Division II Class A Girls
Third Title For Cheeseman
The Webb School's Abby Faith Cheeseman made it three for three a couple of Friday's ago with a new personal best on Sander's Ferry Park crossing the finish line in 17:12. Outside of her performance at Eastbay Nationals last year, her past two season have seen eleven races tightly knit into a 31 second spread ranging from 17:04 to 17:35. She currently ranks 22nd nationally and is projected to return to San Diego assuming that's the post season route she chooses.
Behind Cheeseman was Lauren Rutlin for the second year in a row who finished in 18:33. Though this is the smallest classification of the four, the top end of quality of this division should be noted. Cheeseman ran the fastest time of the entire championship with Rutlin posting the 4th fastest from no man's land. The senior will be headed to the University of Tennessee in the fall.
Westminster Makes History
Here's a short history of the Westminster Academy girls cross country program at the state meet according to our database.
- 2018 - Jessa McElroy qualifies as an individual and finishes 34th.
- 2019 - Sarah Catherine Donovan qualifies as an individual and finishes 14th.
- 2020 - Donovan qualifies as an individual and finishes 6th.
- 2021 - Westminster qualifies as a team and finishes 3rd. Donovan highest finisher in 6th.
- 2022 - Westminster qualifies as a team and WINS the state championship. Donovan highest finisher in 5th. Caroline Sherrod (6th) and Molly Anthony (10th) make All-State.
It was quite the trajectory from non-factor to state championship in such a short amount of time but in this classification with such small school populations simply getting to the point where you can roster seven runners in a season can set things in motion and Coach Chester and Coach Read have been there for all of it.
The Defenders' state championship was the first in school history and will return their second through sixth runners heading into next season. Runner-up Webb will return their entire roster. It should be a solid team competition next season.
Congratulations to Abby Faith Cheeseman and Westminster Academy.