Here are the must-watch races this upcoming weekend at VHSL States.
#1 Class 6 Boys 4x800m Relay
We have given up on trying to predict a winner in this race but certainly know it will be must-watch. Gone are the days were sub 8 gets you into the conversation, now we have four teams seeded sub 7:50! You have Lake Braddock, Cosby, Patriot, and West Springfield all seeded below that mark and ready to run. The meet record of 7:44 is almost certainly going to get shattered.
#2 Class 6 Girls 1600m Run
This race has too many storylines to count. For starters, it looks like the meet record of 4:48 could get obliterated but the racers in it are more exciting that even that. You have athletes like Abigail Mesfin who are having one of the greatest seasons ever or Petra Gruendel who was untouchable indoors or even the storyline of one of the toughest competitors we've ever seen in Caroline Elliott who seemingly finds a way to win. On top of those three you also have Molly Hardwick and Allie Horner who could win basically any distance title in any classification. This race will be after the 4x8 and 3200 so though people will be tired, it will be a fair battle for supremacy in the 1600.
#3 Cole Boone's Last Hurrah x 3
This will be national record holder, Cole Boone's last hurrah. The Class 3 Star will look to go out in style by running the 800, his specialty, and then anchoring both the 4x8 and 4x4 relays. This will be must watch action.
#4 Class 4 Girls 4x400m Relay
Nothings is better than ending the meet with the 4x400m relay. Here we will get to see Charlottesville, Blacksburg, and Churchland all battling it out and separated by just 0.80 seconds. These three teams will run fast but the team implications are huge with these three teams slated to take 1-2-3 overall as well.
#5 Class 5 Girls 800m Run
It is truly rare you get to see a "sprinter" move up in distance but that is what we get to see this weekend. The defending 400m champion, Massandje Comara, will be solely focusing on the 800 despite having run 53.99 already this season in the 400! She enters this race seeded second behind Kellam's Myriam Garrouteigt. Those two have gone 2:13 and 2:16 this season.
#6 Class 3 Girls 3200m Run
Trackflation is definitely real! There are four girls seeded under the current state meet record in this race and one of them is the record holder too! You have record holder, Kiera Lowman seeded at 10:40.46, Avery Whitson seeded at 10:35.82, Emerson Ritter seeded at 10:29.54, and Samantha Nitzsche seeded at 10:22.96. All of them are under the 10:43.76 record from 2024.
#7 Class 6 Boys 110mH
History could happen here with Gar-Field's Joshua-Kai Smith looking to lower his own state meet record and get his state meet record wind-legal as well. The time to beat is 13.08 wind-legal so we will have all eyes on the clock for this one.
#8 Class 5 Boys 300mH
Not only is this race loaded with talented runners but it could be record setting as well. Defending champion, Davian Booker, has been focusing on the postseason and running fast well into June. That means we could have something special on our hands once the gun goes off here.
#9 Class 3 Girls 200m Dash
This could be one of the rare times we get to see the 400m state champ versus the 100m state champ battle it out in the middle. Of course, there are quite a few moving parts that would need to line up for this to happen but nonetheless it should be exciting with Brentsville's Kayla Smith (400m favorite) versus Brookville's Kaelen Tucker (100m favorite).
#10: Class 1 Boys 1600m Run
This race will feature Parry McCluer's Kebryl Chandler as he will likely be going for his third state title and third state meet record after the 4x8 and 3200m runs. This one could be the fastest 1600 of the weekend as well with others doubling in the larger classifications.