All-MileStat.com Indoor Track Team selections for the 2009 season. An athlete can only be selected for one event to insure more athletes are recognized among the first three teams. There were many no brainer picks, while others were much tougher to decide on given the depth and quality of certain events as well as the up and down nature of the season. Congratulations to all selected athletes on their outstanding 2009 indoor track & field seasons.
Boys Athlete of the Year - James Taylor (Nansemond River)
Photo by Ted Plunkett
James Taylor proved himself to be the athlete of the indoor track season at the AAA State Indoor Meet in his historic quadrouple in winning state titles in the 55 meter dash, 500 meter dash, 300 meter dash, and long jump. Taylor followed up that epic state meet performance with a national title in the 200 and national runner-up in the 400 meter dash at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships. The Norfolk State bound senior finished the season ranked #2 in the nation in the 200 meter dash, 300 meter dash, and long jump, #4 in the 55 meter dash, #5 in the 500 meter dash, #6 in the 400 meter dash. His incredible range in the sprints being one of the nation's best in the 55 meter dash to 500 meter dash is a rare commodity.
At the state meet, Olympic gold medalist Lashawn Merritt was on hand to witness Taylor's performance. Merritt was the last athlete to complete the sweep of the sprints at the indoor state meet and Taylor certainly could be on a similar path to greatness as Merritt has already experienced.
Honorable Mention: David Wilson (George Washington)
Girls Athlete of the Year - Tynita Butts (T.C. Williams)
Photo by Ted Plunkett
Tynita Butts was the lone female Virginian prep to win an indoor national title this past season as the T.C. Williams senior won a pair of titles in the jumps at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships with a then US #1 clearance of 5'10.50" in the high jump and another 20+ feet performance in the long jump to improve upon her own state record with a leap of 20'1.50". She became the first athlete in the history of the 26 year old national championship meet to win both events. Butts also added two state titles and two meet records at the AAA State Championships in the same two events.
Butts, headed to East Carolina next year, will now look to the outdoor season with the mindset of taking care of some unfinished business after having a disappointing finish last spring at the state meet and USATF Junior Nationals.
Boys Coach of the Year - Buz Male (Albemarle)
It is not hard to coach a talented group of athletes found at Albemarle, but it is difficult to keep them all healthy and running their best at the same time. So many star athletes, it is easy for egos to clash. However, Coach Male at Albemarle was able to almost flawlessly manage this group of talent to a state team title upset over Western Branch and lead their 4x800 meter relay to a national record breaking performance and US #2 all-time DMR effort at the Nike Indoor Nationals. He had no problem in getting this talented group to buy into the team goals and go after some lofty goals including a state team championship and national record.
Honorable Mention: Jerry Cutright (Louisa County)
Girls Coach of the Year - Eddie Williams (Bethel)
It did not take too long for Coach Eddie Williams at Bethel to reload with a team ready to start another dynasty and streak of state championships. It seemed since Francena McCorory graduated that the Bethel girls were in rebuild mode to contend for another state title, but with the development of his new young talent and transfers, Bethel appears to be back on top as shown with their AAA state title. It was an even more impressive team effort without a single individual champion as their depth served them well.
Honorable Mention: James DeMarco (Blacksburg)
Boys Sprinter of the Year - James Taylor (Nansemond River)
Girls Sprinter of the Year - Marlena Wesh (Landstown)
Honorable Mention: Genamarie McCant (James Robinson), Emmy Fraenk (Bethel), Keilah Tyson (Oscar Smith)
Boys Distance Runner of the Year - Tyler Stutzman (Western Albemarle)
Photo by Tom Hoerner
Honorable Mention: Bobby Peavey (Kellam), Anthony Kostelac (Albemarle)
Girls Distance Runner of the Year - Barbara Strehler (Trinity)
Photo by John Herzog
Honorable Mention: Joanna Stevens (Blacksburg), Paige Johnston (Midlothian)
Boys Field Event Athlete of the Year - David Wilson (George Washington)
Honorable Mention: Jordan Hill (Albemarle)
Girls Field Event Athlete of the Year - Tynita Butts (T.C. Williams)
Photo by Ted Plunkett
Honorable Mention: Jasia Richardson (J.R. Tucker), Nefertith Smith (Norfolk Collegiate), Karimah Shepherd (Grassfield)
Freshmen of the Year - Shakeela Saunders (Great Bridge)
Photo by Jesse Hutcheson
Honorable Mention: Genamarie McCant (James Robinson)
Boys 55 Meter Dash
1st Team: James Taylor (Nansemond River)
2nd Team: Earl House (Bethel)
3rd Team: Dejor Simmons (Green Run)
Boys 300 Meter Dash
1st Team: Taylor Sykes (Great Bridge)
2nd Team: Damien Thigpen (Stonewall Jackson)
3rd Team: Daniel Nix (Western Branch)
Boys 500 Meter Dash
1st Team: Zachary Vrhovac (Albemarle)
2nd Team: David Verburg (E.C. Glass)
3rd Team: Javanti Sparrow (Western Branch)
Boys 1000 Meter Run
1st Team: Anthony Kostelac (Albemarle)
2nd Team: Brian Hencke (Blacksburg)
3rd Team: Tihut Degfae (Thomas Edison)
Boys 1600 Meter Run
1st Team: Tyler Stutzman (Western Albemarle)
2nd Team: Ben Dejarnette (Atlee)
3rd Team: Leoule Degfae (Thomas Edison)
Boys 3200 Meter Run
1st Team: Bobby Peavey (Kellam)
2nd Team: Thomas Porter (Mountain View)
3rd Team: Ben Veilleux (Clarke County)
Boys 55 Meter Hurdles
1st Team: Jeffrey Artis (Western Branch)
2nd Team: Vincent Brown (South Lakes)
3rd Team: Reynaldo Radlin (North Stafford)
Boys Pole Vault
1st Team: Allen Kelly (King's Fork)
2nd Team: Matt Armentrout (Deep Run)
3rd Team: Wes Sun (Chantilly)
Boys High Jump
1st Team: Justin Hunter (Ocean Lakes)
2nd Team: Travis Hudson (Christiansburg)
3rd Team: Ben Katz (St. Christopher's)
Boys Long Jump
1st Team: Jordan Hill (Albemarle)
2nd Team: Andre Hunter (Louisa County)
3rd Team: Ryan Beaver (Princess Anne)
Boys Triple Jump
1st Team: David Wilson (George Washington)
2nd Team: Tyrease Brown (Amherst County)
3rd Team: Ricky Blake (Nansemond River)
Boys Shot Put
1st Team: Isaiah Simmons (Woodbridge)
2nd Team: Alex James (St. Christopher's)
3rd Team: Anthony Davis (Clover Hill)
Girls 55 Meter Dash
1st Team: Keilah Tyson (Oscar Smith)
2nd Team: TaNay Chandler (Nansemond River)
3rd Team: Brittney McCants (Kempsville)
Girls 300 Meter Dash
1st Team: Marlena Wesh (Landstown)
2nd Team: Shakeela Saunders (Great Bridge)
3rd Team: Yvonne Amegashie (Potomac Senior)
Girls 500 Meter Dash
1st Team: Genamarie McCant (James Robinson)
2nd Team: Emmy Fraenk (Bethel)
3rd Team: Becca Sinichko (Lake Braddock)
Girls 1000 Meter Run
1st Team: Paige Johnston (Midlothian)
2nd Team: Elizabeth Barclay (Albemarle)
3rd Team: Natalia Kuhn (Ocean Lakes)
Girls 1600 Meter Run
1st Team: Joanna Stevens (Blacksburg)
2nd Team: Liana Epstein (Lake Braddock)
3rd Team: Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg)
Girls 3200 Meter Run
1st Team: Barbara Strehler (Trinity)
2nd Team: Kaitlyn Davis (Mountain View)
3rd Team: Hiruni Wijayaratne (Herndon)
Girls 55 Meter Hurdles
1st Team: Taylor Wheaton (Landstown)
2nd Team: Chantal Luedeke (Deep Creek)
3rd Team: Courtni Pannell (Bethel)
Girls Pole Vault
1st Team: Emma Dejarnette (Atlee)
2nd Team: Lizzie Powell (Patrick Henry)
3rd Team: Kate Collins (Nelson County)
Girls High Jump
1st Team: Pearl Bickersteth (Potomac Senior)
2nd Team: Erika Morgan (Western Branch)
3rd Team: Nefertiti Smith (Norfolk Collegiate)
Girls Long Jump
1st Team: Tynita Butts (T.C. Williams)
2nd Team: Tiffany Harris (Churchland)
3rd Team: Jazmen Townsend (Grassfield)
Girls Triple Jump
1st Team: Jasia Richardson (J.R. Tucker)
2nd Team: Karimah Shepherd (Grassfield)
3rd Team: Elaine Derricott (Henrico)
Girls Shot Put
1st Team: Jaleesa Williams (First Colonial)
2nd Team: Kayla Lewis (William Fleming)
3rd Team: Gabriel Tyler (Greensville County)
All-MileStat.com Indoor Track Team selections for the 2009 season. An athlete can only be selected for one event to insure more athletes are recognized among the first three teams. There were many no brainer picks, while others were much tougher to decide on given the depth and quality of certain events as well as the up and down nature of the season. Congratulations to all selected athletes on their outstanding 2009 indoor track & field seasons.