The VISAA State Indoor Track and Field Championships take place on Saturday at St. Christopher's School in Richmond.
Fork Union has held a reign of dominance in the outdoor state championships with a remarkable string of 20 straight titles, but after winning the inaugrual indoor state championships, getting a second straight indoor crown will be a difficult task with St. Christopher's having a well rounded squad and home fieldhouse advantage.
St. Christopher's School has the fastest 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays as well as individual favorites in the high jump with Ben Katz, 500 meter dash with Jay Weisbrod, and 300 meter dash with Tyler Douglas (pictured left by John Herzog). Fork Union will look to Jeremy Haney to carry the load in a tough 1600-500-3200 triple along with the help of many of his teammates.
Rising star Allante Keels of Episcopal is interestingly not entered in a single individual event after his US #2 500 performance last week, but expect him to be playing a large role in Episcopal's relays squads this weekend.
She is not going to win the team title by herself, but Norfolk Collegiate freshmen Nefertiti Smith will dazzle as the top seed in the triple jump, 55 meter hurdles, and 55 meter dash as well as a second seed in the long jump. Smith has one of the nation's best marks in the triple jump at 39'3.50". It would not be a surprise to see Smith haul in four state titles as only a freshmen this weekend.
Trinity's Barbara Strehler should win two titles in her two distance events that she is entered in as a top seed in the 1600 (5:04.74) and 3200 (11:07.77) meter races. Anneka Wilson of The Potomac School could give Strehler a run in the 1600, but more importantly will be helping last spring's outdoor state champions from Potomac School attempt to win an indoor title. Last year's indoor champions St. Catherine's will be in the hunt as well as Episcopal, Norfolk Academy, and Paul VI.
Returning state champions include Strehler in the girls 3200 meter run, Virginia Ginn of St. Catherine's in the girls high jump, Brian Zitterkopf of Fork Union in the boys high jump, and Johns Ross of The Potomac School in the boys 3200 meter run.
MileStat.com will be on-site with coverage from Brandon Miles and David Fleenor