Preview: Promising season = exciting state meet

FAIRFAX, VA -- This should be an exciting weekend for high school track in Virginia as the 2001 AAA Indoor Track State Meet is being held at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA this weekend on March 2nd and 3rd. This past indoor season has looked very promising for the state with many fast times and incredible marks. This should translate to a record breaking and thrilling outdoor season.

The boys' team title is wide open. There are many squads that have the capability of winning the state meet.

The Central Region champs, Petersburg, will rely on their stud, Jerome Mathis who is the number one seed in the boys' 55 and 300 as well is one of the top seeds in the boys' high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

The Eastern Region champs, Lake Braddock has there points spread out more with all of the events as they have the number one seed with Kellen Meckleson (53'10.75") as well as another number one seed in Frank Francois in the 500 who currently has the fastest time in the nation with his clocking of 1:03.75.

The cinderalla for the team title could be South Lakes. When most people think of South Lakes they think of Alan Webb and not their squad, but they could win it with Sub 4 indoor miler Webb who is entered in the boys 1600, 1000, and 4x400. Also a big point scorer could be teammate Richard Smith in the 500, 4x800, and 4x400. They have the potential to rack up over 40 points.

The question on all of the fans' minds are will Webb run his races all out or race just to win? Well in the 1600, for Webb to "race just to win", he may have to be pressed to run sub 4:15 as the 1600 includes a talented field with the likes of Curtis Parker (Woodside), Alex Clayton (Tallwood), Alex Tatu (Thomas Dale), LA Snead (Robinson), Bill Meador (Cave Springs), Jimmy Judge (Lake Braddock), and Ted Herbert (Cox). The state record is 4:13, so that could be in jeopardy.

Another epic duel in the 300 will take place with Petersburg's Jerome Mathis and Atlee's Brian Ford. Ford has beaten Mathis once this season, while Mathis has beaten Ford twice. The most recent battle between these great sprinters occurred at the Central Region Meet last weekend where Ford led Mathis heading into the straightaway, but then there was a controversial finish as allegedly Mathis or Ford or both athletes made physical contact with each other and the result ended up being Mathis being the victor. Ford will be looking to even the score at the state meet.

The boys 2 mile will be an exceptional race with Oakton senior Matt Maline and Ocean Lakes junior Matt Keally. Maline just recently qualified for World XC Junior Nationals after running a 25:03 8K. Keally after running a quick 9:18 early in the indoor season at the CNU Showcase, has been bothered by a respiratory illness at his district and region meet and will be looking to bounce back with a solid performance this weekend.

The men's pole vault should be exciting with Centreville's 2 top vaulters, David Sullivan and Mark Kupets as they duel it out with Great Bridge's Daniel Garrett and Atlee's Val Osipenko. All will most likely be reaching heights of 15 feet or higher at the state meet.

Phoebus's Alonzo Moore, by far the best horizontal jumper in the state currently, will try to be a double winner in the boys' long jump and triple jump but will face tough competition from jumpers such as Petersburg's Jerome Mathis in both events as Mathis is looking to rack up as many individual wins as well as points for his Petersburg squad.

The girls team race will be close, real close. The battle lines look to be drawn between Lake Braddock and Bethel with Brooke Point having an outside shot. Lake Braddock was dominant as they won the Northern Region meet as they used their great depth of talent in all sorts of events.

The Bethel girls will count on their star, Ara Townes to come through with a win in the 55 dash and anchor her 4x200 and 4x400 squads to victory as well as score some points in the long jump.

Brooke Point has a shot as well with Keosha Sanders leading the way for her squad in the 55 dash, 55 hurdles, 300, and long jump.

The girls' sprinting events should be very close as well such the girls 55 meter dash. It should be a 3 way duel between favorite Bethel track star Ara Townes, Keosha Sanders of Brooke Point, and Zanishia Usher of Bayside. All of these lady sprinters have ran blazing times of 7.05 or better.

Everyone make sure you are at that track when Kelley Otstott of TJ/Alexandria toes the line for the girls 1600 race. Otstott just recently posted a 2:52 1000 at her region meet, showing indications she may be in shape to run a sub 5 indoors. It will be quite a feat if she can. She will also try to be a double winner as she runs the 1000 following her 1600 race.

Another hopeful double running event winner is Petersburg's Nicole Cook in the girls 500 and 300 races. She seems a lock in the 500, but in the 300 she will face tough challengers such as Keosha Sanders of Brooke Point and Sarah Beale of Lake Braddock.

Jeannie Addison of TJ/Governor's School comes in with the fastest seed time in the girls 3200 race with a time of 11:06. With that time, she could make a run at a sub 11 attempt.