VHSL Group 5A
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Once again the 5A classification is home to some of the most anticipated races of the meet. It is only here where both the team and individual battles are all close. Every other classification has at least one easy pick but in 5A that is not the case at all. Individually we are in for quite the show in both races on Friday as we get two boys, Fitsum Seyoum of Tuscarora and Waleed Suliman of Douglas Freeman, who are separated by a mere two seconds at 15:13 (Seyoum) and 15:15 (Suliman) respectively. Both of these guys were also their regional champions and conference champions as well. Suliman made quick work of the 5A South field while Seyoum had to push it to the end to hold off Thomas Jefferson's Saurav Velleleth by two seconds.
These three guys plus the edition of Zack Witt (Glen Allen - senior), Harrison Martingayle (Princess Anne - senior), Jackson Morton (Stone Bridge - senior), and Bashir Mosavel-Lo (Deep Run - junior) make for quite the field of guys in this 104 person race. Each of these guys is vying for a chance to make it into the record books as a state champion but also more importantly, to many of them, to win a state team title.
Entering the state meet weekend it is hard to count out anyone but the teams that have emerged as contenders for the boys' title are Stone Bridge, Glen Allen, Thomas Jefferson S&T, and Tuscarora. Between the four of them there is little if any leeway. Stone Bridge enters as the favorite but not by much with all three other teams right on the heals. It will take a very solid team effort to win the title and which ever team has the most pr's will win the state title. You could not ask for a more exciting race.
On the girls' side serious history is at stake as George C. Marshall's Heather Holt attempts to continue her winning ways and defend her state crown that she won last year as a freshman. She is looking to take the second step in becoming the first girl from any school 3A or higher to win four state championships and it all goes down this weekend. She is going to be going head-to-head with another super sophomore from Tuscarora, Emma Wolcott. Both of these girls have broken 18 minutes this year and racked up some impressive victories. Though Heather Holt enters with the faster time and was just victorious over Wolcott at regionals, this race is still completely in the air as both girls are beyond impressive runners. This race is budding into one of the best rivalries our sport has.
Also seeded highly is Doria Martingayle (Princess Anne - junior) who was the 5A South champion, Ashley Brown (Henrico - senior), and Jodi Tolarchyk (Hickory - sophomore). Both Martingayle and Tolarchyck were in the lead pack last year until Holt decided to make her move the final mile. With the chance of rain in the weekend's forecast comes the potential for a slower and more strategic race. This would likely entail a closer pack and an even better race.
If that race wasn't good enough for you then buckle up because this team title battle is even better. Tuscarora, Deep Run, George C Marshall, and Hickory are all vying for the title. This title will come down to teams' 3,4,5 runners. Whichever team finishes their third runner first will be at least on the podium but it is so close that the race could actually come down to a tie-breaker. Tuscarora, who are the defending champions, will look to make the short trip home a memorable one this weekend. Deep Run though who was second to Tuscarora will look to flip the script at all costs to reign victorious and win the team title like their boys' team did in 2013.