Fork Union Military Academy will be celebrating hosting its 20th annual indoor invitational this weekend. For two decades, the meet has been of the most competitive invitationals in the state of Virginia despite being on a 160 meter short track at the Estes Athletic Center. A countless number of state champions, All-Americans, national champions, and Olympians have competed at the FUMA Invitational and MileStat.com takes a stab at the 20 greatest moments in the meet's history.
TOP TWENTY FUMA INVITATIONAL MOMENTS
20. COACH HARDY CONVINCES THE SCHOOL TO PUT AN INDOOR TRACK IN THE ESTES CENTER
19. MENCHVILLE 4X400'S SET MEET RECORDS INCLUDING SUB 4 MINUTE BY GIRLS
18. 1998 - ELEANOR ROOSEVELT GIRLS WIN 4TH STRAIGHT FUMA INVITE TITLE
17. ASHLEY EARLY BECOMES FIRST GIRL OVER 11 FT IN POLE VAULT AT ESTES CENTER. LATER CLEARS 12'9" INDOOR AT GUS LACY.
16. 2008 - TYLER STUTZMAN HAS TOP PERFORMANCE ON NEWLY RESURFACED TRACK WITH 4:20 1600
15. 2001 – BETHEL TOPS ATLEE AND FUMA 37 – 34. FUMA ALL AMERICAN MIKE REDDEN FAILS TO SCORE A SINGLE POINT
14. 2004 MARKS THE END OF THE MEGA TEAM STYLE MEETS AS FUMA HOSTS 97 SCHOOLS
13. WESTERN ALBEMARLE BOYS BECOME FIRST CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA TEAM OTHER THAN FUMA TO WIN THE TITLE
12. AXEL MOSTRAG TAKES DOWN LASSITER’S RECORD IN THE 1600
11. JASON SIMS SETS MEET RECORD OF 23’6 IN LONG JUMP – SIMS HAS SINCE MADE THE OLYMPIC TRIALS FINAL
10. 1999 TEAM TITLE COMES DOWN TO THE LAST EVENT WITH FUMA EDGING DEEP CREEK 31-30
9. LINDSEY NEUBERGER OF COX SETS A MARK IN THE GIRLS’ SHOT PUT THAT MAY NEVER BE BROKEN
8. FUMA IS NAMED A MILROSE QUALIFYING SITE FOR 2004
7. KIPPY KEINO SOLOS A 9:19 IN THE 3200, NOT FAR BEHIND IS A GUY NAMED MILES
6. LATASHA COLANDER RUNS A NATIONAL LEADING TIME IN THE 55 HIGH HURDLES
5. EVENTUAL TRACK AND FIELD NEWS HIGH SCHOOL MVP GREG YELDELL SETS TWO MEET REOCRDS. IN THE TRIPLE JUMP, HE AND CHURCHLAND’S JAMIN ELLIOT WAGE A BATTLE IN WHICH NO JUMP IS UNDER 47 FEET.
4. SHOWDOWNS BETWEEN SENECCA LASSITER AND FUMA’S SAID BASWEIDAN. LASSITER SET THE RECORD IN THE 1600 BECOMING THE FIRST AT THE ESTES CENTER TO BREAK 4:20
3. FUMA LEGENDS BRAXTON DAVENPORT AND MARTIN KEINO RETURN FROM THE SUNKIST INVITATIONAL ON A RED EYE FLIGHT TO HELP THE BLUE DEVILS WIN THE TEAM TITLE
2.SALLY GLYNN OF WALTER JOHNSON WINS THE 1600 IN 4:59.55 AND RETURNS TO WIN THE 3200 IN 10:56.
1. 2008 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST LASHAWN MERRITT LOSES HIS ONLY RACE OF THE 2004 SEASON TO TEAMMATE JAMEL DEANS. MERRIT WOULD WIN THE MEET’S MVP AWARD AFTER POSTING BIG WINS IN THE 500 AND 300.
