Track is literally just around the corner and will start up in just over a month. Over that time we are going to countdown 10 of the biggest stars returning this season. This list does not include XC athletes and only includes athletes who are track specific athletes.
Counting Down The Top 10 Track Stars
Benedict not only enters the season defending his 6A state title but he also enters as one of the best throwers in the entire nation. He is the number one returning thrower for Virginia and ranks 7th all-time indoors in Virginia. His outdoor best of 64-7.25 would rank him third all-time indoors and stands at fourth all-time outdoors. That throw was also a state junior class record.
Last indoor season was a breakout season for the Washington-Lee senior. It was such a breakout year he, himself probably did not see this much improvement coming. He went from 50-8.5 to throwing 64-7.25 in the span of a year.
That type of improvement and the fact that he also won the 6A outdoor discus title shows us he is on another level right now. He is improving his craft day by day and even last year improved three feet between the seasons. If he were to improve just 3.5 feet he would then hold the state record both indoors and outdoors.
At the 2016 indoor state meet he made his mark known on his very first throw when he launched a state meet record throw. This season could be similar to that with his first throw being a state record this time around.
Benedict still has a lot more to show us. He will have tough competition in the state and that will certainly drive him. He is beyond powerful and explosive but the form and technique are still not perfect. He is almost too explosive and when he finally maintains control, it is going to be huge.
Draghi is not only the best thrower in the state returning but he is also one of the very best athletes in track. He is really a track star and could be the first ever Virginian to launch a shot put over 70 feet.
