A core of 23 men and women, part of an incoming recruiting class numbering 40, will attend the Virginia Military Institute and compete on the Keydets

Multi-events highlighted the second day of competition at the 2005 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Tom Black Track at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Virginia Commonwealth University women

Knoxville, Tenn., - Walter Henning improved his intermediate boys hammer throw record to start the first day of competition at the 2005 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee.

More than 2,000 of the top youth track & field athletes in the U.S. will be on hand this week at the 2005 USA Youth Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 28 through July 3, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Central Dauphin grad Ryan Whiting was named the Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year Wed. June 22nd. He had been nominated and selected as the Gatorade PA T&F Athlete of the Year. Nicole Leach, West Catholic, was named the Gatorade PA Girls\' T&F Athlete of the Year.

Central Bucks South grad Duane Hynes finishes 10th in the Junior Men\'s Decathlon with 6291 points.

Shane Riegel won the second annual Berks Multi-Event Championships Decathlon with an impressive score of 5579, while Brandywine Heights grad Rachael Angstadt took the girsl Heptathlon on the final event to score 3,197.

Fauquier senior Sarah Bowman redeemed herself from finishing fourth in the 800 meter finals yesterday and losing her US #1 time in the 800 meter run to Becca Noble of Washington (2:03.73) by winning the 1500 meter finals at the USATF Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a national leading time of 4:18.48. Her time equates to roughly 4:39 for a full mile. Bowman indicated that she plans to compete in the 1500 at the Pan Am Games and will try to go after the national high school record of 4:16.6.

Ryan Whiting made the US team in both his events, adding the Discus with a throw of 182-03 using the Junior\'s implement. O\'Hara grad and American Univerisity\'s Steve Hallinan finished 3rd in the Junior 1500, running 3:51.99. Shaler grad John Balouris of St. Francis University, was 10th. Williamsport grad Ruby Radocaj finished 3rd in the Junior Women\'s Javelin with a throw of 154-08. Coming off two tough days in the Heptathlon, Northern grad Amy Backel was 13th. Central Bucks South grad Duane Hynes is competing in the Junior Men\'s Decathlon. Wissahickon grad Krista Simkins finished 8th in the Junior Women\'s 400 Finals in 55.09.

Seven track and field athletes from the Florence area are traveling to Coventry, England in July to compete in the 39th International Children\'s Games. The Games are scheduled from July 6-11.

Rising Charlotte 49er sophomore Ryan Jank (Dorman) rounded out the top six in the junior men\'s 5,000-meter event with a personal best 14:39.28 at the USA National Championships in Carson, Calif.

In the second day of events at the USATF Junior Nationals Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Fauquier senior Sarah Bowman posted the top time in the preliminaries of the 1500 meter run, while finishing fourth in the 800 meter finals two hours later. Bowman, coming off a US high school #3 all-time mile performance last weekend, clocked a time of 4:32.71 to win her heat with the fastest preliminary time to advance to the finals as the favorite. Bowman then doubled back later in the day to compete in the 800 meter finals. Bowman led through 400 meters in 62 seconds, but the trials of the 1500 earlier in the day and 800 the day before caught up to her as she was chased down to finish fourth in the heat in a respectable time of 2:07.88. Thomas Dale senior Dennis Boone and Bethel junior Francena McCorory had much better second days at USATF Junior National meet as Boone finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 23-9, while McCorory finished third overall in the 200 meter dash finals with personal best and state leading clocking of 23.22.

Nicole Leach (in photo from NON) wins the 400 Hurdles in 57.25 with the 11th best prep time ever... and is the 5th best individual ever. Steve Hallinan and John Balouris advance in the 1500, while Krista Simkins advances in the 1500 and 400. Lindsay Regan takes 4th. More...

Westside graduate Dennis Martin and Spring Valley rising senior Kate Niehaus were named 2005 South Carolina Gatorade Boys and Girls Track & Field Athletes of the Year.

In the first day of competition at the US Junior Nationals, Great Bridge junior Michael Morrison won the junior nationals title in the pole vault as he won the event with a clearance of 16-08.75. Morrison coming off a national runner-up performance at the Nike Outdoor Nationals last weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina, defeated NON winner Scott Roth of California with his winning performance. The USA Junior Nationals meet, which is held over four days of competition from June 23rd to 26th, serves as a qualifier for selecting the USA junior team for the Pan Am Games. Also competing in the meet were Virginia high school stars Sarah Bowman of Fauquier, Dennis Boone of Fauquier, and Francena McCorory of Bethel. Bowman, who qualified last summer at the US Junior Nationals meet to compete at Worlds at 1500 meters, won her heat in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:07.73 (2nd fastest overall) to qualify for the finals of the event. Meanwhile, Boone (12th out of 14th, 10.89) and McCorory (12th out of 21, 11.97) failed to qualify for the finals out of their preliminary heats of the 100 meter dash. Three Virginian collegiate freshmen also competed in the meet as Virginia Intermont College\'s Steeve Gabart (4th, 31:48.59) and James Madison University\'s James Printz (6th, 32:07.29) and Andrew Waring (12th, 33:25.95) ran in the 10,000 meter race.

Clemson Tiger freshman Mitch Greeley (Northwestern HS) finished second in the Junior Men\'s Pole Vault following a best vault of 16-08.75 at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Carson, Calif.

Using a heavier Shot, Ryan Whiting erased the only 2nd place of his senior season at the USATF Junior T&F Championships in California, with a throw of 64-09.25. Nicole Leach advanced to the next round of the 400 Hurdles with the fastest time. After four events, Amy Backel, the Northern grad, took 14th place in the 100 Hurdles with a time of 16.57 -2.2 for 646 points, tied for 7th in the High Jump, clearing 5-01.75, won the Shot Put with a throw of 40-06.75, and finished 14th in the 200, going 27.88. Quaker Valley grad, Manhattan frosh Jasmine Rogers did not advance in the Open 100 Hurdles. Cardinal O\'Hara grad Sean Duffy made it through the first round of the Open 1500, running 3:41.38.

Senior pole vaulter and decathlon specialist Ty Denby (Scottsville, Va./Fluvanna Co.) of the Virginia Military Institute track and field program has been honored as a first-team selection of the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men

Plenty of photos taken by MileStat.com photographer John Herzog at the Nike Outdoor Nationals held at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina on June 17th and 18th.

Torric Davis ran track and field at Spring Valley High School. Davis finished first in the 100 and 200 in the 4A State Championships.

Quotes from 11 PA athletes following their performances at the 2005 Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Pennsylvania went one-two in the Javelin (Meghan Briggs - Elisha Jones), one-two (kind of) (Ryan Fritz - Juan Cave of NJ and St. Joseph\'s Prep) in the High Jump, West Catholic dominated the 4x400, and Ryan Whiting, Craig Miller, Carrington Queen and Nicole Leach each took 2nds on the the 2nd and final day of the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Plus, there were all-American performances from Chanel Williams, a third certificate for Nicole Smith, along with Eric Sparks and Karen Shump.

Fauquier senior Sarah Bowman was simply amazing in her final all-high school race at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Against the nation\'s best in the girls\' mile, Bowman would win the race in the fastest time ever recorded in all-high school race at the distance with a time of 4:36.95. The time ranks US#3 all-time. Bowman just missed the national record of 4:35.24, set by Polly Plumer in 1982. Bowman went through the quarter in 67.2 and 2:17.2 through the half mile. Complete meet summary posted. Mr. Herzog\'s photo gallery will be posted soon!

Virginia had no national champions on the first day of events at the Nike Outdoor Nationals held at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, but had four exceptional All-American performances including Francena McCorory of Bethel in the 100 meter dash (6th, 11.68), the Oakton girls in the 4x800 meter relay (3rd, 9:06), Ashley Early of Western Albemarle in the pole vault (6th, 11-11.75), and Rachel Lewis of Meadowbrook in the triple jump (5th, 39-03.25).

It was a decent first day for PA athletes at the Nike Outdoor Nationals, with high placements, another win for a field athlete (not who you think), a surprise 2nd place, a near-miss at a national record, and a very quick 4x200 title for Philly\'s best - the first in school history for the boys!

Virginia Intermont College

The University of Virginia track and field program has announced that seven men and five women have signed letters of intent to participate in the UVa Track and Field program for the 2005-2006 year. Head Coach Randy Bungard commented on the depth and strength of the group: \"Our signing class is filled with many state champions, a national champion, and Penn Relays champions. They have all distinguished themselves at the high school level, and we look forward to their continued development here at Virginia. Overall, it is one of the top classes we have had since my time here.\"

Philly USATF Masters holdiing summer series of all-comers meets every Tuesday at Plymouth-Whitemarsh, with Master\'s champs meet set for July 24.

Ten PA athletes record top 8 finishes in individual finals at the 2005 NCAA Division I Championships behind 3rd place sup-4 pace 1500 by Cardinal O\'Hara\'s Sean Duffy.

Three of the seven high schoolers in the race went faster than the winning times at the PIAA State Championships just two weeks ago. But that wasnt\' the goal. The objecive of the post-season 800 was to meet the qualifying time of 1:52.94 for the USATF Junior Outdoor T&F Championship to be held at the end of June.

Ryan Whiting wins two, Janessa Murphy has two top three finishes, Josh Hostetler, Kendall Butch, Caitlin Hewitt, Juan Cave, Jay Pagana each take top five finishes...

12 photographs are now online for viewing only from day three of the USATF SC Junior Olympic Championship meet, held at Irmo High School.

With his 3rd place 3:38.46 1500 at the NCAA Division I Championships last weekend in Sacramento, California, Cardinal O\'Hara grad and American University junior Sean Duffy joins and exclusive list of Pennsylvanians who have busted the 4-minute Mile barrier.

The Virginia Tech men\'s track & field team finished in a program best 13th place with 21 points out of 71 competing teams after 21 events scored at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championships, which were hosted by Sacramento State and held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex Wednesday through Saturday. The men\'s 13th place finish (21 points) is the best team finish for the Hokie track & field program at a national meet. Virginia Tech was projected to tie for 23rd place according to the last Men\'s Trackwire 25 national outdoor poll released on June 3. As you can see, the Hokies surpassed the projection and made history for the program.

Michael McCauley, a former runner at Greenville HS and Gardner-Webb (NC) University standout traveled with ETSU Bucs rising junior Graham Foster (Wade Hampton HS) from Greenville to Boulder, CO starting on June 1. McCauley talks about his experiences, starting on June 1 through June 8.

Virginia\'s Inge Jorgensen, a four-time ACC Champion, earned the bronze medal at the 2005 NCAA Track & Field Championships in the javelin, throwing a 51.41m (165\' 2\"), her highest finish in NCAA competition. It is the third time in her career she has earned All-American honors. Teammate Billie Jo Grant, competing in her first year outdoors, also earned All-American honors, throwing a 51.41m (168\' 8\") in the discus, taking ninth overall. It is the first All-American honor for Grant.

Track & field athletes Brian Mondschein and Sven Hahn scored points for Virginia Tech in their event\'s finals late Friday evening at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State. Mondschein (Jr., Hummelstown, Pa.) claimed the runner-up spot in the pole vault finals by tying his personal best height of 17\'8\'50\" (5.40m). For his personal best second place finish at a NCAA championship, Mondschein earned his second All-American honor of his career and eight points for Tech\'s men\'s team.

Ryan Whiting headlines a cast of some of PA\'s best to compete at Sunday\'s Golden West Invitational in Sacramento, California, including PIAA champion Josh Hostetler of Selinsgrove in the Javelin.

Devon DuPont, Archbishop Carroll, won the Delco Heptathlon on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 7-8 at Penncrest High School scoring 4408 points.

Virginia Tech\'s Spyridon Jullien won the national title in the hammer throw today at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Sacramento State\'s Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. Jullien ends the 2005 season with two NCAA championships, one in the 35-pound weight throw (indoor) and now one in the hammer throw (outdoor).

In her sophomore year, Tiara Swanagan learned the triple jump for the first time and took to it immediately. Fast forward two years and the confident senior finds herself the state record holder in that event, with Olympic aspirations--or, more accurately, plans.

William and Mary

Virginia Tech track & field athletes Spyridon Jullien, Jacobus Smit, Brian Mondschein and Sven Hahn advanced to their respective event\'s finals by placing in the top-12 of the qualifying round on Wednesday at the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.

Jacoby Ford, a newly minted graduate of Cardinal Newman High School of West Palm Beach, isn

Christopher Newport University Athletic Director C.J. Woollum announced today the hiring of RON GARNER as the school\'s new track and field head coach. Garner, a native of Newport News , will take over the program from Vince Brown, who is retiring following an illustrious 25-year career guiding the Captains and Lady Captains. Brown\'s CNU career included 12 national championships.

The 2005 All State Outdoor Track and Field Team was selected by a committee of the PTFCA on 6/6 taking into consideration honors won, quality and consistency of performance and head-to-head competition. Congratulations to all the new All-State athletes, Athletes of the Year, Nicole Smith of Erie McDowell, and Ryan Whiting Central Dauphin; and Coaches of the Year, Leroy Galloway, Milton Hershey, for the girls, and Tom Eck, Central Dauphin, for the boys.

Virginia Intermont College

At the 2005 Prefontaine Classic held at University of Oregon\'s Hayward Field, Fairfax native Alan Webb made history once again at the same track he set the high school mile record as he posted a new American record in the two mile with a second place finishing time of 8:11.48. Webb beat the old record of 8:11.59 set by Bob Kennedy in 1999. Winning the race was Kenya\'s Eliude Kipchoge in 8:07.68 as Kipchoge went through the first mile in 4:02 with Webb only a few steps behind. American\'s other great distance hope Dathan Ritzenhein finished sixth in 8:23.45.

Torric Davis, a Spring Valley Viking represented South Carolina Saturday at the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque, NM.

The first Council Rock North 24-Hour Relays got off to a great start Saturday at noon under partly cloudy, but warm and humid skies. And the early atmosphere indicated that these athletes and their coaches were going to have some fun.

Leading college, high school, Masters and open elite talent will be on display at the 19th annual New Jersey International Track and Field Meet, Saturday, June 11th at Colts Neck High School.

Virginia Intermont College

Latricia Jones, a graduate of Spartanburg High finished first in the shot put and discus at the Golden South Classic Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

The complete results, the first photo gallery, and a few video clips are now posted. More photos coming. Rain was a big issue today so the earlier races we did not get any video of, unfortunately.

A fitting tie for the state title was found at the Group AAA State Meet for two deserving teams in the Landstown and Great Bridge boys with 52 points a piece. The Landstown boys were led by junior William Harvin as he did something that no athlete has done in 69 years by winning five state titles (23-5.50 LJ, 47-7 TJ, 10.69 100, 21.59 200, 42.06 4x100). Multi-event star Michael Morrison of Great Bridge had a equally extraordinary meet as the junior tallied 40 points by himself with a state title (16-9 PV), state runner-up (22-9 LJ), and third place finish (46-4.50 TJ) in three field events and two state runners-up in the hurdle events (14.61 110H, 38.08 300H). The Deep Creek boys proved that others should never sleep on the team that has continually been one of the best track programs in the state over the years as they neary snagged the state title in the 4x400 (2nd, 3:21.84), but finished just short by one place and .71 of second with 51 points. Meanwhile, sophomore Francena McCorory (11.77 100, 23.84 200) and the Bethel girls (41 pts) maintained their now three year old dynasty over the state as they won their third straight state title in the final event over the two person scoring machine of Carolyn Lewis (18-0 LJ, 37-10 TJ) and Octavia James (14.54 100H, 42.58 300H) for district rival Heritage (36 pts). Click above for extensive meet summary with photos.

The Fauquier girls blew out the competition on the second day of competition at the VHSL Group AA State Meet as Lady Falcons senior Sarah Bowman came back from her state meet record breaking 3200 meter run (10:21.15) on Friday night to break her own two meet records on Saturday in the 1600 (4:41.82) and 800 (2:09.32) meter runs. With Bowman\'s state title triple in the distance events (scored 6 points with a 5-3 third place finish in the high jump as well) and points from relays and other teammates, Fauquier (57 pts) surged ahead of day one leader Western Albemarle (2nd, 37 pts) to take the state crown by 20 points. Pulaski County senior Leslie Anderson helped her team take a surprising third place as scored all 36 points for the team by winning state titles in the long jump (17-9) and 400 meter dash (56.38) and taking two state runners-up to Brunswick senior Patrice Potts (12.03 100, 24.72 200) in both the 100 (12.47) and 200 (25.33) meter dashes. Lafayette won the boys\' team title with 43 1/2 points and it was due in part to several individuals. Dakari Taylor-Watson\'s triple jump win on Friday (47-4.75) and strong finishes in the 110 (4th, 15.20) and 300 (4th, 39.92) meter hurdles helped the Rams\' team standing as well as did a state runner-up performance by junior Ryan Gaul in the 1600 meter run (4:26.62). However, the biggest boost that pushed Lafayette over the rest was the surprising state title win by Caleb Stuart in the pole vault with a personal best clearance of 15-1. Tying for state runner-up honors were Bassett and Brentsville with 38 points. Bassett was led by Brandon Dillard\'s two state titles in the 100 (10.76) and 200 (21.92) meter dashes as he also was a member of the second place 4x100 meter relay (42.87). Meanwhile, Brentsville got on the shoulders of senior distance runner Pat Eggleston to a second place finish as Eggleston won the 3200 meter run on Friday night (9:37.51) and completed a grueling triple on Saturday with another state title in the 1600 meter run (4:25.66) and third place finish in the 800 meter run (1:57.46).

The Clarke County distance boys (49 pts) were unable to put enough distance on the Nelson County boys (55 pts) going into the final event as Nelson County won the Group A State Meet held at Radford University with a 3:26.88 win in the 4x400 meter relay. A 1-2 finish by Anthony Haliburton and Waddell Howard Jr. in the high jump with both at a 6-4 clearance and state title victory from Peter Serkes in the 800 meter run (1:58.87) helped boost Nelson Countys team score greatly. In the 1600 and 3200 meter races alone, Clarke County put up 39 points as sophomore Simon Biddle-Snead led the Eagles with a second place finish in the 1600 meter run (4:27.16) and state title in the 3200 meter run (9:57.53). James Monroe finished a solid second as Tim Young simply reversed finishes with Biddle-Snead in the two races (44) with a win in the 1600 meter run (4:26.63) and state runner-up honors in the 3200 meter run (10:14.89). Fellow Region A squad Middlesex finished two points shy in fourth with 42 points thanks mainly in part to the sprint tandem of junior Jerry Jones and sophomore James Harris. Jones won both the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.92) with swift times, while Harris was not too far behind in second in the 100 (10.86) and third in the 200 (22.28) meter dash. The Buffalo Gap girls (82 pts) were able to defend their state title and hold off a very strong challenge from James Monroe (79 pts). The winner was decided in the final event as the James Monroe girls (2nd, 4:08.13) were able to finish ahead of the Buffalo Gap girls\' relay (3rd, 4:10.30), but there was not enough points separation to put the challengers over the defending champs. Buffalo Gap was once again led by junior Angela Jenkins who scored 38 points individually with a state title in the long jump (19-0.50), two state runners-up in the triple jump (37-2) and high jump (5-4), and two third place finishes in the 100 (12.38) and 200 (25.72) meter dashes. The duo of Marie Fields and Shylan Bumbrey did all they could to dethrone Buffalo Gap. Fields won two state titles in the 100 (12.35) and 200 (25.18) meter dashes. Bumbrey won two a piece as well in a tough double in the 400 (58.17) and 800 (2:12.76) meter races. Strasburg was a distance third with 59 points as they were led by a surprise triple jump winner in Marlana Frye (37-2) over Jenkins and hurdler Laurie Hines who won the 300 meter hurdles in 45.86 while taking runner-up honors in the 100 meter hurdles (15.34).

Photo Galleries of SATURDAY May 28 action @ PIAA States by Don Rich - Photo Galleries by Karen Ward coming this weekend.

Kate Niehaus, a rising senior at Spring Valley High School ran a 17:01 5k Thursday night at the Greenville Track Club first All-Comers meet of the summer.

After the first day of events at the VHSL Group AA State Meet, distance loaded Western Albemarle girls and Brentsville boys find themselves in first place in the team standings. In the first day of events alone, four state meet records were shattered. Western Albemarle junior Ashley Early broke her own state meet record (11-1) and improved upon her own state record with a successful clearance of 12-06.25! In other field events action, Park View freshmen Natalie Baird remained the state\'s leading discus thrower as she broke a 25 year old state meet record with a personal best toss of 139-11 in the discus. Brunswick senior Patriece Potts wasted no time in the preliminaries to show that the sprints belonged to her as she set a new state meet record in the 100 meter dash (11.83) and was not too far off the 200 meter record of 24.36 with a 24.47 clocking on Friday. No suprise in the girls\' 3200 meter run as Fauquier senior and US leader Sarah Bowman won by over 30 seconds to break the old state meet record by nearly 25 seconds in a 10:21.15 win.

After the first day of events at the VHSL Group AAA State Meet held at Todd Stadium in Newport News, the Westfield girls (13 pts) and Lake Braddock boys (15 pts) lead after a day filled with surprises and exciting action. The most notable shocker was the no show of Thomas Dale star Dennis Boone who reportedly was unable to compete due to serving a school suspension for disciplinary reasons. Unfortunately, the showdown between Boone and fellow 24 plus foot longer jump William Harvin of Landstown would not happen as a result as Harvin took the event in a leap of 23-5 on a rainy overcast day. Michael Morrison has set Great Bridge up for a possible state team championship on his own if he continues to perform at the level he did on Friday. The mult-event gifted junior took a slightly surprising second place in the long jump (22-9) and won both of his heats in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles to qualify for Saturday\'s finals. He will be heavily favored to win the pole vault on Saturday as the US#3 vaulter at 16-9 and is seeded third in the triple jump (46-4) as well. The 4x800 meter relays were barnburners with Oakton girls (9:17.42) and Herndon boys (7:49.89) winning state titles in the event. Upsets in the girls\' long jump and boys\' discus throw as state leaders were defeated by lesser knowns and the girls\' pole vault saw an exciting competition with five vaulters clearing 10-6 and the winner being decided in a jumpoff.

William and Mary men

These rankings were calculated by scoring the elite performances rankings list 8-deep. 1st place received 8 points for their team, on down to 1 point for 8th place.

These rankings were calculated by scoring the elite performances rankings list 8-deep. 1st place received 8 points for their team, on down to 1 point for 8th place.

Photo Galleries of FRIDAY May 27 action @ PIAA States by Don Rich - KAREN WARD\'S FRI-SAT GALLERIES COMING THIS WEEKEND.

Who will win this weekend\'s Group AA state team title for the boys is anyone\'s guess as at least five times have the potential to score over 40 points to win it all. Indoor state champions Lafayette will be led by the state\'s best triple jumper in Dakari Taylor-Watson. Cross country state champions Brentsville will use their distance strength to their full advantage as they have the top seed in the 1600 and 3200 meter races with Pat Eggleston as he is doing the distance triple being entered in the 800 meter run as well. Region IV team champs Bassett have 100 meter state leader Brandon Dillard on their side along with several other point scorers in the sprints and jumping events. Last year\'s outdoor state champs, Fauquier have potential 400 meter state champion Brandon Edwards to lead the charge on their title defense. Region III champion William Fleming should get point production out of several of their athletes and relays including top seeds Iziah Logan in the long jump and Brandt Hicks in the 300 meter hurdles. The team title hunt will start Friday at 5:30 PM and end on Saturday around 2:00 PM at James Madison University\'s Track and Field Complex in Harrisonburg. What happens during that time frame will decide who comes away with the glory and who comes up short.

The Group AA state girls\' team title appears to be for the Fauquier girls\' team to win with distance ace Sarah Bowman entered as the top seed in three distance events (3200, 1600, and 800). The Lady Falcons also will be counting on points from their three relay squads who will be formidable with or without Bowman. Meanwhile, defending state champions Courtland will be counting on Sha\'tia Hart to lead the way as she can score points in five individual events to go along with their top seeded 4x100 meter relay squad. The Western Albemarle girls, who have won numerous state titles over the year will be looking for big point production out of their pole vaulters with state record holder Ashley Early carrying the torch. Their distance crew has always been the key to their track team state titles and this year will be no different with the Stafford sisters and Tasmin Fanning. The Group AA State Meet will be held on Friday and Saturday at the James Madison University Track and Field Complex in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Torric Davis, a senior at Spring Valley High School is competing at the Great Southwest Classic. The meet runs from June 2-4 in Albuquerque, NM.

On paper, it appears that the Group A boys\' team title will pit familar foes against one another in Region B teams Clarke County and Nelson County. Clarke County looking to carry over their success from their state title in cross country this past fall, recently won the Region B crown with 84 points over Nelson County with 78. The state meet might be decided by even a closer margin than six points as pre-meet scoring based off the performance list has Clarke County with 60 points and Nelson County with 58. The Clarke County boys will rely heavily on the performance of the distance guys to take the state crown on Saturday as they could garner well over 40 points in the 1600 and 3200 meter races. Nelson County will be looking for point production out of the field events, relays, sprints, and middle distance races. Throw-in the unpredictability of meet day and most likely plenty of surprises from other teams in various regions, the Group A State Meet at Radford University on Saturday should be an exciting day of track and field action.

The VHSL Group A State Meet, which will be held this Saturday at Radford University, should be a good one with plenty of great teams and individuals vying for state titles. The team title on the girls\' side could be determined by the performances of some of their star athletes. It appears to be a two way team battle between last year\'s state champs and state runners-up in Buffalo Gap and James Monroe. Defending Group A champions Buffalo Gap returns with star jumper Angela Jenkins who nearly won four state titles last year. The James Monroe girls finished in a distant second at last year\'s meet to Buffalo Gap by over 50 points. The gap should be a lot closer this year thanks to an improved squad with the addition of Courtland transfer Marie Fields.

Meet program for the Group AA State Meet this weekend. Includes heats and time of events.

Performance list for the Group A State Meet to be held this Saturday, June 4th at Radford University.