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Gov. Thomas Johnson senior Stephanie Bryan and Urbana senior Jimmy Miller were clear-cut favorites to win the respective girls and boys individual titles going into start of the season. And with only a few surprises and mud patches on the course, each fulfilled their missions.

Bryan was done with the 5.0-kilometer course in 20 minutes, 19 seconds, while Miller wrapped it up in 17:27.

And with the Patriots taking six of the top eight finishes, Thomas Johnson easily won the girls team crown.

Linganore's boys surprisingly earned the boys team championship, scoring 55 points to beat Walkersville (63) and Urbana (72).

Linganore's win was powered by sophomore Braden Bruning's second-place finish at 17:42, and freshman Patrick Daboyce's seventh-place performance (18:24).

Bruning noted that initially, just getting into the top three for the county meet was a goal. But then the Lancers won the Don Stoner Invite in Washington County; beating Urbana, Mount Hebron and Glenelg in the process. Since then, they've had to adjust their goals.

"We're hoping that next week [for the Class 3A West Region meet], we have a feeling that we'll qualify for the state meet as a team," Bruning said.

Then the next goal is a top 10 finish as a team at the state meet.

Bruning has been a surprise to cross country, after only two years. He initially started after getting cut from the soccer team his freshman year.

"I thought running was just running," Bruning said.

Since then, he's had a turnaround, and has embraced his new sport.

Bryan had a similar path into the sport, after not running her freshman year. She kept a 6:32 clip per mile on Saturday.

"I finally realized that you could go for a run and have it be fun," Bryan said.

Going the whole season as one of the more targeted runners, Bryan didn't let the pressure get to her.

"I just stay focused the whole time," Bryan said. "When you train hard in the summer, you don't just give up."

Over the summer, she logged in 450 miles, while also working 40 hours a week on a summer job.

"I couldn't not train over the summer," Bryan said. "I love running too much."

Then again, those closest to catching her were some of her own teammates, including junior Savanna Plombon in second, along with senior Kristin Luttrell (fifth), junior Annie Powell (sixth), senior Kelsey Igo (seventh) and junior Kristen Galligan (eighth).

Linganore senior Bridget Nolan was third, while Urbana's Sarah Askine was fourth.

In the boys race, Tuscarora senior Tyree Smith was third, Walkersville junior Stephen Keith was fourth, and Tuscarora sophomore Logan Jones was fifth.