Decided to bring the MileStat.com Athletes of the Week. It has been since the 2002-2003 indoor season when we awarded our last AOW\'s. Kicking off the revival of the MileStat.com AOW is two deserving athletes who had dominating performances in their invitational wins this past weekend. These two athletes are seniors Melissa Dewey of Hayfield and Michael Chapa of J.R. Tucker.
While Western Branch freshmen phenom Aurora Scott showed she may very well have what it takes to win the AAA state crown this fall as a mere ninth grader by winning the Newport News Invitational (18:09 5K) in impressive fashion (plenty of future AOW\'s await her as well!), Miss Dewey from Hayfield sent a message to Scott that the road to the state title will not be easy with this determined senior standing in her way. At the Monroe Parker Invitational, Dewey scorched one of the faster times at Burke Lake Park\'s 2.98 mile course in recent history with her winning time of 17:11.
The Great Meadows Invitational served as a tough test for Michael Chapa and his J.R. Tucker squad as they went up against some of the state\'s best. Individually, Chapa would be facing off against pre-season #1 state ranked Patterson Wilhelm of E.C. Glass and #3 ranked Bryce Iverson of Forest Park in the race. On this day at Great Meadows, Chapa proved to be the top dog among the pack. Only Iverson would prove to be a worthy adversary at the Great Meadows Invite as the two harriers charged through the first mile in 4:41, but Chapa continued to keep up the hard pace into the second mile (9:40\'s range split), while Iverson dropped off considerably. Chapa would then cruise in for an easy win with the only sub 16 clocking of the meet in a time of 15:43.91. The win quickly asserts Chapa as one of the clear favorites to win the individual state crown this fall.
Melissa Dewey, Senior, Hayfield High School
While Western Branch freshmen phenom Aurora Scott showed she may very well have what it takes to win the AAA state crown this fall as a mere ninth grader by winning the Newport News Invitational (18:09 5K) in impressive fashion (plenty of future AOW\'s await her as well!), Miss Dewey from Hayfield sent a message to Scott that the road to the state title will not be easy with this determined senior standing in her way. At the Monroe Parker Invitational, Dewey scorched one of the faster times at Burke Lake Park\'s 2.98 mile course in recent history with her winning time of 17:11.
Michael Chapa, Senior, J.R. Tucker High School
The Great Meadows Invitational served as a tough test for Michael Chapa and his J.R. Tucker squad as they went up against some of the state\'s best. Individually, Chapa would be facing off against pre-season #1 state ranked Patterson Wilhelm of E.C. Glass and #3 ranked Bryce Iverson of Forest Park in the race. On this day at Great Meadows, Chapa proved to be the top dog among the pack. Only Iverson would prove to be a worthy adversary at the Great Meadows Invite as the two harriers charged through the first mile in 4:41, but Chapa continued to keep up the hard pace into the second mile (9:40\'s range split), while Iverson dropped off considerably. Chapa would then cruise in for an easy win with the only sub 16 clocking of the meet in a time of 15:43.91. The win quickly asserts Chapa as one of the clear favorites to win the individual state crown this fall.