NEW YORK, Ny. - Things started with a bang here at the Armory for Team VA at indoor nationals. This included a multitude of EE titles and numerous All-American finishes by some of the best athletes from the state.
The biggest of these performances was Western Branch's girls 4x200 relay who ran a VA #2 1:40.04 time. That is significant because it is only behind their own "A" team's time and was a complete "B" lineup! That just shows us that they are ready to roll this weekend.
One of their "A" 4x2 runners was in action and she took care of business in that race. Dajah Parker-Love did so in the EE 200 final where she clocked a 24.47 out of lane five to take the title from the unseeded section.
The boys' 4x200 was no slower with Lee-Davis bringing home the EE title with a huge season pr of 1:30.76 from section 4 of 8.
Setting the pace though for the day definitely was Heather Holt (George C Marshall) and Alec Schrank (Millbrook). They both took home the EE Two Mile races in solid performances of 10:46 and 9:16. It should also be noted that Schrank led a 1-2-3-5 finish for Team VA in that race.
In the shortest and quickest race Donovan Louis of Potomac Senior blazed the sprint straight in 6.87 seconds to take the EE 60 title by .001 over Prince George's Aman Bivens.
Lake Braddock's girls squad also came to do work and ran a US #10 9:16 4x800 without Kate Murphy showing just how deep and talented their team really is. That time was good enough to also win the EE 4x800 title.
In the open 800, Grafton's Miles Owens went out strong and never looked back as he took home the victory in 1:54.88.
Taylor Beard of John Handley took home the Girls EE title in the high jump with her clearance of 5-7. Sydney Banks of Osbourn Park finished as an All-American (4th) in the Championship High Jump with a clearance of 5-8.75. Dymiere Jeffery (Henrico) finished 5th with her 5-7 clearance.
Also finishing as All-Americans were Doria Martingayle and Libby Davidson in the 5K. Doria and Libby had to work together from the start as Brie Oakley quickly made it clear she was running away with the title and ultimately the national record as well. Martingayle finished very strong to improve her pr to 17:22 for 5th with Libby just behind in 6th at 17:24.
In the penultimate race of the day, Patriot made Rachel McArthur really work but ultimately saw all four ladies finish as All-Americans with their 5th place finish in the DMR. Rachel brought her team from way back to finish 5th thanks to a 4:42 split.