9. 3A Better Adjust!
Every two years the VHSL readjusts the classifications to more accurately portray actual enrollment and this year happens to be one of those years when schools move. For the 3A this meant gaining some teams named Phoebus and I.C. Norcom. It just so happens too that these teams dropped down from 4A and won both 3A titles this year and actually went 1-2 in the boys' competition. How did this do this? With a whole lot of speed!
For years this was a distance heavy classification with Blacksburg, Western Albemarle, (formerly) Lafayette and many more but this year with these teams the tilt has occurred. On the girls side for example these two schools won the 55-300-500-55H and never looked back while on the boys side both teams just crushed the sprints and sprint relays without looking back. The 500 was the pinnacle of this with 5 of the 8 scorers coming from just these two teams.
The biggest of these stars would have to be Amira Aduma (Phoebus) who took home a whopping 38 points in four events. This was through winning the long jump, 55m, 300m and finishing second in the 500 to equally impressive Naomi Whitake (I.C. Norcom) who both went under the previous state meet record en route to their 1-2 finish in the 500.
It doesn't matter which team(s) you cheer for in 3A but one things is crystal clear... if you want to see your team hoist a trophy up next year you better take home a lot of sprint points because this classification is quickly becoming a sprinters' place to be.