Sinclair twins continue dominating performances

SEPT 25, MONTGOMERY COLLEGE, GERMANTOWN CAMPUS—

The Blair Cross-Country team competed in the Knights Invitational at the Montgomery College Germantown campus today, running a difficult 5k course against top teams in the county.

The boys' varsity team, consisting of Blair's top seven runners, finished eighth out of eleven, while the girls' varsity team finished sixth out of eight teams. The girls' overall performance was again dominated by the excellent performances of the Sinclair twins, Ashlyn and Hasley.

The freshmen girls continued an excellent season of performances, with Hasley and Ashlyn taking first and second overall, with times of 20:30 and 20:56, respectively. The two girls have placed in the top three in all of their competitions this season.

Senior Matt Sheldon was the best runner for the boys' team, finishing ninth overall with a time of 18:13. Fellow senior Esey Kidane, a top runner for the team, was unable to finish the run for the second meet in a row. Coach Carl Lewin attributes the performance to overwork in practice on Kidane's part. "He's been training really hard. Esey's going to be taking some time off, and then we'll try to get him back on the saddle again."

The meet was the most difficult one the teams have faced so far, with many teams from higher divisions competing against Blair. Lewin said the course was also particularly difficult.

"[The course] is what a lot of community colleges in the area use as their regional course." Of particular note was a 2/5-mile hill that Lewin thought presented some problems. "A lot of kids probably weren't ready for it," he said.

Poor weather has affected the team, according to Lewin. "As a team we have suffered a little. We haven't been able to put in the time because of the weather." A grueling schedule may also takes its toll, as the teams are in the midst of a three-meet in one-week span. "It' really hard for high-school athletes to compete [multiple times] in a week," Lewin said. He has prepared them to focus on individual events. "I'd rather have them run hard on a state meet than on a county dual or tri-meet course."