PRACTICAL VIEWING GUIDE
Here are the schedules for the state meets: Class 1/2; Class 3/4; Class 5/6
FRIDAY
Action will begin at 12:00pm for all classifications with the 4x800m relays (some starting slightly later). Following them will be the high hurdles prelims, 100m dash prelims, and then the 200m dash prelims.
SATURDAY
This should be the first year all classifications will contest the 3200m runs in the morning to beat the heat, oddly enough this might be the most moderate weather we've had in years. Either way, the 3200's will begin at 8:30am at Todd Stadium for Classes 5/6 and at 9:00am for Classes 1-4.
Following those events, the schedules remain fairly consistent with finals beginning around noon and finishing with the 4x400's around 5-6pm.
TRACK FAN VIEWING GUIDE
Here is your viewing guide as a track fan, these are the races you cannot miss.
FRIDAY
12:00pm: Class 6 Girls 4x800; Getting things off to a big start looks to be South Lakes who set the state record indoors and might look to do the same outdoors. This is a cannot miss race.
1:00pm: Both Class 1/2 and Class 3/4 will be starting their 4x8's... in this instance we recommend flipping between both!
2:15pm: Class 6 Girls 100mH; this is going to be a heavyweight showdown between State leader Shakayla Lavender and indoor state champion Ava Rice.
2:45pm: Class 5/6 100m dash prelims will be taking to the track. There are quite a few heats so you'll be looking at heat winners and not the clock which could produce (in a weird twisted way) faster times in the prelims.
3:50pm: Class 5 Girls 100m dash prelims featuring the Atlee duo of Rempe and Goodson who will be looking to square off with Arrington and Worrell. All four will need to advance but Atlee will be the team to watch as they attempt to win the state team title like indoors off of some super-star athletes.
4:10pm: At this point just tune in to Class 3/4 as the other meets will have concluded action and you'll then have some time to focus on the action in Lynchburg to close out day one.
SATURDAY
8:30am: Start your morning off with the Class 5/6 3200's. There should be enough time to catch both girls races before flipping the stream to the next one.
9:00am: Class 3/4 3200's. Do not miss these races! The Class 4 girls race between Zoie Lamanna and Kylie Brooks could see two girls run in the Top 10 all-time for VA! Then right after them is the Class 3 boys race with Rives Boltwood of Abingdon looking to break the 9-minute barrier.
12:00pm: Class 6 Girls 100mH Final, hopefully both of the top athletes in Lavender and Rice make it through because this could be another instant classic.
1:10pm: Class 3 Boys 1600 between state leader Cole Boone, Bazil Mathes, Rives Boltwood, and Tristan Yoder all seeded below 4:20. These boys should all be fresh and with weather looking good this could spell some sub 4:10 performances.
1:30pm: Class 6 Boys 4x100m relays. The race we won't technically get but we get it twice? What we mean by that is we have two of the best teams in the state facing off but in different heats. Oscar Smith will be in heat 4 and West Springfield will be in heat 5. Oscar Smith has yet to run the "big dogs" and based on their 4x2, they are the team to beat but West Springfield are your state leaders and until you beat them... they're the team to beat too. This one will come down to the clock and WS gets to see what time they need to run.
3:45pm: Class 1 Boys 800 featuring a battle of the brothers with the Chandler brothers battling it out with Lebanon's Matthew Kane for the 800 title and potentially the team title too?
4:20pm: Class 3 Boys 800, Well you gotta tune-in and see Cole Boone again. This super sophomore will be coming off the 1600 so I guess we can see if he is even human or if he runs something crazy fast even after a big race.
4:40pm: Class 3 Boys 200, if he does things right throughout the day, Rustburg's Elijah Sherard will be looking to be completing the sprint triple crown. He enters the weekend as the top seed in the 100, 200, and 400 in Class 3.
5:00-6:00pm: All six classifications. Keep an eye on the team scores and watch the most exciting race to end a state championship with (hopefully) multiple team titles coming down to the 4x400.