The state of Virginia had some very noteworthy performances on Friday at the New Balance Nationals including a new state record 4x800 performance by the West Springfield girls (pictured right by Dave Watt) slipping into the All-American top 6 with their time of 9:03.35 against arguably one of the deepest 4x800 fields in high school history.
Darrell Wesh just missed becoming the first boys champion from Virginia in the meet as he posted one of the fastest performances all-time in state history as a runner-up in the 100 meter dash finals with a 10.42 clocking, while Christal Peterson set a new state record in the 100 meter dash with her 11.55 preliminary performance.
Colin Mearns of Jamestown joined an elite group of past Virginians under 9 minutes in the two mile with an All-American fifth place run of 8:57.42, while Katherine Walker appeared to show little signs of fatigue from her 5K victory last night to take sixth place and All-Americans in the two mile at 10:30.54.
Also earning All-American honors in the championship seeded events were the Western Branch girls in the shuttle hurdles. Henrico junior Stephanie Oleson competely redeemed himself from two previous poor showings in the pole vault to clear a personal best height of 12'8.50" to place fifth and earn All-American honors.
Boys 100 Meter Dash - Darrell Wesh (Landstown) - 2nd, 10.42
Girls Shuttle Hurdles Relay - Western Branch - 2nd, 1:02.58
Boys 2Mile Run - Colin Mearns (Jamestown) - 5th, 8:57.42
Girls Pole Vault - Stephanie Oleson (Henrico) - 5th, 12'8.25"
Girls 100 Meter Dash - Christal Peterson (Phoebus) - 6th, 11.67 (11.55 prelims *NEW STATE RECORD*)
Girls 4x800 Meter Relay - West Springfield - 6th, 9:03.35 *NEW STATE RECORD*
Girls 2Mile Run - Katherine Walker (Brooke Point) - 6th, 10:30.54
Emerging Elite Boys 4x200 Champions - James Robinson 1:30.52
Emerging Elite Boys 400 - Anthony Finney (Varina) - 2nd, 48.63
Emerging Elite Girls 4x800 - Western Albemarle - 2nd, 9:25.75
Emerging Elite Boys 2Mile - Kevin Bennert (Woodberry Forest) - 2nd, 9:23.62
Emerging Elite Girls 100 - Siobhan Ford-Holland (Bethel) - 3rd, 12.25
Emerging Elite Girls 4x800 - Forest Park - 3rd, 9:28.78
Emerging Elite Boys 100 - Roderque Gray (Brooke Point) - 4th, 10.88
Emerging Elite Boys 2Mile - Jack Jasper (Herndon) - 4th, 9:24.94
Emerging Elite Boys Mile - Brian Gorwtz (Grafton) 5th, 4:19.76