Performance list for the Hampton Roads Elite Showcase to be held this weekend (January 20th & 21st) at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton. Hampton Roads Showcase Performance List
Michael Cherry had been fortunate to be part of some great relays at Oscar Smith for his first two years of high school including an outdoor state champion 4x400 as a freshmen and nearly a second 4x400 state title last spring if not for a uniform violation disqualified his relay last spring. Cherry, who was the only freshmen 400 meter dash state qualifier in Group AAA two years ago, started to break through individually on the state level in making the finals of the 400 meter dash at the 2011 VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Championships and over the summer dropped his 400 meter time down to 48.30 while competing for the Five Star Track Club. With Cherry as the lone returnee from Oscar Smith's 3:18 4x400 meter relay last year, the focus has shifted more to his individual events for his junior year. Over the winter break at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, he defeated one of the state's top returning quarter milers in Woodrow Wilson's Kenneth Williams with a US #9 clocking of 49.20. The Oscar Smith junior is becoming a serious contender and challenger for state titles in the 300 and 500 meter dash indoors as well as certainly will be in the mix for the 400 meter dash in the spring of 2012. Cherry ran a state leading and US #5 time of 34.76 last week at Boo Williams and will be looking to drop his 500 meter time this weekend at the Hampton Roads Elite High School Showcase. MileStat.com interviewed Cherry as he tunes up for his third 500 meter race ever on Saturday.
Photo by Ryan Kelly Live results (courtesy of Atlantic Coast Timing) from the Hampton Roads Showcase this weekend. MileStat.com will be on-site with photo coverage from Ryan Kelly. Hampton Roads Showcase Live Results Photo Gallery by Ryan Kelly Day 1 Highlights (Results): Hampton sophomore Chantel Ray nearly joined a short list of past Virginians who have ever broken 8 seconds in the girls' 55 meter hurdles. Ray was right off at the time with a 8 seconds flat clocking in the finals on Friday night, which moves her into the #1 ranking in the country. She was helped to the time by her rival Leah Lott of Landstown who was right on her heels with a US #2 clocking in 8.01 for an epic race for two non-seniors (Lott is a junior). Taylor Frena of Kempsville launched a monster throw in the shot put to improve his personal best by four feet with a US #3 performance of 61'3.25". Frenia has improved nearly a full 10 feet in one year's time from last indoor season. The Ocean Lakes girls 4x800 meter relay featuring sub 5 minute miler Audrey Batzel and state cross country runner-up Nikki Park went onto run the state's second fastest time in the 4x800 meter relay with a time of 9:36.99. The relay did not include Olivia Bethune (who has ran 3:00 in the 1000), so Ocean Lakes could be in the mix at the state meet which they had won the state indoor title a few years back.
VA now has 4 of top 8 ranked girls in US for 1000m Audrey Batzel US #5 2:55.38 1000m Complete results posted. Full photo gallery to come along with meet summary. Complete Results Photo Gallery
