Blacksburg's Noah Combs was recently named Virginia's Cross Country Freshman of the Year by Milestat.com, Virginia's premier track and field website. In addition several other local runners were named to the first, second and honorable mention teams.

Combs had a season best time of 16:25 (5K course). The award is based on greatest weight being given to championship season (district, regional, and state) as well as post-season (Foot Locker/NXN) performances in the selection process, but consistently strong performers during the invitational season was taken into consideration as well if a subpar race or two down the final stretch.

Also selected to the 2011 team were Carolyn Bethel (Hidden Valley, Girls first team), Katie Fortner (Cave Spring, Girls first team), Nick Link (Blacksburg, Boys second team), Cody Seymour (Cave Spring, Boys second team), Stuart Roberterson (Staunton River, Boys honorable mention),

Photo: Blacksburg's Noah Combs was was recently named Virginia's Cross Country Freshman of the Year by Milestat.com. (Photo by Jon Fleming)