strasburg), and rising juniors Hanna Traynham (Floyd County) and Shylan Brumbrey (James Monroe).

Episcopal head boys cross country coach, Joe McKinney, confirms that former Trinity Prep standout, Tim McLeod is in the process of transferring to the Jacksonville private school.

MileStat.com is asking for support from all coaches around the state in doing this upcoming season's cross country rankings. Two years ago, we devised a fairly thought out concept on how to rank the top cross country teams and runners in the state. We will be asking the coaches in the state of Virginia to send in their votes for the top teams and athletes in their classification on a weekly basis.

With no returning individual state champions, the AAA state cross country race will be one of the most competitive races in recent years with many elite athletes vying for the male and female individual crowns. Meanwhile, the two defending state team champions, Thomas Jefferson boys of Alexandria and James River girls of Midlothian, took only small losses due to graduation and will once again be in the hunt to defend their titles.

During the 2003 cross country season, it looks like it is going to be a good one. Even though everyone is looking forward to seeing the AAA and AA races, Single A will bring a little bit more excitement to the table. Single A will have three state champions returning for their senior year, including returning state cross country champion Todd Somers from Page County, who also won the two mile last track season for the second straight time. Zach Brackford from Central Woodstock will return after a strong track season which he left as the mile champion and a personal best time of 4:25. Travis Hunnicutt from Madison County, also left as a champion in the 800m with a personal best of a 1:59.

If Joel Hanlon stays at James Wood instead of going to Millbrook then James Wood is the clear favorite to win the state title of AA State Cross-Country Champion. Even without Hanlon, they may just pull it off.

As with the male AA runners, there are a group of girls that appear to be in an elite group. There are six girls that have posted 5000m cross-country times less than 19 minutes. This prestigious pack of Virginia runners is also at the top of Milestat

It was a photo finish at the line, but Minnesota's Adam Steele took the victory in the 400 meters at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The soon-to-be senior sat down with Trackshark and talked about his season.

With the graduation of Fork Union\'s Kippy Keino, a big gap is left as who will be the next star among the private school ranks as Keino provided plenty of press and accolades for the less covered classification of high school running in the state. A handful of runners come into this upcoming cross country season with the potential to emerge as the best.

50 deep lists of the top returnees from last year's VHSL state cross country meet of all classifications (AAA, AA, and A) as well as 25 deep lists of the top returnees within each classification.

There appears to be eight elite runners that should make All-State. However, the next seven spots are wide open. The race for the top spot looks to be a two-man race unless a dark horse emerges.

Listed below is the top 50 returning 5K times by Virginians from last year's cross country season. This list is one of many articles to be released this summer by MileStat.com to preview the upcoming fall cross country season.

The young men 1500 meter race at the USATF Region II Meet featured two of Virginia

3rd Annual Citrus Summer Showdown Photos.

Entries to the third annual 2003 Event.

Chaz Caiado sits dwon with Matt Bilich to discuss post season thoughts and coming expectations of collegiate running.

Chaz Caiado sits down with Jace Gohres to discuss post season thoughts and collegiate decision.

Chaz Caiado sits down with Megan Broussard of Pecan Island to discuss her goals for the upcoming 2003 XC season.