O. Lakes, PA boys finish third at state; several locals win titles
Dolphins’ Skinner and Lipps among individual champs from region
Ocean Lakes’ boys finished third at the Class 6 state indoor track and field meet Monday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
The Dolphins led South Lakes by one point heading into the meet’s final event, the 4x400-meter relay.
But South Lakes, of Reston, finished third in the relay to secure the team title, while the Dolphins finished ninth. Battlefield, of Prince William County, won the 4x400 to finish second in the team race. South Lakes won the meet with 47 points, followed by Battlefield (46) and Ocean Lakes (42).
“I’m super proud of a great team day,” said Ocean Lakes coach Mike Nestor.
The third-place finish was the highest by the Dolphins at the state indoor meet since 2010, when they also finished third.
Sprinter Glenn Skinner led Ocean Lakes by winning the 300 meters (34.71 seconds) and finishing third in the 55 meters (6.59). He just missed the school record in the 300.
“For the 55, I didn’t expect to place because it was only my second time running it,” said Skinner, who also plays on the Ocean Lakes football team. “I was just going to go out there and run. When I got third, I was really surprised.”
Owen Lipps also contributed with a victory in the 1,000 meters in 2 minutes, 31.47 seconds.
“I put it all on the line and gave it everything I had for the team,” said Lipps, who also thanked Nestor for his success. “I’ve been thinking about this day for so long, and for it to finally happen is just unreal.”
Skinner said he thought the Dolphins had a chance to win it all.
“It was pretty disappointing because we knew we could get it,” Skinner said. “But I think it’s a big accomplishment. Our coaches put us in position and we trained hard and it paid off.”
Hayden Oglesby also contributed as he finished second in the 500 meters and eighth in the 300. Aiden Bolger was fifth in the 1,000, and Harrison Ladd was sixth in the 3,200.
On the girls’ side, Tallwood finished fourth behind Thomas Dale, Robinson and Battlefield.
Zamia Stelly and Deziree Conklin, who finished runner-up and fourth in the 55 hurdles, respectively, led the Lions.
Stelly and Conklin also led the Lions to victories in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Stelly, Conklin, Ariel Fletcher and Suraya John ran on the 4x200. Stelly, Conklin, Fletcher and Amia Barnes were on the 4x400.
Ocean Lakes junior Aniya Mosley won her third consecutive 1,000-meter title in 2:51.64.
Landstown senior Mia O’Neil won the 300 meters in 38.65. Teammate Elisha Barnes was third in the 300.
Class 5
The Princess Anne boys finished third in Class 5 on Tuesday, thanks to freshman Armaan Chopra.
He narrowly lost to L.C. Bird junior Makai Lewis in the 1,000 meters. Lewis ran 2:39.50 to Chopra’s 2:39.55.
But Chopra did get a state title when he — along with Jacob Ellis, David DiNardo and Luke Henkel — ran 8:19 to win the 4x800 relay by more than 10 seconds.
“He had a great day,” Princess Anne coach Kevin Rhue said about Chopra. “He helped us to our first state championship in a relay in 30 years. It would have been an incredible accomplishment had he pulled off the 1,000. If he can stay healthy, he’s got a bright future in the sport.”
Cavaliers football star and North Carolina commit Tychaun Chapman finished runner-up in the 55 meters. They also got help from Ellis (eighth in the 500) and William Griesmer (sixth in the 3,200).
“We believe this was our highest finish in school history,” Rhue said. “We scored points in the field, distance and sprints. It’s a fun group to coach. The synergy we have with the football program has really helped to elevate what we can do as a team on the state level.”
L.C. Bird won the boys title and Freedom was second.
Salem’s Donovan Ward was third in the 500 and Richard Edwards was third in the 300. Ward and Edwards — along with Camren Mitchell and Leontro Mattison — helped the SunDevils win the 4x200 in a time of 1:32.45. Ward, Edwards, Mitchell and Robert Cummings finished runner-up in the 4x400.
Cox senior RJ Jefferies won the boys triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 5¼ inches.
On the girls’ side, Midlothian won the title, followed by Atlee and Freedom.
Princess Anne sophomore Micayah Holland had a big day as she defended her title in the 55 meters, won the 300 and finished third in the long jump. Her winning time of 6.98 in the 55 ranks sixth nationally. She won the 300 in 40.87.
Teammate Desairey Gray was runner-up in the long jump, Sara Mangels was third in the pole vault and Peyton Culpepper was third in the 1,600.
The Salem girls relay team of Deonni Fredrick, Megan Bozarth, Ahmari Harris and Lyric Hoggard finished third in the 4x200.
Class 4
Grafton’s boys finished fourth at the Class 4 state indoor meet at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
Lorenzo Camobreco finished runner-up in the 300, and Shinobu Hawk was the runner-up in the shot put. Also, Christopher Basking was third in the long jump.
Class 3
Western Albemarle won the girls title. Locally, Julia Hathaway of New Kent was third in the triple jump.
Monticello won the boys title, while Tabb finished seventh. Michael Menapace Jr. and Nick Smerlis led the Tigers. Menapace finished third in the 1,600 and Smerlis was fifth in the 1,000. Menapace and Smerlis — along with Joseph Macfarlane and Cade Shaw — helped the Tigers place third in the 4x800
New Kent’s Ellis Branch finished third in the high jump.