There was a total of 13 US top 10 performances on the first day of events at the CNU High School held Friday at the Freeman Center's Vince Brown Track in Newport News. The Midlothian girls 4x800 meter relay had the leading performance of the evening with their US #2 and state best time of 9:36.64. Despite nearly missing the race with a late arrival and no time for a warm-up, Midlothian senior Kathleen Lautzenheiser motored a 2:17 split on anchor leg for the Lady Trojans.
The Bethel girls had a strong first day on the track with teammates Rashaun Combs (US #5 1:18.39) and Maya More (US #6 1:18.42) posting two of the faster times in the nation at 500 meters as they pressed each other in the fast section of the event. Meanwhile shortly before their 500 meter race, Bethel hurdler Samantha Scarlett ran a superb race to clock a state leading and US #5 time of 8.17 in the 55 meter hurdles.
While Scarlett rolled through the finals of the girls' 55 meter hurdles, the boys' race was much more hotly contested between Daniel McFadden of Heritage, Nick Dew of First Colonial, Devron Harris of Manchester. It came down to a photo finish between McFadden and Dew with McFadden declared as the winner with a US #6 best time of 7.58 followed by Dew at a US #9 time of 7.59.
Harris was third in 7.67, but had his highlight of night come in the high jump which he cleared a personal best height of 6'6", which ties him with several other athletes as ranked #10 in the country currently. The versatile Harris also ran a leg on his team's 4x800 meter relay as well on Friday.
The girls long jump produced three US top 10 performances led by current US #2 ranked Nikki Nunn of Manchester, who was just a few inches off her season best mark of 19'2" last month at CNU with a 18'11 win on Friday. Rounding out the top three in the girls' competition were two personal best performances from Renay Ransaw of Hampton (US #7 18'5.25") and Montasia Golden of Lee Davis (US #8 18'4).
The US #2 performer in the 200 meter dash, Walter Mitchell of Salem, cruised in his preliminary heat of the 55 meter dash and then turned it up several notches in the final to storm through with a US #8 clocking of 6.46. Next fastest in the finals and cracking into the US top 10 was Atlee's Trevor Ellie at 6.50.
Atlee had several event winners on the day including Marques Atkinson in the 500 meter dash and Cameron Overstreet achieving a new season best of 11'6" in the girls pole vault, which currently ties her for the state's best and with several others nationally in the #5 spot as a junior.
The Jamestown boys had to roll in the fast section of the 4x800 meter relay after the state leaders heading into this weekend, Western Branch, inserted their "A" team onto the track with a seed time likely for an originally entered "B" team or lesser, so they had to compete in the second section of four (slow to fast) and lapped the whole field including a few teams twice en route to their time of 8:18. Jamestown responded an 8:13 performance in the fast section to not only best Western Branch's time from earlier in the meet, but also take down Western Branch's 8:15 state leading performance over winter break. Jamestown was anchored by a 1:58 split from Colin Mearns.
More to come from CNU including videos, photos, and interviews.
List of US Top 10 performances (13 total) from Friday's events at CNU High School Showcase
Girls 4x800 US #2 - Midlothian 9:36.64
Girls LJ US #4 - Nikki Nunn (Manchester) 18'11 - Note: Already US #2 at 19'2.25"
Girls 55H US #5 - Samantha Scarlett (Bethel) 8.17
Girls PV US #5 - Cameron Overstreet (Atlee) 11'6"
Girls 500 US #5 - Rashaun Combs (Bethel) 1:18.39
Boys 55H US #6 - Daniel McFadden (Heritage) 7.58
Girls 500 US #6 - Maya Moore (Bethel) 1:18.42
Girls LJ US #7 - Renay Ransaw (Hampton) 18'5.25"
Girls LJ US #8 - Montasia Golden (Lee-Davis) 18'4"
Boys 55m US #8 - Walter Mitchell (Salem) 6.46
Boys 55H US #9 - Nick Dew (First Colonial) 7.59
Boys 55m US #9 - Trevor Elie (Atlee) 6.50
Boys HJ US #10 - Devron Harris (Manchester) 6'6"
Meet Videos - 16 total from day one.
Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.
89 National Elites.
There was a total of 13 US top 10 performances on the first day of events at the CNU High School held Friday at the Freeman Center's Vince Brown Track in Newport News. The Midlothian girls 4x800 meter relay had the leading performance of the evening with their US #2 and state best time of 9:36.64. Despite nearly missing the race with a late arrival and no time for a warm-up, Midlothian senior Kathleen Lautzenheiser motored a 2:17 split on anchor leg for the Lady Trojans.