Lexington, VA -— Amanda Patterson may have been absent last weekend at the VHSL State Cross Country Meet, but her presence was felt and realized today at the VMI 3200m Time Trial. The Duke bound Patterson appears to have shook off her injury which occurred to a leg muscle during cross-country season. During an exclusive interview with Brandon Miles, Patterson said she had been doing mostly pool work and just started running again last week. Patterson said, "I have run every other day this week, and I am just going to try to build my mileage slowly." Wow! She did not appear to be someone coming off an injury. Instead, Patterson seemed to be near top form as she cruised to an easy win at the VMI 3200m Time Trial held at the VMI outdoor track. The All-American two-miler from Midlothian ran near perfect splits to post a fast and new Meet record of 10:57.66. Her splits were: 1:21, 2:43, 4:04, 5:26, 6:48, 8:11, 9:36, and 10:57. During the race, her mother was heard saying, "She forgot to use her inhaler". Her mother was referring to the fact that Patterson has numerous allergies and asthma. If she gets to run a little more this week and she takes her inhaler, Patterson may be the biggest surprise at Footlocker which is run next week at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, NC. Sallie Ford, a junior from E.C. Glass, would take the runner-up spot with a 19 second improvement on her personal best with a very quick time of 11:38.81. This time also bettered the old meet record.
Michael Chapa, the current AAA Cross Country State Champion and Footlocker contender, set a new standard of 9:11.92 in the boy's race as he eclipsed the old record set by David Groff a current William and Mary runner from Westfield. Before the race, Chapa, a senior from J.R. Tucker, asked coach Paul Spangler of VMI if he could have the rabbit run the first mile in 4:28 in order for him to have a chance to run a sub 9 minute race. With a previous personal record of 9:18, it would seem to be a big jump. However, as the race unfolded the rabbit did his job and brought Chapa through the 1600m mark in 4:29. The first lap was a little slow in 1:09, but the second lap was run in 1:07, the third in 1:06, and the fourth in 1:07 for a 4:29 1600m. Then, the rabbit fell off the track and the lap times slipped to 1:10, 1:12, 1:12, and 1:08. Without the pacing it became a little more difficult. Chapa said, "I was pleased with the first mile and then the rabbit dropped out and I thought oooooh – this is going to be tough." Patterson Wilhelm, a junior from E.C Glass, would hang on to the runner-up place with a time of 9:27.92 as eleven runners would break the 10 minute mark. Rod Camden, the E.C. Glass Track coach, was on hand and thinking about the prospect of soon having Patterson on his indoor team said, "I may have had better athletes, but I have never had a kid with more determination, guts, and willingness to win." Brad Siragusa, a junior from Chantilly, would narrowly hold off Pat Eggleston, a senior from Brentsville District for the 3rd spot. Siragusa posted a time of 9:28.43 and Eggleston was credited with a 9:28.73. With a personal best by ten seconds, Mike Spooner from West Springfield would claim the 5th place medal in 9:39.13.
Coach Spangler and his athletes did a fantastic job of hosting the meet and pacing the runners. After the races, each participant received a medal and all the pizza they wanted. I even slipped over and snuck a slice of pepperoni pizza before Chapa starting wolfing down his victory meal.