NORFOLK, VA -- While there will be no Percy Harvin at this year\'s AAA State Meet, it appears the state of Virginia has not waited long to find another dominating athlete from Tidewater Virginia after the performances from Phoebus senior Corey Vinston at the Norfolk State Relays. Vinston won four events on the day and all his winning times and marks were very impressive. He had close second place finishes as well in two field events behind national champion and All-American jumper Marlon Woods of Booker T. Washington.
Despite poor conditions with the heavy rainfall in the area, Vinston ran two state leading times in the 200 meter dash (21.08) and 300 meter hurdles (38.50) as his 200 meter time was a big personal best for him. Vinston also ran a PR with his 10.69 win in the 100 meter dash. Only Charles Clark of Bayside has ran faster in the event this season at 10.65.
Vinston also had a strong meet in the field events despite wet runways. Vinston posted a personal best of 46\'4\" in a triple jump win, while losing out to All-American Marlon Woods of Booker T. Washington on a tiebreaker as both athletes had marks of 22\'8\". Vinston currently has the state\'s best in the long jump at 24\'2\" from the Conn Madden Relays. Woods, a state and national champion in the high jump this past indoor season, was a winner in his specialty event as well at 6\'6\" as Vinston finished at a height of 6\'4\" for second.
Menchville\'s Nicole Saunders had a terrific meet in winning all three individual sprint events in the 100 (12.31), 200 (24.52), and 400 (56.26) meter dashes. All three times were personal best performances for Saunders and her 400 meter clocking is state\'s fastest of the season.
Another state best time came out of the 300 meter hurdles in an unheralded star in Booker T. Washington\'s Elaine Rhoades as the junior won at Norfolk State with a solid 45.89 clocking. Rhoades has yet to qualify for a state meet individually, so her performance on Saturday was certainly breakthrough.
Heritage senior Carolyn Lewis earned three wins in the field events as the damp conditions did not stop her from taking first place in the pole vault (9\'0\"), long jump (17\'0\"), and triple jump (37\'1\").
Woodside senior Ryan Gordon cracked 50 feet in the shot put with a winning toss of 51\'9\" on a tough day for the throwers working with a slippery circle.
Booker T. Washington swept the team titles with Woods and his fellow teammates placing the Booker T. Washington boys (100.50 pts) well ahead of the one man wrecking crew of Vinston for Phoebus (70.50), while the girls from Booker T. Washington compiled a higher team score of 104 points.