Veilleux's Success Continues

Clarke County Senior Wins Title

Ben Veilleux felt woozy after he crossed the finish line yesterday, so he found a nearby post and propped himself against it. But no sooner had he gotten his sagging body stabilized than a race official urged him to continue moving through the finishing chute.

Veilleux took several wobbly steps and collapsed. This time, the race official cut the exhausted Clarke County senior some slack. After winning the Glory Days Invitational in Centreville -- he stormed the five-kilometer course at Bull Run Regional Park in 15 minutes 23 seconds -- he enjoyed a well-deserved breather in the grass.

"Coach said there was nothing to lose today and just go for it," Veilleux said later, still breathing like a steam engine. "You just trust your training and hope for the best."

Third-place finisher Jared Berman led Robinson to the boys' team trophy, their second in as many weeks. The Rams scored 114 points to outdistance Potomac Falls (132 points) and Western Branch (181).

Jefferson, which was paced by four freshmen, including second-place finisher Sarah Stites, scored 89 points to run away with the girls' title. Lake Braddock was second with 148 points, and West Potomac was just one point behind.

Several girls were clustered with Anneka Wilson at the beginning of the race, but she began dropping her competition about a mile in, on one of the few challenging hills the relatively flat course had to offer. The Potomac School junior was all alone when she entered the final stretch and breezed to the victory in 18:22, the seventh-fastest time in the 16-year history of the meet.

It was Wilson's fifth victory at a major invitational this season.

"I'm in shock," Wilson said. "I still don't know where this is coming from."

Meantime, it was just Veilleux's second race of the season. He has a history of sports injuries -- a stress fracture sidelined him all of last year -- so Clarke County Coach Nancy Specht wanted to bring him along slowly. In his first race two weeks ago, Veilleux finished an impressive seventh at the prestigious Maymont Invitational in Richmond. Yesterday, he powered himself to his first victory -- even if it cost him just about everything he had.

"I'm definitely excited," Veilleux said, "now that I can feel a little bit."

Glory Days Invitational Star Gazing: South Lakes graduate and American mile record holder Alan Webb signed T-shirts while fans took pictures of him on their camera phones. 'Loudoun' Clear: Loudoun County had the top girls in the 34-team Varsity B race. Shannon Brady led Potomac Falls to the team trophy, and Stone Bridge senior Stephanie Paradis was the individual champion in 19:05.