"If you're going to open your season, you should do it like Virginia Kraus."

That's according to PennTrackXC, who goes on to say, "She led from wire to wire at the Lions Invitational, running away from the field and setting the PA No. 1 in 18:37.45."

Nearly 800 middle and high school cross-country runners from 30 schools turned out for the Lions Invitational, which is hosted by Moravian Academy and held on the Merle-Smith Campus. The Lions performed well across the board, with Lily Razavi '27 (making this the first time MA middle school cross-country placed in the top 15 in Invitational history), Ava Noel '24, and Virginia Kraus '26 medaling in the top 15. 

It was Virginia's breakaway performance that wowed everyone in attendance. "To the home crowd's delight, she kicked down the final stretch nearly a minute before the next finisher, despite blistering hot conditions. Her time was faster than any run in 1A last year and the 10th fastest time of the past decade in 1A." 

Previously, during the week of August 1 - 6, 2022, Junior Olympians from all over the country competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Greensboro, North Carolina. Virginia Kraus '26 ran some incredible races at the Aggie Stadium and took home a couple shiny medals there, too! 

Virginia placed second in the 14-year-old division of the 3000 meters, with the personal record of 10:08, and third in the 1500 meters, with a personal record of  4:46. She made The Swain Campus proud running as a Cougar and is now taking the cross-country season by storm as a Lion for the Merle-Smith Campus.

Moravian Academy's cross-country runners will certainly be the ones to beat this season. We're so proud of the entire team. And, as for Virginia, "She instantly became THE favorite to win the PIAA 1A state championship in November."

Congrats to all for such a strong start to the season! Go Lions!