This weekend could be the biggest yet for Virginia in quite some time. We are bringing down not only some stuff athletes but also a ton of loaded relays that have serious shots at winning a national title this year. Last year Virginia came away with eight national titles including six relay titles. Those titles included both shuttle hurdle relays, the girls 4x800, girls distance medley, boys sprint medley relay, and the girls 800m sprint medley.
Boys' Sprint Relays
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In the most packed race of the weekend Virginia has a whopping 17 teams entered in the boys 4x100 relay. Though we have a ton of teams in it, it is only likely that a few make it through to the 8 team final based on time. Included in this event will be the top four teams in Virginia including Broad Run (42.17), Phoebus (41.89), Western Branch (41.85), and #12 in the US T.C. Williams (40.84).
Out of this group we could see all four advance to the final but the likely champion on paper is T.C. Williams. Though they are 12th in the country, they have not run their relay since the Penn Relays and are primed for a big improvement. They are also ultimately chasing Forest Park's 40.55 state record set back in 2013 and with good handoffs is well within range.
In the 4x200 we have Western Branch in the third fastest section, drawing the third lane for the event. Branch were the indoor national champions at this distance and despite their slow seed cannot be counted out.
Battlefield's boys team is also entered in this event and will be running in lane 8 in the third section.
Western Branch is the only Virginia team entered in the 4x400 and are seeded in the first of four sections, it would not be a surprise to see them load other relays where they are seeded much higher then this.
Boys' Distance Relays
In the 4x800 we are lucky enough to get all of the top three from Virginia competing in the same heat. We have the state leaders: Highland Springs, we have the 6A North champions: Lake Braddock, and we have the 5A State Champs: Deep Run all running. All three of these teams bring something different to the table with regards to how they run the race. If this race is close then do not be surprised if Highland Springs and Deep Run are right there the final 100m (Lake Braddock does not have Corbett listed as a leg currently)!
In the longest event of the weekend, the 4xmile, West Springfield with a senior laden and experienced team enters the competition as Virginia's only entrant.
Boys' Medley Relays
In the shortest of these medleys, the 800m sprint, Virginia brings five teams including Lee-Davis, Western Branch and Battlefield in the final two sections. All three of these teams have great combinations of 100m and 400m talent but the team with the best odds is Western Branch who has lane 5 in the final section.
Like we hinted at earlier, looking at the performance list it seems that WB wants to win some national titles this weekend and will be stacking some of the medleys and that seems to be the case here as well. Western Branch is only joined by Lee-Davis in the 1000m Swedish Relay (100-200-300-400) to represent Virginia. WB is in lane 3 of the seeded section and will have to go through Union Catholic and Newburgh Elite if they want to take home this title. They do however hold the event record when they set it back in 2013.
In the highlight race of the boys relays is the 1600m sprint medley featuring defending national champions Hermitage who return all the key players from last year. They will however have tough competition in their very own heat with Chantilly who brings to the table some crazy speed. Both relays though are going to come down to the anchor and that means we get to see Devin Barnes and Brandon McGorty hopefully battle it out for the title this weekend.
VA also has Maggie Walker, Lake Braddock Deep Run, Lee-Davis, and Bayside running as well. Each of these teams also has some firepower and though they are in the unseeded sections could very well end up on the podium this weekend.
In the final and longest of the medleys, the distance medley, Virginia only has Chantilly entered. Though we only have one team, there are only 12 teams entered which could lead to a more strategic race being run. On paper Chantilly could very much contend for the title but needs all three runners to have great runs on the day. The interesting thing here will be to see which McGorty runs the 1600!
Boys' Shuttle Hurdle Relay
In what is safe to call, Virginia's event, we will get to see the ultimate showdown of talent, depth, and out of state rivals. Headlining the group are the defending champs Western Branch who will be in the final section. Next to them though are the Andover boys from Ma. who snuck up on them in indoors for the title. There is little doubt that WB will want to get their revenge down in Greensboro.
To win the title though WB will have to contend with some ridiculous VA talent though. Hailing also from the Eastern Region are I.C. Norcom and Phoebus who both have a legit shot at winning this event. Both teams also have super talented runners in Charles Graham and Hakeem Horton running on their teams which could make for a crazy anchor showdown!
If you want to know who we picked in this event or others be sure to check out MileSplit's article later tomorrow!