CARY, Nc. - This weekend was just the icing on the cake for the Albemarle senior and Rice University commit Ryann Helmers. Not only did she win a state XC title two weeks ago but this Saturday she blasted a 17:36.9 PR at the NXN-SE Regional meet. That finish was fast enough to finish 6th overall and get her an individual invitation the Nike Cross Nationals meet in Portland next Saturday.
At the time of the results being published she was the final athlete into the National meet with her 5th place finish amongst non-qualifying athletes. That changed though once Blacksburg was given an at-large invitation. That change meant Callie Parlier (Apex) is now invited. That is significant for VA since she out-leaned 4A State Champion Natalie Morris at the line 17:49.6 to 17:50.1. That was the difference between nationals next weekend or indoor track.
Finishing fourth overall in 17:31 was Blacksburg's Kaitlynn Wolfe.