VIRGINIA BEACH — Before the cross country season began this fall, Cox junior Danielle Maynor competed in a scrimmage meet that included both boys and girls.
Maynor finished seventh overall — more than a minute and a half ahead of the nearest girl and in front of many of the boys.
“That was my first time winning a cross country race,” she said. “And we were racing with the boys, and I was passing a lot of them.”
Her performance caught the attention of her coach, Lanny Doan.
“I thought this could be a very exciting season,” he said.
And it has been.
On Saturday, Maynor will travel to Leesburg for the Class 5 state cross country meet.
“I’m excited, but also nervous,” she said.
“I think she can run an average race and make the top 15,” Doan added. “I think she can run a good race and be in the top 10. And if she runs a great race, she can finish anywhere from first to fifth.”
But Doan doesn’t want to put too much into one race.
“If you do great, it’s like the icing on the cake,” he said. “And if you have a bad race, she’s got another year.”
Last season, Maynor covered the 5,000-meter course in 21 minutes, 29 seconds to finish 37th overall.
This season she came in with two goals: Qualify for state cross country meet and run under 19 minutes.
She’s done both.
At the Virginia Cross Country Showcase last month, she competed against runners from primarily Virginia, but also included runners from Maryland and North Carolina. She ran 18:50 to finish 73rd overall.
“I wanted to do better, but I was just happy that I broke 19 because I’ve gotten so close before,” she said.
Doan was glad she broke 19, but hoped she would run faster.
“We thought she would run faster at the showcase, but that turned out to be her worst race of the year,” he said. “But she broke the school record. So, it was a bad race competition wise, but a good race time. We were happy with that.”
Doan said Maynor has succeeded this season because of her commitment.
“The progression has been really good. And I attribute that to Danielle’s work ethic,” he said. “She does 10-mile runs on Sunday. She’s not complacent.”
He said she’s also been successful this season because of her training partners, including four freshmen boys runners.
“The boys don’t want to get beat by her, and she doesn’t want to get beat by them,” Doan said with a chuckle. “So it’s a very, very productive training session.”
Her improvement can also be attributed to her three-inch growth spurt since last season. Doan said it’s given her a longer stride to cover more ground.
“I think it made me faster,” said Maynor, who now stands at 5-foot-9.
They hope all of these factors will help her on Saturday.
“I think if Danielle can be in the front pack with 400 to go, I would put money on her,” Doan said. “I think she’s got more leg speed than most of the other cross country girls over the last 400.”
Added Maynor: “I’m just excited. I’m not going to worry about my time. I’m just going to try to stay with the front of the pack,” said Maynor, who won the 1,600 meter at the Class 5 state outdoor meet. “(Winning the state title) gave me a lot of confidence because I ended last season on a good note. So I feel like I have a good chance.”
CLASS STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET
What: Class 6, Class 5, Class 4 state cross country meet
Where: Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg
When: Saturday. Class 6 (girls at 10:30 a.m.; boys at 11:15); Class 5 (girls at 11:45 a.m.; boys at 12:30 p.m.); Class 4 (girls at 1 p.m.; boys at 1:45 p.m.)
What: Class 3, Class 2 state cross country meet
Where: Green Hill Park in Salem
When: Saturday. Class 3 (girls at 10:30 a.m.; boys at 11:15); Class 2 (girls at 11:45 a.m.; boys – 12:30 p.m.)
Ticket information: https://www.vhsl.org/cross-country/
