Morning Session Recap from 5A/6A States! Jim McGrath Mar 09, 2015

Signs of rust from two weeks of missed practice because of snow and ice, coupled with the New Balance Indoor National Championships in New York City looming four days away, led to several unlikely field heroes on the opening day of the Virginia 5A/6A indoor track championships at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.

Chasing Their Own History Jim McGrath May 20, 2008

Photo by John Herzog

As the Virginia track teams head into championship season, it is worth noting that one of the most successful stories from our state so far has been the remarkable showings from the Bethel boys 4x400 relay, most notably, their 3:14.71 clocking at the Penn Relays.  The time, which was actually run in the preliminaries, launched the Bruins foursome of Austin Cuffee, Earl House, Sherrard Marrow, and indoor 400 national champion Ja-Vell Bullard into the finals where they placed second overall, but first among American teams. The sign in front of the school on Big Bethel Road states it all – Congratulations Cuffee, House, Marrow, Bullard - #2 in World.

Saturday Highlights from Conn-Madden Relays Jim McGrath Mar 29, 2008

Despite the cold conditions on Saturday at the Conn-Madden Relays, there were other noteworthy performances. The most surprising may have been the 6’4” high jump (part of Woodside’s winning 12-0 relay) from Woodside’s Chris Burton. Burton was lured to track soon after basketball season, and in his first high jump competition ever, at last Tuesday’s dual meet against Gloucester, the sophomore cleared 6’5”. In a true understatement, assistant coach Butch Gordon calls Burton “an unbelievable find.” Chris Copeland of Lakeland is currently ruling the high jump roost in Virginia with his passing of the seven-foot barrier, but the future of Virginia high jumping may be currently competing in Air Jordan’s. Read full meet summary of Saturday's events...

Conn-Madden Relays Complete Results

Friday highlights from Conn-Madden Relays Jim McGrath Mar 28, 2008

Over 80 teams gathered at Todd Stadium in Newport News today to open the southeastern region’s invitational season at the Conn-Madden Relays. The meet kicked off today with three relay events and the open 400 meter hurdles.

The meet, named after legendary Newport News coaches Julie Conn and Thad Madden, has been a fixture on many teams’ schedules for decades. Although the number of participating teams has dwindled some in recent years, the meet still has enough firepower to draw teams from Northern Virginia and even upstate New York.

Today’s highlights included a Peninsula District sweep in the 400 hurdles. Hampton’s Lavell Handy (pictured left by John Herzog) edged Booker T. Washington’s Cordarel Madison (56.54 to 56.91) to win the boys event, while Menchville’s Maia Wise easily won the girls race with a 64.98 clocking. Read more...