It was another fast one at the Armory for Team VA in day two's action at New Balance Nationals. Highlighting the day was Western Branch's shuttle hurdle quartets who both broke the previous national record and placed a staggering 12 girls and four boys with All-American status.
Day 1 Recap - Team VA Coverage Page
The girls had the biggest day running a 30.63 to break their own national record from 2015 by .59 seconds! The boys dipped way under the previous national record as well but finished second to East Orange of New Jersey.
Jada Terrell ran the first leg and was followed by Ballard, Jenkins, and Shockley in that record setting race. It was just a few minutes after Shadajah easily qualified into the 60mH semis.
This race wasn't all Western Branch though as Nansemond River finished second and Tallwood finished fifth with Western Branch's B & C teams finishing fourth and sixth!
In the field events Jahkwan Blackley (Western Branch) showed out for Team VA with his third place 24-3 finish in the long jump.
Stealing the show late in the field was Titiana Marsh of Thomas Dale. The Chesterfield County junior not only rebounded from her 6A state finish but was able to go further than she ever has with her state record 20-5 mark in the long jump. She achieved this mark on her fifth attempt.
In the longest race of the meet, the 4xMile, West Springfield's girls team finished as All-Americans in 20:42.57 just nine seconds away from the title and 1.49 seconds off of second place! That team was comprised of Bothwell, Coleman, Kappeler, and Keast.
Western Branch wasn't done though after the shuttle hurdle relays. They ran a 4:04 to finish an All-American 5th place in the girls sprint medley then really put on a show in the 4x200s.
Speaking of the 4x200s, Team VA once again showed everyone that they came to run this weekend thru qualifying four teams out of the 12 spots over both genders. Western Branch and Phoebus boys (out of lane 2) both qualified running under 1:30 but the real show was in the girls race.
Despite it being a semi-final and just minutes after the shuttle hurdle relay, the ladies of Western Branch got the stick around in 1:27.08 to break their own state record by .01 by the team of Ballard, Terrell, Tucker, and Parker-Love.
Team War played quiet all year and we finally got to see their colors in a big way when they threw down a 1:37.85 qualifying time to advance as the second seed into the final.
Qualifying into the finals/semis thru the sprint prelims are the following athletes and their rank into the finals.
Girls 60H: Shadajah Ballard (Western Branch) 15th
Boys 60: Qhiyal Towns (Heritage) 3rd
Boys 60H: Kurt Powder (Oscar Smith) 12th, Coby Bailey (Grassfield) 17th, Timothy Payne (Heritage) 18th
Boys 200: Micaiah Harris (Western Branch) 2nd, Igo Grimes (Freedom) 5th
Girls 400: Britton Wilson (Mills Godwin) 2nd, Syaira Richardson (Nansemond River) 8th
Boys 400: Edward Richardson III (Bethel) 6th, Igo Grimes (Freedom) 8th