Karabinus, Yellow Jackets capture region crown

EARLYSVILLE — The smile stayed on Ariel Karabinus’s face as she and her teammates sat for team pictures following the Northwest Region races’ awards ceremony.

Celebration, though, was the last thing on her mind when Karabinus crossed the finish line an hour and a half earlier.

“It’s probably my worst race of the season,” the Osbourn Park senior said after finishing third.

But it was good enough to lead the Yellow Jackets to a second straight regional title.

Karabinus’s 18:48 coupled with a fifth from Ashley Wybersky (19:02) and 12th from Natalie Geleta (19:49) allowed the Yellow Jackets to bask in the glow of another team victory one week after taking the Cardinal title.

“We’re proud of it,” Karabinus said. “[The regional title] is what we wanted to accomplish. It’s been one of our goals all year.”

It would have been a huge surprise had Karabinus not placed in the top five.

She ran 18:02 to break Panaroma Farms’ course record at the Oct. 10 Albemarle Invitational.

On Thursday, however, dark clouds and a strong wind hovered over the course as Karabinus and her teammates totaled 47 points, a tally also aided by a 21st from Kelly O’Toole (20:11) and 23rd from Brandy Wybersky (20:19).

“We were hoping to get the regional title,” Ashley Wyberksy said. “We’ve all been working hard.”

And Karabinus and Wybersky’s leadership set the tone.

As co-captains, one of their duties in summer practice was to give their teammates neon shoelaces to promote team unity.

After a team prayer prior to the regional race, Osbourn Park turned its attention to its task at hand with the words ‘OP XC, Why not?’ on the back of each runner’s legs.

“We like to write different stuff on our legs,” Karabinus said. “Every single race, we have a saying.

“‘Why not’ meant why not go out there and give it your all?”

Battlefield senior Darren Driscoll gave it his all and it paid off with a ninth-place finish in 16:48.

“I’m glad I made all-region for the first time,” Driscoll said. “It’s something I’ve been [working toward].”

The finish gives Driscoll the chance to compete in the Nov. 14 Group AAA state race.

“I just went out there and ran,” Driscoll said.

Freshman Nicole Carter will also represent Battlefield in the Group AAA state race after placing 15th in the girls’ race (19:51).

Gar-Field senior Lindsi Arrington repeated her sixth place finish of 2008. Her time was 19:13.

MP’S THATCHER IS EIGHTH
Manassas Park’s Nathan Thatcher placed eighth in Wednesday’s Region B meet in 17:30.

Thatcher’s finish, coupled with an 18th from Baha Bassil (18:06) helped the Cougars finish sixth in the team standings with 158 points.

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-878-8049.