With a top runner missing from each team, the Bishop O’Connell Knights didn’t finish as high in the team standings as hoped.
The O’Connell boys placed fourth and the girls sixth at the Virginia Catholic State Championships held Oct. 22 on the 5,000-meter cross-country course at Occoquan Regional Park on a hot afternoon.
Missing for the O’Connell boys was sophomore Jayse Brefczynski, who was ill. O’Connell coach Jim Connor said Brefczynski had the potential to win the race or finish very high. Doing so would have improved the Knights’ team finish to second in the private-school meet.
Without Brefczynski, freshman Peter Fleenor was the top finisher for the O’Connell boys in 10th in 17:59. Lance Jayme was next in 13th (18:14). Patrick Porter was 21st (18:50), Ryan Street 30th (19:28), Ian Bradley 32nd (19:32), Dominic Best 37th (19:51), Kyle Jayme 45th (20:16) and Jacob Schiek 46th (20:16). St. John Paul the Great Catholic won the boys race with 28 points. O’Connell scored 102.
First for the O’Connell girls was freshman Grace Fumich in 20th (22:39). Delaney Park was 30th (23:31), Lauren Smith 31st (23:35), Danielle Rodriguez 34th (23:43), Isabel Mallonee 74th (26:44) and Lily Spann 76th (26:46).
St. Paul VI Catholic won the girls race with 56 points. O’Connell scored 172.
“I think the hot day kind of slowed the times for the runners,” Connor said.
The next meets for the O’Connell teams are the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships on Saturday (Oct. 26).
NOTE: Brefczynski ran in the featured race and finished 77th (15:58) after a strong start Oct. 19 at the Virginia Showcase meet on the upper course at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville.
