RICHMOND, VA - The two day meet at the East Coast Invitational saw plenty of track and field action with three divisions of competition with the Virginia Invitational, Richmond Metro Invitational, and Richmond Metro divisions. The meet showcased many of the state\'s top tier athletes including the likes of Angela Jenkins, Kristen Wolfe, Christi Harsha, and Kieran Lofland.
James River sophomore Kristen Wolfe appears to be working herself into her state championship form from a year ago as she won the 1000 meter run with a solid time of 3:04.33 on the Ashe Center track surface. Wolfe then doubled back to win the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:49.86 in her track debut in the event.
One runner Wolfe must be wary of in defending her state title is Douglas Freeman\'s Christi Harsha as Harsha ran one of the faster times in the state at 500 meters with her 1:19.72 in the event at East Coast.
Buffalo Gap\'s Angela Jenkins posted a season best mark of 18-9 to win the long jump competition, which had three Central Regions leaping well over 17 feet with Mansfield Murph of Atlee (17-10), Brittany Smith of Patrick Henry (17-8), and Rachel Butler of Lee-Davis (17-8).
Butler would win the triple jump at 37-6 as she won a close competition over Deep Run\'s Ashley Orr at 37-5. Butler also finished second in the 300 meter dash with a 44.80 as Atlee\'s Dana Harvey posted the top time at 44.80.
Butler\'s teammate and current state leader Kathy Howard took first place in the shot put by over six feet with a toss of 41-3.
Mills Godwin junior Anne Marie Gordon won the pole vault event with ease as the defending Group AAA state champion successfully cleared 10-6.
Anastasia Abid and the Lafayette girls had a strong meet in the distance races as the 4x800 meter relay won with a time of 10:28.34, while Abid took the girls\' 1600 meter run with a time of 5:33.01.
Armstrong\'s Kiara Branch won a photo finish over Atlee\'s Nisse Chism (9.01) with a 9.00 clocking.
While Abid took the 1600 meter run for Lafayette on the girls\' side, Group AA state favorite in the 1000 meter run, Ryan Gaul, helped the Rams win the 4x800 meter relay (8:43.63) as well as win his specialty event with a time of 2:42.58.
Atlee\'s Ben Dejarnette is quickly establishing himself as one of the top freshmen distance runners in the state as he picked up the win in 1600 meter run with a swift 4:35.63 clocking to set a personal best time.
While Nottoway\'s Justin Stith had the fastest time coming out of the prelims at 6.58, Manchester\'s Anthony Chesson was able to beat Stith in the finals in a photo finish as both athletes were clocked at 6.57. Stith will certainly be a contender at the Group AA state meet in March.
Stith\'s teammate, Skeeter Morris (10:07.71) took the win in the 3200 meter race in a close race over Brian Welch of Mills Godwin (10:09.57).
Douglas Wall of Petersburg garnered two wins in the field events with his performances in the high jump (6-4) and long jump (21-11).
Two meet records were set in the field events by Kiernan Lofland of St. Christopher\'s in the pole vault and Brandon Oliver of Meadowbrook in the shot put.
Lofland won the pole vault with a successful clearance of 15 feet over the Atlee trio of Justin Varner (13-6), Jordan Cole (13-0), and Cameron Sovick (12-6).
Oliver continued to establish himself as one of the state\'s top throwers this season with his winning toss of 53-10, but Clover Hill\'s Blake Decristopher had a very solid effort as well in second place with a mark of 52-3.