RESTON, VA -- As a spectator as well as a competitor at the 2001 Seahawk Invitational I was able to catch a glimpse of why the Northern Virginia area is considered to have the best track athletes in the state. With the big names present and competing at the meet as well as great times and performances put forth, this meet is by far the best meet so far this season.
Sub 4 miler Alan Webb participated in his first meet this outdoor season as he ran a 1:50 anchor leg for his 4x800 squad. He got the baton in 4th place and managed to move his squad up to second place and in the process passed John Handley's Bobby Lockhart who ran a strong 1:55 anchor leg. Webb was unable to win it for his squad as Robinson built a huge lead with their first 3 legs and anchor leg LA Snead capped it off with a 1:57 anchor as they won in 8:04.24. Webb had pretty even splits as he started off in 54-55 second range for his first 400. He also the anchor leg for the winning 4x400m squad.
Another great nationally ranked middle distance star from the Northern Region, Kelley Otstott of Thomas Jefferson, was very impressive in the 800m where she ran a 2:13 (1:03-1:10). If she may have ran more even splits she could have possibly gone under 2:10. Nonetheless, a fantastic time for this early in the year as Otstott looks to dominate the other top middle distance girls in the state.
Shehara Chitty was a double winner as she won the 200m dash in 25.84 and 400m dash in 58.64 respectively.
Centreville freshmen phenom Dacia Barr ran an exception race in the 1600m race as she and Heather McCarthy battled it out for much of the race, but Barr's kick proved to be too much as won in a state qualifying time of 5:09.64.
Oakton junior Bonnie Meekins was dominant in the jumps as she won the high jump (5'7") and long jump (16'05.75")
The boys 3200m was an excellent race between Stuarts Draft senior Evan Kays and Jamestown junior Bryce Ruiz. For much of the race, the two AA distance running stars battled it out as Kays trailed behind Ruiz. Then Ruiz started to pull away and down the final straightaway Ruiz started to let up as he thought he had the race in the bag. However, this proved to be a big mistake, as Kays snuck past an unaware Ruiz at the end. Kays came in at 9:30.94 and Ruiz at 9:31.34.
The John Handley boys squad look like they will be unstoppable come the AA state meet in June with the 3 "Judges" they have in distance runner Bobby Lockhart, hurdler, Seann Chambers, and sprinter Jerry Rose.
Rose was named MVP of the meet as he was a winner in the 100m dash (10.84), 200m dash (22.14), and runner up in the 400m dash (51.74).
Chambers, one of the best hurdlers in the state had a good day as he placed 2nd in the 110m hurdles (14.84) and 1st in the 300m hurdles (38.84).
Along with helping his 4x800 squad getting state qualified with his 1:55 anchor leg, won the 1600m race in 4:16.94 unpushed for much of the race.
With this threesome here, Handley looks real tough to beat.
Lake Braddock's Garret Brickner jumped really well as he was 1st in the high jump with a mark of 6'8" and finished second in the triple jump to AA indoor track champion, Devin Canaday of Jamestown, who jumped 42'10.00"
You know when Robinson sophomore Steve Huntzinger is throwing as you will here a loud and thunderous roar from him as he throws. Well evidently the roar pays off as Huntzinger placed 2nd in the shot put (49'11") and 1st in the discus (151'7")
RESTON, VA -- As a spectator as well as a competitor at the 2001 Seahawk Invitational I was able to catch a glimpse of why the Northern Virginia area is considered to have the best track athletes in the state. With the big names present and competing at the meet as well as great times and performances put forth, this meet is by far the best meet so far this season.
Sub 4 miler Alan Webb participated in his first meet this outdoor season as he ran a 1:50 anchor leg for his 4x800 squad. He got the baton in 4th place and managed to move his squad up to second place and in the process passed John Handley's Bobby Lockhart who ran a strong 1:55 anchor leg. Webb was unable to win it for his squad as Robinson built a huge lead with their first 3 legs and anchor leg LA Snead capped it off with a 1:57 anchor as they won in 8:04.24. Webb had pretty even splits as he started off in 54-55 second range for his first 400. He also the anchor leg for the winning 4x400m squad.
Another great nationally ranked middle distance star from the Northern Region, Kelley Otstott of Thomas Jefferson, was very impressive in the 800m where she ran a 2:13 (1:03-1:10). If she may have ran more even splits she could have possibly gone under 2:10. Nonetheless, a fantastic time for this early in the year as Otstott looks to dominate the other top middle distance girls in the state.
Shehara Chitty was a double winner as she won the 200m dash in 25.84 and 400m dash in 58.64 respectively.
