Michael Cherry had been fortunate to be part of some great relays at Oscar Smith for his first two years of high school including an outdoor state champion 4x400 as a freshmen and nearly a second 4x400 state title last spring if not for a uniform violation disqualified his relay last spring. Cherry, who was the only freshmen 400 meter dash state qualifier in Group AAA two years ago, started to break through individually on the state level in making the finals of the 400 meter dash at the 2011 VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Championships and over the summer dropped his 400 meter time down to 48.30 while competing for the Five Star Track Club. With Cherry as the lone returnee from Oscar Smith's 3:18 4x400 meter relay last year, the focus has shifted more to his individual events for his junior year. Over the winter break at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, he defeated one of the state's top returning quarter milers in Woodrow Wilson's Kenneth Williams with a US #9 clocking of 49.20. The Oscar Smith junior is becoming a serious contender and challenger for state titles in the 300 and 500 meter dash indoors as well as certainly will be in the mix for the 400 meter dash in the spring of 2012. Cherry ran a state leading and US #5 time of 34.76 last week at Boo Williams and will be looking to drop his 500 meter time this weekend at the Hampton Roads Elite High School Showcase. MileStat.com interviewed Cherry as he tunes up for his third 500 meter race ever on Saturday.