After a huge race this weekend, you cannot not consider Ben Nibbelink a big star in the VA track scene.
This past Saturday in a stacked race with multiple state champions, it was a junior who finished 24th at States stealing the show. That junior was Tuscarora's Benjamin Nibbelink. He crushed the final laps to take home the race in a state leading time of 9:10.60. That is a 35 second improvement on his time last year.
That time puts him on the same trajectory as Chantilly's Sean McGorty who up until Drew Hunter held the state record. In fact, that time also puts him just outside of the VA All-time list which has a cutoff of 9:04.46 (Mike Mansy - TC Williams - 1978).
Though the time was impressive, it was more impressive how he ran it and how he bested some of the very best athletes in VA en route.
Ben has already dipped under the 2:00 minute barrier this season and has a solid 1600m performance as well. To put it plainly, Ben may be the heir to fill Suliman's throne next season. His kick and racing acumen right now is very impressive and makes us really want that 5A showdown.
We may have to wait until States for that super showdown in 5A but we at least know now that 5A has another star in their ranks.
After a huge race this weekend, you cannot not consider Ben Nibbelink a big star in the VA track scene.
This past Saturday in a stacked race with multiple state champions, it was a junior who finished 24th at States stealing the show. That junior was Tuscarora's Benjamin Nibbelink. He crushed the final laps to take home the race in a state leading time of 9:10.60. That is a 35 second improvement on his time last year.
