First looking at the girls picture. E.C. Glass brings a strong field and looks to score points all across field events, relays, sprints and distance runs. Led by middle distance runner junior Sallie Ford and senior Antoinette Smith in the Shot put, they will be a difficult challenge for last year's girls champion team, the Brooke Point Black Hawks. While the Black Hawks again return a strong team anchored by jumper/hurdler sensation Chadnee Green, they will be seeking to add a lot of points from two events in which they are loaded, the shot put and 1000m run. Still, it may not be enough to overcome Woodbridge, who fields a very strong relay field complement with a talented field and sprint squad led by senior Tiffany Funny and junior Brittany Hazel. Halifax County brings a much improved girls squad this year and could also be a factor with senior Shemelia Brandon seeded first in the long and triple jumps and 500m dash. Colonial Forge will count on distance events including the 3200m relay and a first place seed in the high jump from sophomore KC Wade. Here is how these teams would fare based on scoring of the seeded times:
1. E.C. Glass 81 points
2. Woodbridge 77 points
3. Brooke Point 68 points
4. Halifax County 62 points
5. Colonial Forge 55 points
On the boys side, last year's champion, E.C. Glass brings an even stronger field and given the loss of the Miller twins from their primary challenger, Colonial Forge, they look to have a much greater margin of victory. Like the Hilltopper girls, they bring a strong field across all events. In the field events seniors Paul Inge and Matt Taylor look to dominate the pole vault with a 1-2 finish and junior Michael Zajac is the favorite in the shot put. The Hilltoppers are also seeded first in the 4x400 relay anchored by junior Carlton Phipps who is also favored in the 500m run. Junior distance specialist Pat Wilhelm will try and add first place finishes in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Freshman sensation Nathan Richards could give the Tophatters a top three finish in the latter. Colonial Forge will give chase, where they are loading the 1000m run and hope to hold off Gar-Field and Woodbridge in the 4x800m relay. Brooke Point led by field/sprint specialist senior Taili Evans will give the Eagles a run for second. Gar-Field will also be in there, and while not as strong as E.C. Glass, are also a well rounded team and should get a fair amount of points from all sectors. Forest Park could challenge these three for second, with first place seedings in the long jump and 300m dash from junior Cameron Perry. Here's how the pre-meet points shake out for the boys:
1. E.C. Glass 94.5 points
2. Colonial Forge 63 pints
3. Brooke Point 58 points
4. Gar-Field 57 points
5. Forest Park 48 points