Urbana boys cross-country makes national mark at prestigious Woodbridge Classic

Urbana’s boys cross-country team traveled more than 2,000 miles for one of the biggest meets in the country and showed it belonged.

The defending Maryland Class 4A state champions competed at the Woodbridge Classic in Irvine, California, an event Urbana coach Jackie Suarez described as the largest cross-country meet in the country, with more than 500 teams and roughly 16,000 runners participating over two days.

Seven Urbana runners competed in the 3-mile Gold Varsity B boys race, which was held after 8 p.m. under the lights.

Senior Evan Madraymootoo delivered the fastest performance in school history over three miles, finishing 22nd overall in 15:04.3.

Senior Simon Lipchock was directly behind him in 23rd place at 15:04.5.

Coach Suarez said both runners covered their final mile in under five minutes.

Junior Koen Edwards finished 68th in 15:35.9, sophomore Omar Beraich placed 101st in 15:48.7 and junior Luke Osher was 157th in 16:12.

Together, the Hawks finished ninth out of 49 teams with 347 points.

The race represented an unusual stage for a Frederick County team.

Urbana earned an invitation after winning last year’s Class 4A boys state championship, its first state team title in 22 years. Final approval for the trip came from FCPS and the MPSSAA in June.

The schedule was tight.

The Hawks flew into Orange County Friday night, raced Saturday and flew home early Sunday. The team squeezed in a short trip to Newport Beach but otherwise treated the experience as a business trip.

The athletes paid for their own flights, while the team covered hotel rooms and rental cars. Suarez estimated those team expenses at about $2,400, not including airfare or incidentals.

For Urbana, the bigger payoff may come later in the season.

Lipchock said running that fast for that long against elite competition gives the Hawks confidence that they can maintain championship pace when races become difficult.