VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor T&F Championships 2010

Photo by John Herzog   Justin Hunter is without a doubt the favorite in all three jumping events for this weekend's VHSL Group AAA State Championships as he also attempts to help Ocean Lakes for the first state title, but none of the titles will be given to him without a challenge. Hunter should especially see a challenge in the long jump from Thomas Dale senior Quintin Fulgham who appears to be stepping up at the right time in both the jumps and the sprints after winning four individual titles at the Central Region Championships. Read more for interview with Quintin Fulgham...

Lee-Davis junior Montasia Golden (pictured left by John Herzog) started out high school with some big shoes and expectations to fill when she took over the role as the top point scorer for the track team and drew quick comparisons at the time to the recently graduated multi-event star Rachel Butler. There is good reason to see why the comparisons appeared as Golden does many of the same events which Butler excelled in such as the jumps and hurdles. During this past year Golden has become not the next Rachel Butler, but instead established herself and her own name with a state title indoors in the triple jump and enters this weekend's Group AAA State Championships in Richmond as one of the top seeds in both hurdle events fresh off two all-time best performances at the regional meet. A stress fracture injury prevented her from competing early in the outdoor season as well as held her out entirely from taking any attempts at the triple jump, but with her focus completely on the hurdles she may get a worthy consolation prize for being unable to go for an outdoor title in the triple jump. Read more for interview with Montasia Golden...

Preview for the running events at the 2010 VHSL Group AA State Championships. Several races at this year's state meet will be historically some of the best ever in meet's history in terms of depth such as nine girls under 11 minutes in the 3200 meter run, six girls under 12 seconds in the 100 meter dash, and a large pack of boys relays ready to roll under 8 minutes in the 4x800 and 3:20 in the 4x400.  It has been seven years since the state meet was last held at Sports Backers Stadium and the ability for athletes to wear quarter inch spikes will not be the only factor to help potentially produce for many performances to rank among the fastest all-time in state meet history. Several athletes are capable of winning a pair of individual titles on the track including Darrell Wesh (pictured above by Ryan Kelly) in the boys 100 and 200 meter dash.

Event by event preview of the field events for the 2010 VHSL Group AAA State Outdoor Track & Field Championships. There are several state meet records in the field events which could be broken with a talented assembly of today's stars including Isaiah Simmons (pictured left by John Herzog) of Woodbridge in the throws, Lizzie Powell of Patrick Henry in the pole vault, and Justin Hunter of Ocean Lakes in the jumps. Read more...

 A list of the top 25 boys performances in Group AAA this season in each championship meet event along with links to full rankings. Only performances from invitationals or championship meets are included and only FAT performances are used for events 400 meters or below.

A list of the top 25 girls performances in Group AAA this season in each championship meet event along with links to full rankings. Only performances from invitationals or championship meets are included and only FAT performances are used for events 400 meters or below.

Updated Group AAA state team rankings through the regional championships heading into this weekend's state championships at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond. Eastern Region champions Ocean Lakes boys and Western Branch girls are favored to win.