Tyler Stutzman may have not had the performance that he wanted on a short banked track for the Millrose Games high school mile, despite making a valiant effort to push the pace and lead after a slow first half of the race. However, the Western Albemarle senior's performance on Wednesday at the Region II Indoor Track & Field Championships on another short track at the unbanked 160 meter track at Fork Union's Estes Athletic Center showed his true potential by shattering the facility record for the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:14.33 on the 10 laps to a mile track. The previous best times at the Estes Center were 4:17 by Axel Mostrag and 4:19 by Seneca Lassiter to put Stutzman's performance in historical perspective. The Stanford University signee nearly ran a personal best time on the short track as his all-time best of 4:14.20 was recorded last outdoor season at the Dogwood Track Classic. Stutzman was able to find the energy to come back and compete in the 1000 meter run as he added another regional title with a 2:37.47 win.
Stutzman's teammate Kyle Satterwhite also rolled out a fine time in the Estes Center with a 9:37.66 performance in the 3200 meter run to lap nearly all of the field. Western Albemarle's Adrian Stitler gave himself a birthday present by winning the Region II 500 meter dash title in 1:09.03.
The Louisa County boys were runaway champions for the Region II title with 185 points as the Lions had a total of six individual regional champions and one relay (4x200). There were few events without a first place finisher from Coach Jerry Cutright's squad as the field events went well for Louisa with top 3 sweep in the long jump and triple jump led with Andre Hunter (21'0") and Corrin Harris (43'3") winning individual titles. Harris also claimed the high jump for Louisa County and four other teammates place in the top 6 to move onto state competition with returning AA state champion Justin Jackson of Charlottesville recording a no height in the event.
Icing on the cake for a great start by Louisa County in the field events was Tyler Jackson clearing a personal best height of 13'9" in the pole vault for an unexpected first place showing. Jackson kept it rolling on the track as a runner-up to Fluvanna's Jamal Spears (6.47) in the 55 meter dash and later posting the fastest time in the 300 meter dash with a 37.32 clocking.
Louisa junior Dante Davis is looking to be in top form and ready to race for a state title in the 55 meter hurdles next week after his 7.69 clocking to win the Region II title with ease.
It was a relay for the Louisa County girls that had a large role but not final determining factor in deciding the Region II girls team champions as their top seeded 4x200 was disqualified. With 10 less points than expected for pre-meet favorites Louisa, the Western Albemarle girls claimed the title with 93 points as the Lady Warriors had a sweep of the first five places in the pole vault for a big point swing. Claire Johnson also stepped up for the Western girls as she anchored home a 4x800 meter relay win (9:59.03) as well as pulled away with a regional title in the 1600 meter run.
Ashontae Jackson of Orange County claimed the 300 meter dash title in dominant fashion with a 41.62 clocking, but was denied two more victories in the 55 meter dash and long jump. Jessica Jordan (7.40) of Charlottesville stole the 55 dash away from Jackson (7.41) in a photo finish, while Fluvanna's Precious Banks (16'6.25") outleaped her in the long jump. Banks followed up her upset win in the long jump by edging out Brentsville's Kelsi Ostergreen (1:21.93) in one of the closest races of the event with a 1:21.92 victory.
Ashley Rasmussen became the first Region II champion from Skyline High School, a two year old school from Warren County, with a top mark of 35'9" in the shot put.
Danyelle Kent-Robinson of Brentsville was the lone female athlete to win multiple events as she easily breezed through the 55 meter hurdles finals in a 8.71 clocking, while a 5'2" clearance was good enough to repeat as high jump champion.
Britani Myers of John Handley was the lone freshmen in the meet to win a regional title as she was impressive in her 3:09.17 performance in the 1000 meter run. Myers was the Region II runner-up in cross country this past fall.
Three runners were in contention till the end for first in the girls 3200 with Holly Rich (11:52.55) of Monticello winning by a small margin over Louisa's Hannah Best and Western Albemarle's Mattie Webb as only two seconds separated the top three finishers.
Region II Indoor T&F Championships Complete Results
Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.
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