Here are the ten biggest races we will be watching at the VHSL State Championships next week. You will be able to capture them live all week from Monday-Thursday.
LIVE COVERAGE
1. Class 3 Boys 1000m Run
If there is one event you must watch it is this one. Last year, in this very race, Pulaski's Cole Boone ran a 2:20 national record in the 1000m Run. This will likely be his very last 1K ever in high school so we will be watching the clock for what could be another huge time.
2. Class 6 Girls 500m Dash
Speaking of national records, Sophie Rambo of Grassfield also has one to her name. She ran 1:10 and change at the VA Showcase this January and could be looking to run even faster at States. She will be doubling back in the 300 so we're still unsure how fast she will go but anytime a national record holder toes the line you must watch.
3. Class 6 Boys 4x400m Relay
It feels like the 4x4 has decided the last five state team titles here and that could be the case again this year. You have South Lakes, West Springfield, and state record holders Battlefield who are your top three seeds in the event. Just like these past few years, place is going to matter not just for the first place but all the way to eighth.
4. Class 6 Boys 55m Hurdles
Gar-Field senior Joshua-Kai Smith is so close to history and this weekend on the fast Virginia Beach Sports Center track he could do it. He is seeded at 7.05 in the 55mH, just .05 off of Grant Holloway's state record. He has the speed to do it and is also entered in the 55m dash.
5. Class 3 Boys 55m Dash
Hopefully the timers have their cameras ready for this one. In this race, which usually is a close finish, we could have one of the closest finishes ever. The top three seeds are all tied at 6.44 for their seed time. That includes Alex Dunn (Rustburg), Pharrell Christolin (Brookville), and Jden Muse (Northside). If that wasn't enough there is also a three-way tie for fourth seed at 6.52 then one guy at 6.53 and another two at 6.54. This race is going to be close!
6. Class 4 Girls 300m Dash
This race might not be super close like the one above but it will be significant as it will be Varina freshman, Imani Moore's, fourth event of the state meet. She could win the 55, 300, long, and high jump competitions and if she does she will cap it off with the 300m dash.
7. Class 5 Girls 500m Dash
Now this one is an interesting matchup. You have the defending champion in Hermitage's Massandje Comara, who last year ran a freshman state record in the event and VA #5 all-time 1:12.55, squaring off with Nansemond River Michailyn Rose.
Rose, competed independently until this year, is one of the best athletes in the entire nation and has run 1:12 this year already. The Arkansas commit is going to have to bring everything she has to take down Comara in what should be one of the fastest and most thrilling races of the week.
8. Class 6 Girls 1K
Here is another interesting one where the two-time defending champion (South Lake's Caroline Elliott) is not ranked #1 on paper. That title would go to Battlefield's Lucy Arnold but of course it is going to be a race for the real title. Arnold enters the meet seeded at 2:49 with Elliott at 2:51. They lead a staggering 12 girls seeded under 3:00 in what should be the fastest 1K at states ever.
9. Class 6 Girls 4x800m Relay
Speaking of defending champions, this is another race that should be fun to watch between South Lakes, West Springfield, Oakton, Alexandria City, and James W. Robinson. South Lakes, likely to be anchored by Elliott, are three-time defending champions. West Springfield on the other hand enters the meet seeded first and were your outdoor champions.
Joining them are second seeded Alexandria City, XC state team champions James W. Robinson, and distance powerhouse Oakton who have the XC state champion (Caroline Sapperstein) in their ranks.
10. Class 4 Boys 500m Dash
This one could be record fast. You have Grafton's Logan Patrick (1:04.02), Jamestown's Josiah Walston (1:04.26), and Rock Ridge's Khem Temoka (1:04.81) who will all be battling it out for two and a half laps. This one could go any way and really the only thing we know for certain is that it will be fast!