Harriers anxious for 2013 campaign

JP Ryan in action early in the 2013 season.

Bishop Ireton’s Cross Country’s 2013-14 season officially kicked off as students return this week for the new school year.

Sophomores Maggie Lohrer and Isabelle Wilcox return after both logged stellar freshman seasons on varsity. Lohrer was named one of the top 50 fastest runners in high school girls cross-country in 2013. Natalie Irwin and Kaitlin Luzik, both juniors, are likely to round out the top four for the varsity girls. Twelve girls in all are returning from the previous season, including seniors Annie Barletta, Maria Manzek, Caroline Mea and Loren Gant, with as many new additions to the team.

Of the 18 returning boys, seniors Duke Roach, Michael LoGrande, John Paul Ryan, and Steven Gottlieb are projected to finish well for varsity. Roach ran a season’s best of 17:40 at the Virginia Catholic Schools State Cross Country Championship in 2012, and has dedicated considerable time over the summer to improve. Also returning are juniors Owen Beals and John Holbrook, with sophomores Thomas Ward and Jake Ferrara who all made considerable gains in the previous year. Freshman boys Sam Paparo and Thomas Washington have joined the team this season, alongside senior Giovanni Hernandez.

The team completed initial time trials Wednesday at the Landon School in Bethesda, Md., determining varsity and junior varsity placement for the Episcopal High School Relays in Alexandria, Va., on Sept. 4 at 4:00 p.m.

For the girls, the varsity lineup includes Maggie Lohrer, Isabelle Wilcox, Virginia Beineke, Kaitlin Luzik, Ann Johnson, Megan Cunningham, Molly Nealon, Annie Barletta, Brigid Nealon, and Caton Brisbin. Running varsity for the boys are Duke Roach, Michael LoGrande, John Paul Ryan, Joe Simko, Giovanni Hernandez, Steven Gottlieb, Thomas Ward, Patrick Coyne, Pablo Douros, and Matthew Gottlieb.