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Photo by John Herzog
The state of Virginia is in search of its next great half miler. Axel Mostrag, Richard Smith, and Alan Webb have spoiled Virginians with the huge splashes they made on the national scenes in the middle distance event this past decade with Webb running a state record time of 1:47 in 2001, while both Mostrag and Smith won 800 meter national titles. The state's current fastest time at 800 meters sits at 1:54. Episcopal junior Allante Keels may or may not end up as the state's fastest half miler at season's end, but he certainly has the tools to become a great one by the time he is done next year. Keels, a transfer from Maryland to the Alexandria boarding school last year and starting cornerback for Episcopal's football team, has great speed as shown with a 49.00 400 and 22.25 200 double this past weekend at the Draper Invite.
However, both Episcopal coach Damian Walsh and Keels know his future lies in the two lap middle distance event as shown with a 1:56 performan...