Bowman runs US#1 800 at Taco Bell Classic

Apr 09, 2005

SPRING HILL, SC -- Sarah Bowman of Fauquier, Dennis Boone of Thomas Dale, and Kharya Brown of Brooke Point all came away from the heavily contested Taco Bell Classic in South Carolina with victories in their respective events and a little extra to go along with that. Bowman ran a national leading time and earned MVP honors and Boone posted two state leading times, while Brown ran a season best time in her event.

Fauquier senior Sarah Bowman continued her dominance from last spring where she ended as a national champion and national leader at 800 meters by popping a national leading time not far off her personal best with a 2:05.41 clocking at the Taco Bell Classic in South Carolina. In a field that included the likes of fellow Virginian Katie Doswell of St. Catherine\'s, Bowman left no doubt that the national title for the 800 meter run still runs through her as she won the 800 with a time two seconds faster than her 2004 win at Taco Bell. Bowman scorched a 61 second first lap to finish up with a 64 second last 400 meters to cross the line first.

Doswell, a junior, was unable to keep up with Bowman\'s torrid pace and ended up finishing third in a time of 2:15.96. While Doswell ran a 2:08 800 and 2:47 1000 during the indoor season, she actually just missed her outdoor personal best of 2:15.64 in the event.

Two other Virginians had strong individual performances in South Carolina as well in Thomas Dale senior Dennis Boone and Brooke Point senior Kharya Brown.

Boone posted two state leading times in winning both the boys\' 100 meter dash and long jump. Boone hit the line in a time of 10.90 as he became the first Virginian to dip under 11 seconds thus far this season. In the long jump, Boone was three feet off of his outdoor best with a winning leap of 23-11.25. Boone won the long jump at last year\'s Taco Bell meet, while finishing third in the 100 meter dash.

Brown, who recently transferred to third high school in the past few years at Brooke Point, won the 100 meter dash in 12.28 and finished runner-up in the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.47. Brown\'s 200 meter clocking was a season best as she currently has the second fastest time in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes behind Bethel star Francena McCorory in each event.