Things to Look For at 5A Virginia State Track Meet - POSTPONED FOR THIRD TIME!! WILL NOW RUN NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY 3/9 AND 3/10

With any luck, we will get to finally hold the 5A/6A State indoor track meet this Thursday and Friday at the Boo. As mentioned last Monday, we’re looking for a dogfight in the 6A Boys competition, while Western Branch is the strong favorite to win the girls 6A state title.

Things are not quite as tight in the 5A meets. Here’s the link to MIlestat.com which has scored the meet based off the performance list.

http://va.milesplit.com/articles/146837-5a-state-meet-performance-list-scored#.VPTWn1PF_v0

5A Girls Preview

Girls Meet Scored (top six): 1. Atlee 76.5; 2. Henrico 59; 3. Manchester High School 48.5; 4. Hampton 47.5; 5. Deep Run 37; 6 Douglas Freeman 36.  

As I had also mentioned, Milestat.com webmaster Nolan Jez has already written his preview for the 5A and 6A meets. I had provided a 6A preview just before he posted, but don’t see much reason to divert from Nolan’s predictions for the 5A meet.

Hampton's Tori Ray (center) could win both the 55 and 300
as well as the short hurdles this week at the 5A state meet

The Atlee girls, led by Chloe Bavin (distance), Carly Feyeraband (sprints, jumps), India Lowe (hurdles) and CeeCee Harris (sprints) are strong favorites to repeat as state champs.  After that, it will mostly be a Richmond lineup of schools through the top six. However, keep an underdog eye out for Hampton. Tori Ray has been a one woman wrecking crew for the Crabbers, and Marques Hamilton’s squad should not be counted out of a chance to take home some team hardware.

Nolan also highlighted Henrico’s star jumper LaChyna Roe and the general ability in the field from Gene Bowen’s Manchester contingent.

Homer alert – Admittedly, I’ll also be keeping an eye on my old Menchville team, particularly Jada Key (seeded third in 300) and the 1600-meter relay team of Key, the Jones twins (Jermyiah and Jermyriah), and Briana Hunter. The relay placed second to Douglas Freeman last spring and are seeded right behind the favorite Rebels again. It will probably take a sub-four minute effort to win this one.

5A Boys Preview

Boys Meet Scored (top eight): 1. Highland Springs 74.25; 2. Kempsville 55.75; 3. Manchester 46.25; 4. Douglas Freeman  43.5;  5. Lee-Davis 43; 6. Deep Run 40;  7. Atlee 38;  8. Hermitage 35. 

Deep Run's Matthew Novak is one of the top distance
runners in Virginia and should easily win the 1600
and 3200 at the 5A state championships

The outcome here will also be heavily influenced by the Richmond schools, with Highland Springs entering the meet as solid favorites. Nolan writes that “the Springers, who have added more range since last season, will feature stars Marcus Taylor and Felton Davis who will be tough to stop in anything they run in. If these two perform well and run on the relays then we are in for quite a show and could see the athlete of the meet be a battle between two teammates. After them though things get very dicey for that second place trophy.”

I’m specifically looking at two other athletes for potential outstanding individual performances. The first comes from Atlee, who have added a diamond to their mine of pole-vaulters. And Bryce Simpson might be their shiniest gem in some time, entering the 5A champs with a remarkable 15’6” effort.  Matthew Novak of Deep Run (4:13 – 1600, 9:24 – 3200) should dominate the distance events and add a stellar leg to the Wildcat’s 3200-meter relay.