Deep Run’s Hudson, PH’s Moss also take state crowns
In 90-degree heat, under a blazing sun, Jason Witt ran as though he had built-in air conditioning.
While others sputtered, slowed and broke down, the Midlothian High senior glided to the 3,200-meter title at the Group AAA track and field championships at Todd Stadium.
The 6-4, Brigham Young-bound endurance athlete led all eight laps in the steamy day’s final individual race.
Witt, well-rested for his only event, snapped the tape in 9:17.46—eight seconds ahead of runner-up Ben Dejarnette of Atlee and some 20 seconds quicker than third-place Lewis McPherson of Douglas Freeman.
“On a day like this, you don’t care about the time—it’s just nice to win,“ he said. “The heat kind of got to me on the second mile, but I was able to kick it in.“
Five runners failed to finish, including Oakton’s 1,600 champ Joe LoRusso. Dejarnette finished second to Witt at 3,200 and to LoRusso at 1,600.
“Jason’s the best runner in Virginia,“ Dejarnette said.
As for his own gutsy two-race day, Dejarnette said, “My best chance was in the 1,600. Anything in the 3,200 was icing on the cake.“
With a smile, he added, “a hot-melted cake.“
TRIPLE JUMP: Deep Run’s Briana Hudson, after bombing in the region meet, found herself in deep trouble again.
With only one jump left, she was in sixth place and tired from going back and forth from the tripleto high-jump pits.
“While I was high-jumping, I’d hear my name called at the triple jump, and when I was triple-jumping I’d hear my name at the high jump,“ she said.
Summoning strength, the junior sailed 39-5¾ on her final effort for her second state title. She won the state indoor high jump as a freshman.
In the region meet, Hudson failed to make the triple finals.
LAST THROW: Like Hudson, Patrick Henry discus thrower Christianna Moss used her final effort to secure victory.
“It didn’t look good at all, and I was really nervous,“ she said of her previous throws.
On her sixth toss, Moss went 129-7, bolting from sixth to first.
RUNNERS-UP: The Central Region celebrated several second places including a dramatic 800 effort from Midlothian’s Paige Johnston.
Johnston led by 10 meters in the home stretch but lost her stride in the heat, collapsed at the finish line and had to be helped off by coach Stan Morgan.
“The last thing I remember is someone in red shorts passing me,“ she said of Grassfield’s Amanda Smith.
Johnston is suffering from a respiratory problem and uses an inhaler. “I must have gone to it 10 times today—no exaggeration,“ she said.
SO CLOSE: Midlothian sophomore Kathleen Lautzenheiser took the lead on the back stretch in the 1,600’s final lap, but Westfield’s Tasia Potasinski answered with a late sprint.
Lautzenheiser also was second to Potasinski in the state indoor meet. “She has faster feet and she outkicked me,“ said Lautzenheiser.
SHOWDOWN: King Fork’s Allen Kelly and Deep Run junior Matt Armentrout engaged in a fierce battle—with each vaulter clearing 14-9.
Kelly was declared winner on fewer misses.
Armentrout won the event last year at 15-0.
DROUGHT CONTINUES: Douglas Freeman finished third among boys, with hurdler Michael Quash taking second in the intermediates and third in the highs. Also, the Rebels’ Ulrick Smith was second in the 200.
The last Richmond-area team to win the boys meet was Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe in 1983, and before that, it was Freeman in ‘70.
No Central girls team has won a state crown since JHW in ‘84.
Contact Fred Jeter at (804) 739-2219 or
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Photo Slideshow: Central Region Track & Field - May 23
Big lead evaporates but Deep Run girls hang on - May 23
Wythe’s Wilford takes off - May 23
Regional Results - Central Girls, Day Two - May 23
Regional Results - Central Boys, Day Two - May 23
Spin his own tale (discus) - May 30
AA State: Indians’ Watts long jump titlist - June 1
A StateResults - June 1
- Republished from inRich.com
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