* Micayah Holland ran the No. 1 time in the country in the 200m at the VA Showcase
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Virginia Beach, VA -- On the first day of the VA Showcase, Montverde Academy (FL) athletes posted US No. 1 performances left and right. At the Virginia Beach Sports Complex, there were five performances that topped the charts on Friday.
Micayah Holland was the first sprinter to step onto the track to post the nation's leading mark in the 200m. After 10 heats, the Texas signee destroyed the competition by setting a new personal best of 23.53 as her season opener. She was the only girl to break through the 24-second barrier.
In the same event, the Texas A&M signee Issam Asinga was one of two boys who dipped under 22 seconds in the one lap race this weekend. Asinga held onto the lead and crossed the finish line in 21.58 and broke his previous best by seven-tenths of a second. A few hours later, Asinga came back in the 55m prelims and clocked the fastest performance in the country with a 6.26.
Asinga's future collegiate teammate Kai Graves-Blanks had a moment to shine as he became the fastest hurdler in the 55mH with a 7.45. Graves-Blanks will have another opportunity to put together another solid performance in the 60mH on Saturday.
It wasn't just the sprints that Montverde Academy controlled on the first day. Later in the evening, Micah Larry produced his best indoor long jump in his career, surpassing his 24-2.5 from the NSAF Indoor Nationals last March. On his first attempt, Larry jumped to a 7.61m.
There were other athletes who moved into the top 10 national rankings in the 55m. Adaejah Hodge and Holland were two of five girls to go under 7-seconds. Hodge clocked a 6.90 for a US No. 2 and Holland finished the straightaway race with a 6.99.
In the 500m, Michelle Smith, the CARIFTA Games 400mH and 800m champion, ran a 1:13.48 to be US No. 5. Along with Asinga, Larry also made a statement when he clocked a 6.30 to be US No. 3 in the 55m.
* Adaejah Hodge reflects on her 55m performance at the VA Showcase
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