High school track: 10 athletes from Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County to watch at states
The state track meet is set for Friday June 3, and Saturday, June 4. The Class 1 and 2 meets, featuring athletes from Riverheads, Buffalo Gap and Stuarts Draft, will be held at James Madison University’s Sentara Park. The Class 3 meet, featuring Staunton, Waynesboro, Fort Defiance and Wilson Memorial, will be at Liberty University’s Matthes-Hopkins Track Complex.
Here are four athletes who could bring home state championships this weekend:
Leah Wood, Stuarts Draft
Wood has already left her mark at Draft as one of the most accomplished track and field athletes in school history. Friday she will try to add to that legacy with a fifth state championship in pole vault (she already has three indoor titles and one outdoor championship). With a personal record of 12-feet — 2-feet higher than the second seed — she is the clear favorite to win the Class 2 title. She’s also seeded in the top five in both shot put and 300 hurdles.
Maaliah Cabell, Staunton
With a jump earlier this year of 6 feet, 9.25 inches, Cabell is the top-ranked high jumper in the state of Virginia, according to MileStat.com. So he’s obviously the favorite to win the Class 3 championship. He will have competition, however, as Cave Spring’s Skylor Griffiths has jumped 6-7. Cabell said his goal for state was 6-10, a height he just missed at regionals.
Summer Wallace, Riverheads
Last year at the Class 1 outdoor meet, Wallace won a pair of state championships in the long jump and 400. This year she heads into the state meet as the top seed in three events — high jump, pole vault and 300 hurdles. It could be a great weekend for the junior.
Abby Mikolay, Stuarts Draft
Mikolay has won the Shenandoah District and Region 2B shot put championships this year. Now the junior would like to add the state championship to her resume. She enters the meet as the top seeded thrower, with a school record of 40 feet at the district meet. Lurking right behind her, though, is last year’s Class 2 state champion, Gate City’s Riley Houseright. Mikolay finished third in the state meet a year ago.
Other Shenandoah District athletes to watch this weekend:
Aaron Nice, Stuarts Draft
Nice is seeded top three in three events this weekend. His best shot at a state title may be in the discus, where he won the Region 2B meet and is seeded second in the state meet. Nice is also seeded third in the 110 and 300 hurdles, winning both events in regions. Last year at states he finished second in the 300 hurdles even after catching his foot on a hurdle and falling near the end of he race.
Levi Byer, Riverheads
After winning the pole vault at the Region 1B meet, Byer is seeded third in the event at states and should medal.
John Hurd, Stuarts Draft
Seeded third in the triple jump, Hurd could easily medal in the Class 2 state meet.
Mason Lawhorne, Waynesboro
While Maaliah Cabell has gotten most of the attention locally for high jump, Lawhorne is the third seed in the state meet with a mark of 6-4.
Qua’ran Patterson, Waynesboro
Patterson finished third in the 110 hurdles at regions and comes into the state meet seeded sixth, giving him a good chance to medal.
DeAndre Clark, Waynesboro
After a second-place finish at the Region 2B meet, Clark is seeded fifth in states as he looks to medal this weekend.
Bonus:
Fort Defiance girls 4x800-meter relay
While not an individual event, Fort's 4x800 team won the Region 3C meet and is seeded third in states. Dagon Wheeler, Allison Sheets, Abby Lane and Trinity Neff formed the regional championship team.
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Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Virginia state track: 10 athletes to watch this weekend
