10 unique stories from the 5A/6A state championships.
10. Western Branch's Ross Shows Off Versatility at 6A Girls State
For all four of her years at Western Branch, Faith Ross has deservedly earned the reputation of the most versatile female athlete in the state of Virginia.
Even in the first season of her freshman year, Ross was a sub-20 minute cross-country runner.
"Coach (Claude Toukene) makes all of his runners do cross-country," said Ross, who has used the base training to emerge as one of the most successful middle distance runners in recent Virginia prep history. "I'm happy that I managed to PR (in CC) each year."
However, as Ross' developed, she showed aptitude for other events. In addition, Coach Toukene, always in search of good hurdlers and jumpers, began to find new challenges for his prodigy.
"He has found a new event for me each year," said Ross. "I don't know how it started, but I don't say no to anything. I just give it my all."
While starting as a distance runner, Ross, now a senior, has also emerged as one of the state's dominant hurdlers and longer sprinters.
She showed off her versatility last weekend at the 5A/6A track meet -- winning the 55-meter hurdles (7.96), placing second in the 500 (1:13.22), third in the 300 (40.00) and tied for sixth in the high jump (5-2). Her 26.5 points helped to propel the Bruins to yet another state title.
And the best may be yet to come. With outdoor season approaching, the Kentucky bound Ross will be able to get back to running the 800, an event where she has run 2:11, and split 2:08-2:09 on one of the Bruin relays.
If only she gets to focus on it.
"It was tough last year (running the 800) because of the hurdles," said Ross in a moment of reflection. "Maybe this year, I can concentrate on the 400 and 800."
Unless Coach Toukene finds something else for her to do.
One event is missing from her resume -- the shot put.
While this may seem irrelevant to the outsider, an argument can be made that Ross has most of the tools to become a standout in the heptathlon. First, she would need to learn how to throw the shot put and javelin.
Not surprisingly, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, the Olympic champion and world record holder for the event, was weakest in the same two events.
Nevertheless, a cursory glance at the others gives reason for pause. For example, in the 800, Joyner-Kersee posted a best time of 2:09, something that Ross is capable of right now.
Granted, there would be work to be done in order to improve in the other events. JJ-K was also a 12.7 hurdler, a 6-4 high jumper, ran a 22.3 in the 200 meters and long jumped 23 feet. By comparison, Ross is a 13.72 hurdler, 5-6 best in the high jump, about 25.17 seconds in the 200 and a shade over 17 feet as a long jumper.
However, that is the comparison to the greatest athlete to perform the event. Surely, the NCAA champion would have standards much closer to Ross' reach.
Here's the comparison. The reigning NCAA Division I women's champion is Akela Jones of Kansas State. To earn her victory, Jones posted a 13.10 in the 100 hurdles, 6 feet in the high jump, 23.45 in the 200 and 21-5 in the long jump. However, Jones ran the 800 in 2:29, a full 18 seconds slower than Ross' best.
The unknown events for Ross are the shot put and javelin. Jones threw the shot 48-8 and the javelin 125-1.
Clearly, this is all speculation as Kentucky has their own plans for the Bruin senior.
"They plan on having me do the short and long hurdles."
Anything else?
"No. They think it will be better if I can focus."
It sounds like a good idea for now. Perhaps the Wildcat coaches will have second thoughts after seeing more of Ross.
