Virginia enters the national championships this weekend with seven serious shots at winning a national title. These seven are Aidan Clark (HJ), Taylor Beard (HJ), Sydney Banks (HJ), Gennifer Hirata (PV), Jaren Holmes (TJ), Keyonte Midgett (TJ), and Mason Henry (TJ).
They are joined by another 39 individuals from VA who are entered in the championship field events. All 39 of course have chances at winning too and strong chances at placing in the top six to finish as an All-American.
VA's biggest favorite is Gennifer Hirata in the pole vault. She will be joined by Gracie Jauch and Abby Tershak in the event. Hirata is currently ranked US No. 3 in the event with her 14-0 best. She has traveled and competed well all year which leads us to believe she is ready for the big one this weekend. Her biggest advantage will be the scorching heat as seeds one and two are from Washington state.
In the high jumps Virginia has a few chances at the crown. Taylor Beard and Sydney Banks both have the strength to win right around six feet while Aidan Clark can win on the guys' side. He will need a seven foot plus clearance to ensure at worst a podium finish.
Finally will be the boys' triple jump which will feature Class 6 state champion Jaren Holmes (50-1.5), Class 5 state champion Mason Henry (48-5.5), and last year's EE champion Keyonte Midgett (50-2.5). All three have to jump over 50' for the title and all are very capable of doing just that.
It should also be noted that every year some VA athlete, sometimes even multiple ones, compete out of their mind in Greensboro. So check out all the entries below listed alphabetically and see all of VA's chances at a national title.
Team VA's Field Event Entries
Boys High Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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8 1112 Clark, Aidan 20 Ashburn, VA
9 5457 Coleman, Limiah 19 Mineral, VA
23 6403 Moody, Prince 19 Springfield, VA
25 4733 Perrello, Biagio 19 North Chesterfie
36 2019 Thomas, Trevor 20 Stafford, VA
Event 52 Girls High Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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3 4189 Banks, Sydney 19 Manassas, VA
4 2852 Beard, Taylor 19 Winchester, VA
26 2018 Shipp, Nayome 21 Stafford, VA
Event 53 Boys Pole Vault Championship
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Name Year School
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28 3685 Mosteller, Kyle 19 Amherst, VA
Event 54 Girls Pole Vault Championship
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A
Name Year School
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9 6669 Hirata, Gennifer 19 Fredericksbrg, V
13 2806 Jauch, Gracie 19 Forest, VA
24 5747 Tershak, Abby 20 Roanoke, VA
Event 55 Boys Long Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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10 1194 Coates, Jackson 19 Aldie, VA
11 1207 Coles, Caleb 19 Amherst, VA
12 1208 Colizzi, John 20 Manakin Sabot, V
23 2592 Holmes, Jaren 19 Fredericksburg,
32 3320 Mackey, Daryl 19 Alexandria, VA
36 4583 Pride, Tyler 19 Leesburg, VA
39 5277 Slayton, Otis 19 South Boston, VA
41 4734 Townsend, Eric 19 Midlothian, VA
Event 56 Girls Long Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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19 483 Saunders, Jahnelle 21 Hampton, VA
22 6451 Seetoo, Emma 21 Chantilly, VA
26 4735 Townsend, Grace 20 Midlothian, VA
Event 57 Boys Triple Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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1 2524 Abdelrahman, Mohamad 19 Herndon, VA
4 432 Beckford, Taylor 19 Stafford, VA
9 3355 Daye-Schafer, Devin 20 Chesterfield, VA
20 2499 Haywood, Issac 20 Louisa, VA
21 2181 Henry, Mason 19 Glen Allen, VA
23 2592 Holmes, Jaren 19 Fredericksburg,
30 3400 Marsh, Marvin 20 Chester, VA
34 5470 Midgett, Keyonte 19 Richmond, VA
39 5087 Omohundro, Carl 19 Midlothian, VA
Event 58 Girls Triple Jump Championship
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Name Year School
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6 2852 Beard, Taylor 19 Winchester, VA
12 3045 Carpenter, Lnya 20 North Chesterfie
21 2448 Hardy, Jordan 21 Hampton, VA
22 3439 Hawkins, Raquel 19 Norfolk, VA
35 2799 Myrthil, Teresa 20 Burke, VA
36 5741 Otete, Dhiambi 19 Alexandria, VA
38 4965 Roe, Zayin 20 Richmond, VA
44 6185 Venning, Jordan 20 Stafford, VA
Event 59 Boys Shot Put Championship
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Name Year School
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2 91 Allen, Isaiah 19 Stephens City, V
32 2266 Williams, Azad 19 Chesapeake,, VA
Event 60 Girls Shot Put Championship
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Name Year School
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5 2258 Bowers, Janae 19 Chesapeake,, VA
8 1836 Estep, Alexis 20 Midlothian, VA
Event 61 Boys Discus Throw Championship
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Name Year School
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5 554 Blake, Jabari 19 Lynchburg, VA
Event 62 Girls Discus Throw Championship
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Name Year School
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14 2583 Holliday, Gabrielle 19 Henrico, VA
22 3161 Mann, Megan 20 Mechanicsville,