The office of the Penn Relays released and posted the accepted entries in the 4x800's and Distance Medley Relays this evening. These include some of the fastest teams and individuals in the state that are also favored in these relays.
Girls 4x800
(Top 12 times from Small and Large School races will make the Championship of America Final)
Though this is not the exact same relay team, a large portion of their relay team won the national title indoors at the 4x1600 distance
Small Schools
Va Teams: Blacksburg (9:12.82 indoors)
The Bruins will be running as the second fastest team in this heat. They are seeded next to multiple time champions Holdwood Technical of Jamaica who have already run 8:53.65 this season.
Large Schools
1st Section Va Teams: Mills Godwin (9:25.36 indoors)
Godwin's team were the 5A state champions. They are seeded in their heat with the Jamaican favorites, Edwin Allen who has ran 8:52.81 this season. These two teams from Jamaica have won 8 of the past 10 4x800 Championships of America.
2nd Section Va Teams: Western Branch, Oakton, James W. Robinson, Lake Braddock, Washington-Lee, and South Lakes.
Western Branch are the current state leaders at 9:16.60. Robinson will have distance star Macey Schweikert who ran 2:49.63 indoors in the 1000. These lady teams will be seeded with Columbia who are the defending champions in this event and the only American team aside from Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) to win this event in the past decade.
High School Girls Distance Medley Relay Championship of America
New Balance Indoor and Outdoor National Champions in the DMR
Seeded as the top seed and wearing the "A" bibs is the defending indoor and outdoor national champions, West Springfield. This team is comprised of Katie Kennedy (1200), Kiera Bothwell (400), Regan Bustamante (800) and Mile star Caroline Alcorta anchoring this team home.
Boys 4x800
(Top 12 times from Small and Large School races will make the Championship of America Final)
Two of the All-American Relays indoors, Osbourn Park and Blacksburg
Small Schools
Va Teams: Blacksburg, Paul VI, Lafayette
Wearing the top bibs in this first section to the track and to set the standard for who will make the finals are the Bruins of Blacksburg. This team comprised of Kenneth Hagen, Flip Bishop, Michael Carter, and Jacob McCoy ran 7:41 indoors to finish in a close second at nationals. They will be joined in this heat by Paul VI also from Va.
In the second section will be the Rams of Lafayette led by national champion and current US #1 Derek Holdsworth. Holdsworth is also joined by the state leader at 3200, Jason Menzies. It will take a lot by both of these guys to make the final but both have some great speed that will help them.
Large Schools
Va Teams: Osbourn Park, Landstown, Oakton, West Springfield, Robinson, Western Branch, and Lake Braddock
This heat will be highlighted by Osbourn Park who have quietly positioned themselves as one of the best 4x800 squads not only in the commonwealth of Virginia but in the entire nation. They will go toe-to-toe with current indoor national champions Chaminade in their qualifying round. They will also be joined by some familiar faces with Landstown, Oakton, and West Springfield all in this section as well making it (minus Landstown) the fast section of the old Northern Region.
In the final section of the large schools it will be current state leaders James W. Robinson taking the track with Western Branch and Lake Braddock also from Va. These teams are very fast and being in the large school heats will have some very fast competition especially from Kingston College of Jamiaca who have gone 7:44 this outdoor season.