Several national caliber performances were produced this weekend by Virginia high school athletes.

Western Branch senior Jeffrey Artis (pictured above by John Herzog) leaped to a US #1 mark in the triple jump of 49'0.75" at the UMES Coach O Invitational this weekend in Maryland. Artis bettered the previous national leading mark (Carlton Lavong PA 48-0.25) by a whole foot. It was a personal best for one of the state's most versatile athletes and state leader in the 55 meter hurdles.

The state of Virginia now has the fastest two times in the nation currently in the 3200 meter run and many of our state's top harriers have yet to race! Foot Locker All-American Leoule Degfae continued his early season tear fresh off his fantastic close to the cross country season with a runaway victory in the 3200 meter run at the Southern Maryland Mega Meet with a US #2 time of 9:13.34. Degfae has primarily focused on the middle distance events in the past, but has mentioned possibly turning his attention to the 3200 this track season after a successful cross country season. Only Kellam's Bobby Peavey at 9:08.34 has ran faster in Virginia and the nation this season in the distance event. The performance on Saturday was a 26 second PR for Degfae.

The state's best pole vaulters flew out to Reno, Nevada this weekend for the Pole Vault Summit and two of the state's premier athletes in the event had stellar performances with Allen Kelly of King's Fork leaping to new personal best height of 15'8" to place third in the high school division, while defending AAA state indoor and outdoor champion Emma Dejarnette of Atlee cleared 12'4".

VA HS Boys State Indoor Track Leader Board

VA HS Girls Indoor Track State Leader Board

Southern MD Mega Meet

January 03, 2009 @ Prince George's Sports & Learning Center in Landover, MD

Complete Results

Leoule Degfae has rolled out several impressive times on the track as his All-American finish at Foot Locker Nationals in December appears to have elevated his confidence and running to another level. At the Southern Maryland Mega Meet, Degfae followed up some swift times in the 1600 and 1000 last weekend on the same track at the Prince George County's Sports & Learning Center with a rare race at 3200 meters. Degfae, who eluded to potentially stepping up to run the 2 mile more often this year after his great cross country season, clocked a US #2 time while running the race virtual solo with a 35 second margin of victory at 9:13.

The meet was mainly dominated by wins from Maryland athletes with not a full representation of Northern Virginia squads in the meet held over winter break, but Degfae was not the only top performer from Virginia. The West Springfield girls had a solid runner-up finish in the 4x800 with a sub 10 minute performance at 9:52.15 and finished fourth overall in the final team standings. Centreville had a 1-2 finish from their middle distance runners in the boys 1000 meter run with Dan Grimm taking the win in 2:39.30 and Mattson Heiner in second at 2:41.91.

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

18 National Elites.

East Coast Invitational

January 03, 2009 @ Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond, VA

Hosted by Maggie Walker    

Complete Results

Race Videos

Elaine Derricott of Henrico had a dominating meet with three first place finishes and one third place finish among the four individual events that the senior competed in. Derricott outraced teammate Empress Harrison for the win in the 55 meter hurdles at a 9.17 clocking, while leaping to the best marks in the long jump (17'8.75") and triple jump (36'11.75").

A national caliber performance was produced out of the spikeless Ashe Center by Prince George's Anthony Carlie. Carlie popped a US #4 mark in the long jump with a personal best 22'10". The state of Virginia currently has three of the top ranked long jumpers in the country with Nansemond River's James Taylor, Western Branch's Jeff Artis, and Carlie.

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

17 National Elites.

UMES Coach O HS Invitational

January 03, 2009 @ Hytche Athletic Center in Princess Anne, MD

Complete Results

The Western Branch boys and girls had a great start to 2009 as the boys are pursuing a third straight indoor state title, while the girls are seeking their first. Top performance for the Bruins at the UMES Coach O Invitational belonged to a US #1 triple jump by Jeffrey Artis at 49'0.75".

Artis also ran on his team's 4x200 meter relay, which posted a state leading time of 1:32.11. Artis was the biggest point contributor for Western Branch in their indoor and outdoor state titles, but will need more help this year with the graduation of Torry Womack as well as defending 55 meter hurdles state champion Kevin Newsome opting to skip out on track in his senior year to focus on preparing for college football. Two teammates who as sophomores were the stars of the squad and helped lead them to their first indoor state title, but were slowed down as juniors due to injury are now back and ready to perform in Daniel Nix and Javanti Sparrow. Nix and Sparrow both sprinted to individual wins at UMES with Nix clocking in at 35.79 in the 300 meter and 2007 AAA state 500 meter dash champion Sparrow winning his specialty event at 1:07.09.

Sydni Cobb had the leading performance for the Western Branch girls as Cobb nearly took over the state leaderboard in the shot put with her personal best mark of 39'1.50". Cobb's mark also ranks #9 nationally. Western Branch girls showed their strength in the field events with first place finishes by Erika Morgan in the high jump (5'4") and Camille Thomas in the long jump (17'0.25"). The Lady Bruins loaded up their 4x200 meter relay to post a quick time of 1:45.89 and certainly ranks them right with the best in the Eastern Region.

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

10

National Elites

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