Week #12 - The Absolute Best: Tandem Cross Country Wins Virginia State Championship, Dominates All Three Divisions!

Dave Levy, Athletic Director
Boys Varsity Cross Country
 
Eight miles into a long run is where all of the best ideas come to mind. So as our Boys Varsity Cross Country team emerged from the woods of the Willoughby section of the Rivanna Trail back in August, it was only natural for Hayes to share an idea. "We can be the best team in all of VISAA this year. Not just Division III, but across all of the divisions." By the time the team was cruising down Mill Creek back to Tandem Lane, a decision had been made. Sure, the Tandem Boys Varsity Cross Country team is very proud to be defending Division III state champions. The 2025 Badgers wanted even more: to be the best private school team in the entire state of Virginia. In order to do so, Tandem would need to defeat perennial powerhouse Bishop O'Connell, defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Division I Champions, with a high school enrollment of 1,200 students, nearly TWELVE TIMES the size of Tandem. Additionally, the Badgers would also have to knock off North Cross School, defending Division II and Blue Ridge Athletic Conference Champions, with an enrollment of over 600 upper school students. Even more challenging, Tandem would have to go after this goal in a completely different race: as if they were competing against ghosts and chasing down invisible rivals that they could not see.  
 
When the gun went off, Tandem was racing against all 22 teams in VISAA Division III. That said, the Tandem Boys Varsity Cross Country team has been after something so much bigger. Across Virginia, more than 70 teams and 800 athletes ran the beautiful Panorama Farms 5K course today, most from schools much larger than ours. The Badgers couldn't see all of them on the starting line, but they were there. Ghost runners, flying up and down the hills, as talented, quick, experienced and competitive as they come.
 
As if someone hit fast-forward and forgot to press pause, Hayes flew into his usual first place position, just him and the pace cart. It was as if the course itself was pulling him forward as he dominated the opening mile. When Tandem's big three hit the mile mark, they were all alone - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place - 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Running 4:53, 4:54 and 4:57 respectively for the first 1600 meters, Hayes, Jack B and Miles were in complete control - smooth, composed and separating themselves from both the Division III pack and the ghosts of every other runner from across the state.
 
As the pace cart pulled aside, Hayes made his ascent to the finish line, a blur of motion so fast he nearly overtook the cart meant to lead him. Easily defending his individual state title, Hayes finished in a time of 15:42 - over thirty seconds faster than his time in 2024! It's been a heck of a season for Hayes - earning podium finishes at the Tandem Two Mile, Pole Green, FUMA, Albemarle, Route 53, the Ragged Mountain Cup, GPAC Championships and how he can add his second consecutive 1st Place Overall Finish at VISAA States to an enormous list of accolades! Always locked in, Hayes has worked tirelessly as a runner and a teammate, organizing long runs and establishing a culture of hard work. Leading us in more ways than one, what a season it has been for you Hayes!
Hot on his heels, Senior Jack B did not hold back. Already committed to run at Denison University in the fall, Jack's final Cross Country race in a Tandem uniform was one to remember.  An exceptionally tenacious runner, Jack ran the first mile in under 5:00. Focused and determined, he then powered through the most difficult section of the course, flying up the hills as he passed runners from Veritas and ghosts from Bishop O'Connell and North Cross. He has run countless miles this fall (and logged incredible distances over the summer) and he used that base to finish 2nd overall in a time of 16:17 - 32 seconds faster than his time from 2024!
 
Miles loves Panorama Farms. He had a huge breakout race at the Albemarle Invitational, dropping over a minute off of his PR. A few weeks later, he earned a position on the esteemed Ragged Mountain Cup podium, accomplishing a goal he set for himself early in the season. Building on those successes, Miles went for it today, leaving everything on the course. The result: he ran yet another personal best: 16:27, leaving the ghosts in his wake. His time is 40 seconds faster than his performance in 2024, and moved him from sixth last season to third place overall! He earned a shiny bronze medal to boot. What a trio of athletes! Sheesh!
 
Gabriel always saves his best for last. A season ago, he was a true Tandem hero, passing four runners in the final 800 meters of the race and giving the Badgers a narrow edge. This time around, Gabriel went through the mile mark looking strong - without a trace of any fatigue!  Exuding a calm confidence, Gabriel began to move around tons of athletes - both Division III competition and Virginia's finest ghost runners, and moved into the top ten. We had spent the afternoon talking about the possibility of him being top twenty, and earning all state honors. Instead, Gabriel blew that out of the water: his new PR of 17:32 placed him 8th overall! Additionally, Gabriel's time is 20 seconds faster than he ran on this course in September and TWO MINUTES faster than his heroic performance in 2024!
 
"You can be all state! I want that for you!" Jason shouted at Peter yesterday as we left practice. It's really the only way to communicate with Peter - with the volume turned all the way up. That's how he operates - loud, fast, competitive, clutch. Peter has delivered in key moments throughout the season. Every time we have needed him to step up, he has shouldered the burden of the following fact: a Cross Country team is only as strong as its fourth and fifth runners. Today, after a blazing 5:17 mile, Peter ran through the ghosts! His time of 17:43 is a nine second PR, a FULL MINUTE faster than his time in 2024 at States and earned him 9th Place overall, giving Tandem FIVE RUNNERS IN THE TOP TEN!
 
It was eight degrees when Brendan decided to join Hayes for our first winter run of December, 2024. He was not worried about whether or not he could keep pace with his teammate - he just went for it. Twenty four hours later, he came back and did it again. By the time the sun came out for track season, Brendan was in incredible shape - performing at a high level in the 3200 meters. He took a few weeks off, and got right back into action, logging a high volume summer. All of this hard work has paid off enormously. Today, in his final race of the season, Brendan just went for it again. The result: Brendan finished in 18:34, over TWO MINUTES faster than he ran in 2024.
 
Hot on Brendan's tail was Jack "Nobody Works Harder" Johnson. It's his given name - and he lives it everyday - running each workout with speed and precision. The ghosts couldn't track him, and neither could the Veritas runner he outkicked at the finish line. Jack's time of 18:40 is a FULL MINUTE faster than what he ran in 2024. The Badgers just kept coming: Will (19:33) finished his career in style - THIRTY seconds faster than in 2024, running much of the race with his training partner John (19:53), who has consistently run under 20:00 throughout October and November! Peter D completed an epic freshman season with his VISAA States debut in 20:06!
 
At last season's awards ceremony, our athletes, coaches and families sat on pins and needles, unable to quiet our racing minds as we waited for the official results. Today felt different - as the race official stated: "when your fifth runner is in ninth place, it's pretty clear - your 2025 Division III State Champion is Tandem Friends School!" The Badgers have been there before, and our elite team calmly marched on to the podium, accepted the trophy and took a photo to commemorate this special moment that we do not take for granted.
 
The loudest cheer came a little while later, when Coach Ned called the team over for a huddle. "Are we taking another photo?" they asked. No. Instead, Ned had finished compiling the numbers from all three VISAA Divisions. "Well guys," he started in a somber tone before turning up the volume Peter-Style, "WE DID IT!" WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN ALL OF VISAA!" What's more, as Ned put it, "we beat the breaks off them!" The Badgers defeated Bishop O'Connell (Division I Champion) by 34 points and North Cross (Division II Champion) by 35 points!
 
When I try to describe how impressive this accomplishment is, consider this. There are nearly 1,000 private schools in the state of Virginia. The vast majority of them have much larger enrollments than Tandem. No matter the size of the opponent or the name on the jersey, no other team in the ENTIRE STATE could match our speed, grit and our heart. When we compared the times, those ghosts could not catch us, begging the question: do they even exist? Tandem alone stands at the top: VISAA State Champions - the best of Divison I, II or III!
 
"We really are that team, huh?" Miles asked as we made our way to the bus. Nearly everybody we saw stopped to congratulate us, or to tell Miles how impressed they were with his performance. Yes, Miles, indeed we are. Division I, Division II, Division III, it doesn't matter. No matter how you slice it, we are the best of the best. Tandem Friends School: UNDISPUTED OVERALL 2025 VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
 
Pride does not even begin to describe the way I feel about this team. Simply put, pride is too small a word. Awe, gratitude and pure admiration are closer. There has not been a lack of focus among these athletes for even a single moment. The team started training way back in late June - gathering at the Monticello Saunders trail for a wildly hot run, where we began to build our base. The team went on to run throughout the summer - together - before arriving to preseason in midseason form. They have completed enormously difficult workouts - at our regular practice time and on Saturday mornings - running steep hills, lengthy intervals and logging extensive weekly mileage. They have made Cross Country the best part of the day and I am lucky to be part of it. Thank you so much to this incredible team of athletes - as hardworking as they are talented, setting our goals high and reaching every single one of them. Truly, this is the honor of a lifetime.  
 
Enormous thanks to my fellow coaches: Jason, Ned and Melissa. This is a coaching staff that pours hours of hard work into creating and executing workouts that are specially designed for each individual athlete on the team regardless of their level. All the while, we celebrate our athletes when we're on top (like today!) and nurture them when they're struggling. The GPAC Coach of the Year, Coach Jason designs a perfect training program. His motivational speeches are legendary. His connections with students are even more notable.  Very rarely does a team have a coach that can give in-the-moment feedback. Coach Ned can run with these exceptionally fast humans, and he guides them as he does it - seven days a week. Ned is always thinking about how to make their experience better - and he truly has in more ways than I can count. Coach Melissa always says exactly the right thing at the right time. When the going gets tough, Melissa is a strong force, inspiring the squad and holding our athletes accountable. We're an amazing team, and I am honored and blessed to work with you. Thank you - and congratulations!
 
Girls Varsity Cross Country
 
Throughout the season, Coach Jason has reinforced how this team, the 2025 Girls Varsity Badgers is the best team in school history. "I'll look back in ten years," he told them at our team meeting yesterday, "and will remember this year as the team that changed everything." That's a serious message to deliver the day before states - and a challenge. How did our extraordinary team of runners respond? Well, for starters, two athletes broke the previous Girls Varsity Cross Country School record, set in 2019. Those same athletes also earned all-state honors, giving Tandem two athletes on the podium with well-deserved medals around their necks. Additionally, we had our best overall Division III finish in Tandem history, finishing in 5th place. Oh, and I should probably mention that for the second postseason meet in a row, nearly every athlete had a PR!
 
Our top runner for each of the last two seasons, Lucy has shouldered a lot of pressure this season. It was if she was running up a hill pushing a large boulder, and sometimes that boulder would roll right back down at her. A weaker student-athlete may have given up, but Lucy did not complain. Instead, she gave every single workout her absolute all. Last weekend, as we logged our final Saturday workout of the season, I watched as she unleashed a pace I had never seen her run before, like a superhero emerging from the phone booth. Far exceeding a tempo pace, Lucy's stride was smooth, extended and confident. Just then, as Lucy took on the steepest hill at Darden Towe, she shoved that boulder with all her might. It went off into the distance, never to be seen again.
 
It's been nearly a month since Lucy ran 23:05 at the Albemarle Invitational on the same course we ran today.  That was October Lucy, the one with the boulder. Today, we were introduced to November Lucy - and she is something special. Dashing into position, Lucy was in the top fifteen from the word go. She flew down the initial downhill, and was cruising on the incline as she approached the mile. Running a blazing 6:32 (not that far off from her mile PR), Lucy zeroed in on her  rivals from Fredericksburg Academy. With a confident look in her eye, she charged down the course, leaving nothing behind but dust and determination. Flying up the final hill, Lucy crossed the line in a time of 21:47 - earning her 8th Place, All-State honors, a new PR and the Tandem Friends Girls Cross Country school record! She didn't do it alone.
 
Claire has been on an absolute tear the last few weeks. As her season began, Claire was facing some injuries, and has worked incredibly hard to overcome them. September Claire was strong, breaking 25:00 at the Albemarle Invitational on this same course. October Claire featured an amazing breakout race at GPAC Championships, running 22:49, and guiding her team to a second-place overall finish. But November Claire?  Sheesh. She came through the mile in 6:50, placing her 19th. Claire was just getting started, as she accomplished something most runners can only dream of. Claire negative split this tough Panorama Farms course, running the second half faster than first. In doing so, she passed ten runners, three of them in the final two hundred meters! It was a magical kick as Claire positioned herself right behind her teammate and training partner of three years. Claire's finish of 21:48 marks her first time under 22:00, a PR of OVER A MINUTE, and TWO MINUTES faster than her time at states in 2024. She finished 9th overall, All-State, and broke the previous school record by nine seconds! A great leader, this hill queen truly saved her best for last.
 
She was a novice only two months ago, but Maeve approaches each race like a seasoned athlete. "A gift in so many ways," as Jason described her, Maeve's effort this year has been extraordinary. Ready to go from moment one, Maeve completed every summer workout with ease and a smile on her face. She had a heck of a season - running with calm confidence and the spirit of a true runner. She's been one of our top athletes all season long, highlighted by her podium finishes at both Route 53 and the GPAC Championships just last week. Today, wearing her Tandem kit for the final time, Maeve went out hard: she ran her first mile in 6:40! Her overall time of 23:00 placed her 33rd overall, an incredible accomplishment, and 17 seconds faster than she ran on the same course a month ago!
 
A Senior Co-Captain, Avery continues to defy the odds. She didn't run at states in 2024. She didn't compete during Track and Field season. Instead, Avery was busy training - for this day - and proving to her team, and herself, that she has incredible speed in her legs! That fact was evident the first day we ran at the Monticello-Saunders trail. Flying up the hill, I did a double take as Avery shot past me with a smile on her face. She brought that intensity to the Tandem Two Mile and every meet since. She's shown up for Saturday workouts, grinding out "The Badger" or our three-mile tempo cut-down workout, which was exhausting to say the least. It has culminated in PR's of over eight minutes. Today, her time of 24:20 is eight seconds faster than her time at the Albemarle Invitational a month ago. It is also TEN WHOLE MINUTES faster than she ran at the Albemarle Invitational in 2024. TEN WHOLE MINUTES. Congratulations, Avery. You are a stronger runner, a powerful and inspiring person, and you have established a grit and tenacity that will take you through any challenge in life. What a season!
 
The scoring meter was still running, and the Badgers needed a hero to complete it. Emerging from our pack of Tandem's 4th-8th runners, Eve (24:58), Sadie (25:05), Dhruvi (25:23), Alice (25:54) and Hattie (26:14) each had an extraordinary day. As I chased them through the hay bales, I shouted "somebody needs to make a move." Eve responded, taking the lead. "Yes Eve," I added, "now everybody go with her!" Easier said than done. After running 28:26 on this course a few weeks back, Eve's confidence and pace have increased dramatically! Today, passing athletes as she went, Eve set the tone for her team. With 400 meters to go, she faced a massive hill before the finish. Undaunted, Eve opened her stride and moved her arms even faster. Dropping opponents as she went, Eve's final kick positioned her in a place she'd never been before:  24:58, under 25:00 for the first time! Additionally, Eve ran nearly FOUR MINUTES faster than her time at the Albemarle Invitational on the same course!
 
The rest of the Badgers followed her lead! Sadie, for the second season in a row, saved her best for last! Her incredible time of 25:05 is a season best by nearly two minutes, and ONE MINUTE faster than she ran at states in 2024! Dhruvi came through the tape in 25:22 - a PR of THIRTY SECONDS, and more than a FULL MINUTE faster than she ran at the Albemarle Invitational in October. Alice, who has been on fire the last few weeks, dropped a FULL MINUTE off of her PR. Her time of 25:54 is her first time under 26:00, and NINETY SECONDS faster than she ran on the same course just a few weeks ago! Hot on her tail, Hattie made her states debut - running 26:14!  This pack of athletes are all 9th and 10th graders - so beware Virginia! The future is bright!
 
Led by Senior Co-Captains Claire and Avery, the Girls Varsity Cross Country team accomplished so much this season  The product of months of hard training, today's performance was epic - two runners in the top ten, two new school records and our best team finish (5th) in school history. The team has dealt with injuries and illness throughout the journey and have never once wavered from going after their goals. Today, against the best competition in the state, the Badgers pushed themselves to a historic finish laden with Personal Records, School Records and medals to boot. Congratulations to an amazing group of athletes who have given their all to this team and this sport. It has been a true joy to train alongside you - as I tried to keep pace on tempo runs, track workouts and easy runs on the Biscuit Trail. Running with you has been the best part of every day. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
 
An enormous thank you to our incredible community for all of your support throughout the season! Tandem always has an enormous crowd of families, teachers and friends at our races, and we are incredibly grateful for that. You run at full speed around the course, cheer, provide healthy snacks and pick your kids up at late hours. Much appreciated! Coaches Jason, Melissa, Ned and I were determined to make sure that this season was a special one for our girls team. Thank you to each of my fellow coaches for all of the effort that was put into accomplishing that goal - a top five team at states, runner up at GPAC's, the most talented and largest team in school history. That does not happen by accident, and it sure was a lot of fun! Thank you for all of your hard work! 
 
What a day, Tandem. State Champions. Safe to say you truly Badgered Up!
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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