VHSL Group AA State Indoor Championships - Girls Meet Summary Reid Taylor Mar 06, 2009

The Tolsma Track heated up Saturday both literally and figuratively as the AA state schools converged on Liberty University for the 2009 Indoor state championships. Despite warm temperatures in the arena, hundreds of parents and fans poured into the facility along with the athletes to get a chance to watch the great competition.  A fast, flat 200 meter 4 laned track, the Liberty University track facility proved to be a great fit for the AA sized state meet. While there were concerns about seating, and arrangements at the meet down in Hampton, the Tolsma track facility proved to have plenty of seating while creating a rocking atmosphere for the athletes, while offering great vantage points for the viewers. Great times and marks came from all events as the athletes put a cap on the 2009 Indoor Track and Field season and will now prepare for national meets and the outdoor season.

Northwest Region Championships Coverage Reid Taylor Feb 21, 2009

The boys' team from Albemarle this weekend continued their hot season crushing their opponents by nearly tripling the point total of 2nd place Mountain View. Pulling down 123 points to Mountain View's 46 points, the Patriots from Albemarle looks to be ready for their toughest competition of the year next week as they will attempt to win the overall AAA state title. Led by seniors Zachary Vrhovac, Garrett Bradley, and Luke Noble with strong help by juniors Anthony Kostelac and Jordan Hill, the Patriots seemed invincible.

The Osbourn Park girls' team made it one step closer to winning all three of the running regional titles this year as they added a regional indoor title to their cross country title from the fall. Much closer than the boys' competition, the girls' competition was decided by only 12 points as Osbourn Park (65) was followed by Colonial Forge (53). The team was helped out tremendously by two first place finishes in the relays. Osbourn Park took 1st in the 4x400 meter relay as well as the 4x200 meter relay, both of these along with a 3rd place finish and state qualifier in the 4x800 relay. Read more...

Northwest Region Indoor Championships Complete Results

Videos from Northwest Region Meet found on meet page

20th FUMA Invitational Meet Preview Reid Taylor Jan 16, 2009

 

 

(Kyle Satterwhite pictured above by John Herzog will look to pull off a double in the 1000 and 1600 meter races this weekend at the 20th FUMA Invitational)


20th FUMA Invitational Meet Preview

Throughout the history of the meet many great names have run on the tack located in the Estes center at Fork Union Military Academy. Past All-Americans, Footlokcer Finalists, and Olympians, even an Olympic gold medalist, have started their careers off on the 160 meter track. Although Lashawn Merritt or Kiptoo Keino will not be running this year at the 20th FUMA Invitational, Virginia’s best will be fighting to find out who exactly is the best. Today’s runners will be running to not only get that qualifying mark needed or a personal record, but to be a part of one of Virginia’s most historic indoor invitationals.

 

 

Athlete Spotlight and Video Interview: Amanda Smith Reid Taylor Jan 15, 2009


Photo by John Herzog

      Amanda Smith in her first year at Grassfield High school, has accomplished more than most people accomplish in their entire high school year. The freshman from Chesapeake made her mark on the eastern region and the state early in her career, and has come out blazing again this year.

      One of the many girls in recent years to win state championships in their freshmen year, Smith will look to carry her success into her sophmore year this year. Off to a good start, the Grassfield sophomore has clocked a 1:17.35 in the 500 meter, and has experimented with the 1000 meter run. With a 3:01.68 performance alone at the Southeastern Invitational Smith has earned herself a spot on the national rankings list, and is currently number two in the state behind Midlothian’s Paige Johnston. Read more...

Video Interview: Amanda Smith

Athlete Spotlight: James Taylor (with video interview) Reid Taylor Jan 15, 2009


Photo by John Herzog

      It is not very often in track that an athlete comes along that has the leg turnover of Maurice Greene coupled with long strides of Daniel Komen. Usain Bolt showed the world that it was possible for a six foot five man to run the 100 meter dash and run it well this summer in Beijing, and James Taylor is putting on the same display here in Virginia with his great times in the shorter distances.

      Standing tall at around six feet 4 inches, the senior from Nansemond River has made his impact on numerous events already early this season. Holding some of the nations best marks in the long jump and 300 meter dash, Taylor has started his indoor season off the right way. Read more...

 

Athlete Spotlight: Ted Richardson (James River) Reid Taylor Nov 16, 2008


Photo by Ted Plunkett

      For years the Dominion District, consisting of schools from Chesterfield County, has been one of the most competitive districts in the state for cross country, producing a plethora of great runners. Manchester had the state champion boys and girls teams in 1997, and James River won the girls championship in the fall of 2002, but however recently the team to beat recently has been Midlothian High School. With the last four girls state championships, and numerous state championships on the boys side too, Midlothian has had a grip on the Dominion District. Their streak of individual champions in the district however came to an end this year as James River junior Ted Richardson stepped out from Midlothian’s shadow and onto the podium and into the state spotlight.

Athlete Spotlight: Ben Veilleux (Clarke County) Reid Taylor Nov 02, 2008

With the impressive times that come consistently from the larger AAA and AA division in Virginia State track, the A group is often pushed to the back of people’s minds.  Clarke County High senior, Ben Veilleux, however has proven this year that the smaller division A is still capable of producing runners that can compete on the highest level, and in a lot of cases, come out on top.

Northwest Region Meet Summary Reid Taylor Nov 01, 2008

On a beautiful fall day in Charlottesville while the leaves fell from the changing trees, the best of the Northwest region readied themselves to tackle the tough task ahead of them, Panorama Farms. With trips to the state meet on the line, all the runners toed up to the line with wracked nerves. All the preparation throughout the season was accumulating into one race, and only 4 teams and 15 individuals would succeed in booking their trip to states. Unlike track and field, where runners can earn a spot in states by meeting qualifying marks earlier in the season, Cross Country demands the best of its best runner at the Regional Meet.

Cavaliers Pull off The Double Again; Morris and Reeves Win in Convincing Fashion Reid Taylor Oct 22, 2008

 


Josh Morris of Jefferson Forest won the individual title in 16:07.
(Photo by Reid Taylor)

The Seminole District held no surprises for the spectators this year as long time champions, Jefferson Forest, won both the boys and girls team titles. Under the direction of coach Jerome Loy the cavaliers swept both races, winning the boys race with a team total of 18 points to second place Heritage High School’s 68, while the girls took their title with 24 points over the runner-up school, Brookville.

Chasing History: The Albemarle 4x800 Reid Taylor Dec 31, 1969


Photo by Tim Fulton of ArmoryTrack.com

      What’s different about the boys from Albemarle this year from last? Is it that they have 3 All-American performances, a state title, and numerous individual honors? Or maybe that they have already run a faster time than they did all of last year in indoor and its only the second week of December. One thing is for sure, the boys on Albemarle’s 4x800 meter relay team this year have the confidence and poise of champions, and will look to return to the podium this year at states and eventually nationals. As they head up to the Loughlin Games in the famous Armory of New York, MileStat.com took some time to sit down with the junior anchor runner of the 4x800 meter relay team in Anthony Kostelac and discuss the history of the team, and the history they will soon hope to make.

Liberty Elite Invitational Meet Summary Reid Taylor Dec 31, 1969

While most of the nation’s attention was on the two cross country national championships in San Diego and Richmond, action heated up on the Tolsma Indoor Track at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. The Albemarle High Boys ruled the day with their big four burning up the distance and middle distance races, after running a blazing 4x800 relay to start off the day. The short sprints on the boys side were won by a duo from George Washington of Danville for the second week in a row at Liberty. The Blacksburg distance corps hot off a strong cross country season transitioned well into indoor with impressive times on both the boys and girls sides. More...

Northwest Region Championships Preview Reid Taylor Dec 31, 1969

Action will heat up this Thursday, October 30th, as the best of the Northwest region lace up their spikes for a race on the famed Panorama Farms course, just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. The course, which was used last year for the ACC college championships, looks to offer a challenging test to the runners this week, as they will have to battle it out strategically on the numerous hills, especially the one that is found at the two mile mark. Already this year there has been many impressive times turned in on the Panorama farms course by names such as Tyler Stutzman on the boys side (15:28) and Stacey Nobles (18:46) on the girls side. It appears that this year will have favorable weather, as early reports have the temperatures in low 60s with the sun out. With great weather, this year's Northwest Region Meet looks to produce some of the states best times this year.