As both Alaysia Oakes and Jada Foreman ready for their final high school track seasons, it may be a good time to take pause, as two of Virginia's most decorated female athletes count down toward the end of their prep careers.
In terms of individual state championships alone, the pair have earned enough rings to cover the fingers and thumbs of almost three people.
Oakes' story is well known. With five wins at last week's Class 3 VHSL Indoor Track championships, the Heritage-Lynchburg senior now has 18 individual state championships, believed to be the most among Virginia females and possibly tops overall. It is possible that Doug Dickinson from the 1960's era Newport News High championship boys' teams won 20, during a time when both the low and high hurdles were run as separate events. Several of Dickinson's may have come in relays. The Typhoon won 14 boys' state titles in the 1960's, many with Dickinson as the catalyst. With a repeat performance during outdoor season, Oakes, a Stanford commit, will own the outright record.
Jada Foreman of Atlee tagged three more wins in the Class 4 meet to run her state indoor win total to seven. Foreman won the high jump (5-6), long jump (19-2) and triple jump with an eye-popping 40-9.5. All were PR's, and Foreman also scored in the 55 for good measure, as Atlee was one point away from the team crown.
Atlee coach Neil Freeman spoke in superlatives about his star.
"She has sacrificed so much for the good of the team," said Freeman, referring to Foreman's willingness to score points in the short hurdles and dashes, while burning energy that could be used for her jumps. "We're very appreciative."
Foreman also joined another exclusive club, with her long jump win being the third in a row (for indoors) for the University of Southern California senior.