Southern Track Classic Entry Deadline - Wednesday, May 1st at 5 PM
With only one day left until the entry deadline (closes online at 5 PM on Wednesday, May 1st) for the 2013 Southern Track Classic, Patrick Joseph is making a run at something that has never been done. A double watch night in the hardest double in the state. A Southern Classic Mile/800 double win has never been pulled off. Ever. The closest was 1999 when Kevin Rhue of Princess Anne went 4:14 for the win but was edged by Male H.S. (KY) and Track & Field News poster boy Sydney Doaty in the 800. Joseph has the credentials that indicate the possibility exists. His recent U.S. #4 and Bronze medal finish at the Penn Relays (under the old meet record) attests to his fitness. That 4:07 time is under the Southern Trakc Classic meet record of 4:08 set by former St. Xavier (KY) and Villanova mega star Bobby Curtis.
Other top entrants for the Southern Track Classic include Matthew Zajac of E.C. Glass, who recently threw over 190 feet in the discus in the MileStat.com Elite Track Classic at Sports Backers Stadium, which will be the same venue and throwing circle for him at the Southern Track Classic. There will be a deep high jump competition with already 8 entrants having cleared at least 6'6" led by Group AAA state indoor champ Steven Dunbar of Tallwood.
Two-time Group AAA state 55 meter dash champ and returning 100 meter outdoor state champ Mustaqeem Williams will be featured in the 100 meter dash and will be bringing his VA #2 all-time 4x100 meter relay into Richmond following their 41 second flat performance in the Championships of America finals. Forest Park teammates Josh Washington in the 200 and RIcky Morgan in the 400 will try to make it a sweep for the Forest Park sprints, but Morgan (48.86 PR) will be in a loaded 400 meter dash with top entrants in returning Southern Track Classic champ and two-time Group AA state 400 winner Steven Graham (48.10 PR) of Loudoun County as well another one of Group AA's elite in Sydney Sandidge (48.86) of Amherst County.
Looking over to the girls' side, the 400 meter dash will be deep also as sub 57 second personal best may end up being the cut-off to be selected as one of the 8 chosen for the one section only finals meet. Three state champions are entered in the event between this past indoor's 500 meter state champs in Group AAA in Douglas Freeman sophomore MacKenzie Kerr and Group AA in Blacksburg junior Kendall Wiles along with numerous Group A state titlist Jasmine Mitchell of Amelia County. Also figuring to be in the mix will be Woodbridge's Farrah Suber, who is ready to run a fast open 400 time after splitting under 54 seconds twice at the Penn Relays for her Championships of America finals qualifying squad (6th, 3:44).
Foot Locker finalist Caroline Alcorta of West Springfield will lead the girls 2 mile race, while the girls 800 should be wide open between returning 2:10 800 runner Ellison Grove of Battlefield, private school state champ Micah Brickhill of Liberty Christian, AAU All-American Nichelle Scott of L.C. Bird, and 2:55 1000 meter runner Tessa Riley of Midlothian as the current top entrants.
South County's Felecia Majors could be a favorite in virtually any event of her chosing at the Southern Track Classic as she won the state indoor championships virtually by herself this past winter, but looks like she is going to go all in the 200 meter dash and see if she can drop even further under 24 seconds and best her current state leading time of 23.92. Majors will also be a top seed in the pole vault.
Even without Majors in the long and triple jump, the event is not going to be a missing 20 plus foot long jumper with Louisa County's Javanique Burruss (20'1") or 40 plus foot triple jumper with Elizabeth Seton's Javonne Antoine (40'1.50"). The girls throws will be especially deep with six girls over 120 feet in the discus as Battlefield's Galissia Cause leads both throwing events as the top entrants.
Across the board, this year's Southern Track Classic will once again prove to be one of the best collections of Virginia's best for one night under the lights at Sports Backers Stadium on Friday, May 10th. Do not miss out and enter your elite athletes into this year's meet before Wednesday's deadline at 5 PM.