Brentwood Home Page news reports
The Brentwood High School boys cross country team finished in second place only behind No. 2 nationally ranked Carmel (Ind.) at the prestigious Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational in Louisville, Ky.

The BHS boys team holds up their runner-up trophy. (Photos submitted by Nancy Ramsey)

Alec Thomas and Taylor Caldwell run in the Louisville race.

Seniors Paul Stuart (15:39) and Nathan Thomas (15.54) finished 12^th and 16^th, respectively, while sophomore Alec Thomas placed 18^th.

The Bruins’ average time was 16 minutes, 4 seconds for the 5K course at Tom Sawyer Park on Saturday. That moved BHS up to 14^th nationally and No. 1 in the state.

The Lady Bruins also made a super showing, finishing fifth in the girls event.

Five of the top 50 ranked runners in the U.S. ran the boys race, with No. 5-ranked Jacob Burcham (15:03) of West Virginia winning in an exciting finish over No. 7 Brock Baker (15:07) of Tennessee’s Murfreesboro Oakland.

The meet is Kentucky's oldest and largest with elite teams from surrounding states in attendance. According to the latest U.S. Milesplit rankings, the Brentwood boys competed against 38 teams including the Nos. 2, 26, 27, 53, 54, 71 and 74th nationally ranked teams.

The top-ranked teams from Indiana, West Virginia, Ohio, Kenutcky and Tennessee were all racing in the event.

Brentwood’s other top finishers and times were Taylor Caldwell 16:20 (41st), Aaron Thomas 16:32 (51st), Grant Seckman 17:38 (159th) and Rahib Bashir 17:44 (166th). Alec and Aaron Thomas, who are twins, are Nathan’s younger brothers.

The Lady Bruins varsity team competed against 34 top-tier teams including the Nos. 1, 4 and 61^st nationally ranked squads – including the top teams from Indiana and Kentucky.

The Carmel girls team, rated No. 1 nationally, also won the team trophy.

However, the Lady Bruins posted their fastest average team time of the year (19:50).

The top seven BHS finishers included Elizabeth Scott 18:56 (13th), Brittany Alexander 19:03 (17th), Katherine Schenck 19:40 (29th), Brianna Koshy 20:46 (67th), Allison O’Neill 20:49 (71st), Ansley Hardin 21:45 (122nd) and Anne Ramsey 21:50 (129th).  

The nation’s 29^th-ranked runner Sarah Bennett (18.13) nipped 33^rd-rated Renee Wellman (18:14) for the individual title.

For complete results, click here.