In the boys\' team title, it looks to be a battle between two sprinter strong schools in Heritage of Lynchburg and King George. Heritage made easy work of the competition at the Region III Meet with a score of 125.50 points (Jefferson Forest was 2nd with 82 points) as did King George in the Region I Meet with 112 points (2nd place was Spotsylvania with 76 points).
Heritage has really came out of nowhere this year, after being rather quiet last indoor and outdoor track season. They have a lot of depth on their squad in almost all events excluding distance events. Leading the squad in the sprints is Norman Jones and Andre Hamlet. Hamlet comes in with a best of 6.57 in the 55 meter dash and 36.08 in the 300 meter dash, while Jones comes in with a best of 6.64 in the 55 and in the 300 (37.41). Nelson Dawson has emerged as one of the premier hurdlers in Group AA as he comes in with a personal best of 7.75. Heritage will really bring the pain to other squads with the Payne brothers, Kevin and Marcus, as they live up to their names in the jumping events with Kevin competing in the high jump (6-0) and triple jump, and Marcus in the long jump (21-1.25), and triple jump (44-8). Both Payne\'s are seeded high in their respective events and will surely bring in lots of points for their squad.
King George will be riding their ticket to a state title on their sprint horses D.D. Boxley and Joey Coleman. Boxley (37.44) is the returning champion in the 55 meter dash (6.61) and also expects to place well in the 300 meter dash. Coleman is the vice versa as he is one of the favorites to win the 300 meter dash (35.75), while place well in the 55 meter dash (6.64). Also, expecting to score major points for King George will be Marcus Pollard in the 55 meter hurdles (8.14). Their 4x200 squad looks to be the backbone of the squad as they come in as the top seed at 1:31.94.
The Jefferson Forest girls will be looking to continue their streak of state titles as they will have to depend on their distance runners once again. Senior Shannon Saunders comes in as the obvious race favorite in the 1600 and 3200 as she is the defending champion in both events. Her bests of the season include a 5:07 1600 and a 10:56 3200. No one is expected to give her any challenge in the 3200, while she may run into some competition in the 1600 with Marion\'s Shelly Slemp and Western Albemarle\'s Delaney Moje. Saunders isn\'t the only point scorer for Jefferson Forest in the distance events. Cate Jackson comes into the meet as a legitimate point scorer in both the 1600 (5:23) and 1000 (3:06). Kristin Saunders in the 1600 (5:26) and 3200 (11:18), and Carly Sitterly (12:13) also should score. The Lady Cavaliers\' 4x400 squad also has the second fastest seed time at 4:18.
However, the lack of representation in the sprints and field events, leaves Jefferson Forest vulnerable to be knocked off. The Courtland girls look to be one of the top teams to do it after their win at the Region I Meet with 116 points over Caroline with 78 points. Shamara Graham leads the way for Courtland as she is entered in the long jump (17-5), triple jump, 55 meter dash (7.35), 300 meter dash (42.24), and 500 meter run (1:21.32). Quite a workload for one person, but if Graham\'s legs can hold up and place well in all of those events, they can be in contention to upset Jefferson Forest.
The Region II champions, Western Albemarle, will try to match up with the Jefferson Forest girls in the distance events with their very talented and young squad. The squad currently has the fastest 4x800 and 4x400 times in AA with clockings of 10:08.79 and 4:17.60. Senior Delaney Moje leads this group as she will be running in the 1600 (5:17) and 1000 (3:11). The additions of freshmen Amber Cadle and Kelsey Stafford make the Lady Warriors\' chances much better. Cadle is entered in the 1000 (3:09) and 500 and Stafford is in the 3200 (11:55). Teaming up with the distance squad bringing in some serious points will be Michelle Gardner in the jumping events as she is entered in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump. In each event, she is favored to be in the contention of not only scoring, but winning. With the combination of the distance crew and Gardner, makes Western Albemarle the team to look out for this Saturday.
While the Caroline girls lost the Region I title by a wide margin to Courtland, the score may be much closer this weekend with two incredible athletes such as Courtney Green and LaTonya Anderson. Green is entered in the long jump, triple jump, 55 meter dash, and triple jump. Green can possible score in the long and triple jump, while can be in contention to win the 55 (7.38) and 300 meter dash (43.33). Anderson has similar versatility as she will be set to compete in the long jump (17-06.25), triple jump, pole vault (8-6), 55 meter hurdles (8.74), and 300 meter dash. Anderson is strong favored to win the 55 meter hurdles and is expected to score in the other events she is competing in. Green and Anderson also make up a very potent 4x200 squad that will be in the heat of things.
There are a few other squads that should be in the mix as well such as Amherst County, Heritage, King George, and Jamestown.
While the team battles will be waging on Saturday, there will be a few individuals to keep an eye out for. One of the big stars will be Bobby Lockhart as he will be defending his 1600 and 3200 meter titles. Lockhart is currently training for the World Cross Country Championships next month, so that may effect his times.
If Mr. John Crews of Rockbridge runs anywhere close to how he ran at the Microtel Invitational last month at Virginia Tech, Lockhart could have a race on his hands. Crews ran a 26 second last 200 to run a personal best time of 9:11 3200 that day. Crews will also be defending his state title in the 1000 earlier in the day and try to better his state meet record time of 2:33 from a year ago.
Other noticeable distance stars are set to compete Saturday. Foot Locker All-American Fleet Hower of Marion will be doubling in the 1600 (4:26) and 3200 (9:48). Hower hasn\'t ran quite as fast of the times this season that many would have expected after his phenomenal cross country season. However, lots of that has to due with Hower\'s high mileage training which nears 100 miles in his base building phases during the summer and winter. Expect some breakthrough runs this Saturday from Hower as this is his first full season of track.
Louisa County junior Daniel Kane is stepping out of his usual routine of running the 3200 at the state meet as he will be doing the 1600 and 1000. So far this season, Kane has clocked impressive times of 4:25 and 2:34 respectively.
Teammate Steve Carlson, the defending 500m champion, looks to have a shaken off an early season injury and looks to be in fine shape to not only defend his 500 (1:06.54) title, but also a contender to win the 300 meter dash as well.
The defending triple jump champion, Devin Canady of Jamestown, while not the favorite in the triple jump, is the odds on favorite to win the 55 meter hurdles, especially after an astonishing 7.18 clocking at the Region I Meet.
Female counterpart at Jamestown, Ashley Gore, is the runner to beat in the 500 meter run after posting a blazing time of 1:18.
While people think Fleet Hower when they think Marion, Marion also has one of the best female middle distance runners in the state with Shelley Slemp. Slemp currently has the second fastest 1000 meter time in the entire state (3:00) and is high up on the national rankings.
In the jumping events, Imani Moorman headlines the field as she comes into the meet with a stellar personal best mark of 38-05.75 in the triple jump.
This year\'s state meet looks more unpredictable than ever as this meet will be the stage for many other unknown athletes to have breakthrough performances.