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The Roanoke Times | File 2007

Glenvar junior Megan Marsico won the Group A crown last fall and claimed two more state titles last spring.

The 27th-place finisher in last year's Group A girls' cross country championships was a freshman from Lancaster High School named Tumarow Morning.

In cross country, the future is always at hand.

Especially at Glenvar, where junior Megan Marsico returns after winning the 2007 Group A title by 19 seconds and backing that up with state crowns in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters last spring in the Group A track and field meet.

How good can Marsico be in the next two years?

"She can be as good as Catherine White," Glenvar coach Dickie Myers said.

That's high praise. White, now as sophomore at Arkansas, set the standard high by winning a VHSL-record 15 state titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track for Northside from 2004-07.

Barring injury or illness, Marsico is a clear favorite to successfully defend her Group A title at the VHSL meet Nov. 8 at the Great Meadow course in The Plains.

Marsico led Glenvar to a fifth-place finish in the 2007 girls' team standings.

Recruiting interest should heat up soon for Marsico, who seems certain follow former Highlander greats Trish Nervo (North Carolina) and Kelly Clark (Virginia Tech) into the Division I ranks.

Myers said Marsico is awaiting offers and is currently interested in Georgia and Navy.

Running down a team

Blacksburg's girls are accustomed to having everyone else in their footsteps. Hidden Valley isn't letting the dust settle first.

The Bruins won their second straight Group AA team title last year, but not before the Titans shocked them by winning the Region IV championship. Hidden Valley, which finished a strong fourth in the state meet, is ready for another run at Blacksburg.

In the preseason combined rankings done by milestat.com, Blacksburg and Hidden Valley are No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, behind Group AAA powerhouse Midlothian.

"Hidden Valley is going to be unbelievably tough," Blacksburg coach James DeMarco said. "We'll race each other about every week."

Hidden Valley, under second-year coach Dan King, has three returnees who placed in the top 15 in the Group AA meet, led by 2007 runner-up Haley Cutright, a sophomore. Annie LeHardy, who won the state track title in the 1,600 last spring as a freshman, is back, along with junior Claire Sibley.

Blacksburg is banking on the return of senior Allison Homer from a hip injury. Homer placed fourth in Group AA as a sophomore, but missed almost all of the 2007 season.

"She's back to normal," DeMarco said.

Blacksburg's boys are a heavy favorite in Region IV and could improve on their fifth-place finish in Group AA. Hidden Valley's Bryan Lewis and Blacksburg's Matthew Howard should duel for the regional title.

New River echoes

Blacksburg isn't the only New River Valley school defending a state title.

Radford's boys ended Clarke County's three-year hold on the Group A title, and the Bobcats return three runners who finished in the top 23, led by fourth-place finisher Charles Mogen.

Despite losing 2007 champion Nathan Brame to graduation, Radford should contend with Clarke County again.

"They'll be the top dog," Radford coach Mike Carrow said. "It'll be a battle, but we have a shot. It's not like we're completely rebuilding."

Mogen, Radford's Jared Miller and Galax senior Manuel Echeagaray should be among the top contenders in Region C.

Carrow said his girls team' -- which picked up two transfers from Ohio and some other athletes who did not run cross country last year -- should be very strong this fall.

Around Timesland

• Patrick Henry's Kate Norbo is aiming for her third straight Western Valley District girls' title and a fourth straight trip to the Group AAA meet.

• Roanoke Catholic is a contender for the VIS Division II boys' championship after placing second behind Covenant last year. Sean Flynn, a senior who was fourth in the state meet, leads the Celtics.

• William Byrd's Alisha Royal should contend in Region III if she can shake the mystery ailment that plagued her throughout last fall and winter. Royal, who was fourth in the regional in 2007, has been hampered by a condition that has caused her to pass out before races. While being cleared by a cardiologist and neurologist, Royal is still seeking a diagnosis.

• Watch for Jefferson Forest's Josh Morris as one of Timesland's top boys. Morris placed 10th in the VIS Division I meet last year for Liberty Christian before transferring.