Though it is weeks away, the Virginia Tech Invitational is going to be a big one! First before we release the performance list is the invitational mile field, one of the deepest fields in the meet.
If the pace doesn't get set early, expect a finish like this but with many more girls in it! Photo by: Arnel Gonce
Jump ahead to Boys Mile field
Girls Invitational Mile Field
Event 35 Women 1 Mile Run
===============================================================================
Name Year School Finals
===============================================================================
1 Angermeier, Bonnie 12 Blacksburg H
2 Call, Emma 10 Maggie Walke
3 Davidson, Libby 10 E.C. Glass
4 Ellington, Malia 12 Community Sc
5 Fleming, Jennifer 12 Blacksburg H
6 Grams, Meggan 12 Boonsboro Hi
7 Holt, Heather 9 George C. Ma
8 Lewis, Morgan 10 Veritas Scho
9 Mulhern, Emily 12 Urbana High
10 Severe, Clare 12 Walt Whitman
11 Shupe, Alyssa 12 Jefferson Fo
12 Srour, Lucy 12 Winston Chur
13 Taylor, Annie 12 Western Albe Leading the way in this elite field is one of the hometown favorites, Bonnie Angermeier who is joined by quite the group of girls close behind! Bonnie is not only the favorite based on time but also is the top returning athlete from last year's race where she took third behind Alcorta and Christen in a very fast race. Though Bonnie leads the field, she will have some tough competition.
Following close behind her are a group of girls that bring many expertise's in racing with them. We have the fourth place finisher and state meet record holder in Libby Davidson, we have one of the best 1000m runners in the entire nation in Emma Call, and of course we have the girl who pushed Bonnie herself to the very finish line in Malia Ellington. But one girl many could be easily looking over is Jennifer Fleming. For those that have been watching they know, Fleming who was fourth a year ago, has quietly made a case to be one of the best distance runners in the entire state. She boasts a sub 5 pr in the 1600 and a season best of 10:51 in the 3200.
The amazing thing about this field though is that it is separated by such a small margin. We will likely see a very close race for at least 800m until some girls start to make a move. Ellington or one of the MD girls will likely be the first to make a move and when they do it is going to be exciting to see who answers.
In sum, we have some of the best runners in everything from the 1000 all the way to cross country in the entire nation in this single race! It is going to be close and take a sub five minute performance to reign victorious.