Williamstown’s Alyssa Sauro qualifies for Champs Sports nationals

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Heading into Saturday's 43rd annual Champ Sports cross country South regional championships held at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, Williamstown's Alyssa Sauro had a simple mission.

"My goal was to get top 10 and that's what I did," said Sauro, who finished the course in 17 minutes and 32 seconds to secure 10th place.

The effort by this year's Class A state champion qualified her for the national race set for next Saturday at Balboa Park in San Diego.

"I do like the course," admitted Sauro, who last ran it in seventh grade. "I hadn't really remembered it too much because it was three years ago.

"I left on Friday and got there around three so I could jog the course and kind of get a feel what it's like so I didn't have to walk it the morning of to save my energy."

Kentucky's Ciara O'Shea, who goes to Madison Central, topped the field with a time of 16 minutes and 58 seconds. Now, the top 10 runners from the South will meet up with the best from the Northeast, Midwest and West in California.

"I knew who the other girls were. They are some of the best runners in the country," added Sauro, who said after she jogged the course she went back to her hotel room for some down time. "I was really excited to race against them.

"I looked at the times from last year and tried to match my time as close as I could to that 10th place girl. I was a little bit off that, but I'm looking forward to doing better at San Diego."

Sauro, who was joined in support at the race by teammates Sydney Anderson, Lexi Wynn, Julian Johnson and Will Coiner, said she was confident throughout.

"I knew where I was at," said the Yellowjacket. "I was counting the girls in front of me. There was a girl about 30 meters behind. I wasn't worried."

During this year's cross country season Sauro missed some events, but said everything is OK now.

"I feel super good," admitted the sophomore, who will be accompanied by her mom, dad and grandparents on the West Coast. "I feel really ready for San Diego. I'm super excited.

"I hope to get a better time and push a little harder. Race a little smarter than I did down in Charlotte. Just really looking forward to working up to that fitness against the girls I will be running against."

The WHS standout, who enjoys competing against the best in the country, said they are leaving next Thursday

"I think it's a lot better running against girls that are better than me," admitted Sauro. "I think they push me a lot more to get a better time.

"I was really excited to race against those girls because I look up to them so much. It was exciting to be beside the others near the beginning."

The top 10 finishers at the national meet will earn All-American honors.

"I'm just hoping to run my best race down there," she added. "I'm super excited to keep improving. I have a lot of goals I want to hit in cross country and track. I think I can improve a lot and get to the point where I can have some schools recruiting."

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com