Norfolk Academy girls capture VISAA trophy

Tabb boys and girls, King’s Fork girls and Grafton boys bring home region titles

Norfolk Academy edged St. Catherine’s School by one point to win the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association girls state indoor track and field title Saturday in Richmond.

The Bulldogs were led by senior Sydney Vest, who finished third in the shot put, fourth in the high jump, sixth in the 55-meter hurdles and seventh in the pole vault. Freshman Adaline Scott was runner-up in the 55 hurdles. She also ran on the 4x200 relay — along with Josie Saffold, Madison Galler and Angelina Lancey — which finished runner-up.

Catholic’s Natalie Hubbard won the pole vault (clearing 10 feet, 6 inches), Cape Henry’s Elena Granados won the triple jump (36 feet, 10 inches), and Atlantic Shores’ Tiara Jenkins won the 55 hurdles (8.56).

On the boys side, Norfolk Academy finished third. The Bulldogs were led by their victorious 4x800 relay of Ryan Guzik, Davis Ottinger, Connor Rhoades and Liam Sullivan.

Class 3 Region A

Tabb swept the boys and girls Class 3 Region A region indoor track and field titles Saturday at Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.

Junior Lauren Pegher won the 1,000 meters (3 minutes, 4.44 seconds) and 1,600 (5:11.11) to lead the Tigers. They also got runner-up finishes from Kate Fiest (high jump), Lucie Cox (pole vault), Dylan Crawford (shot put) and Carley Deaver, who finished second in both the long jump and triple jump.

The runner-up York Falcons’ Danielle Hollington won the 300 and 500 meters in 42.66 and 1:19.64, respectively.

Her teammate Ciarra Moore took the long jump (16-1.75) and triple jump (35-11).

For the boys, Nick Smerlis won the 1,600 (4:27.64) and finished runner-up in the 1,000 to lead the Tigers.

Teammate Davin Tietz won the 1,000 (2:35.33), Lance Koontz won the 500 (1:09.40) and Jacob Uchida won the pole vault (clearing 13 feet).

Among the event victors were a pair of football stars; Phoebus’ Jordan Bass, the All-Tidewater Player of the Year, cleared 6 feet, 4 inches to win the high jump, and Lafayette’s dangerous Jaylen Pretlow won the 55-meter dash in 6.51 seconds.

As in Class 4 Region A, the top three finishers in each event ensured berths in the state meet at Liberty University in Lynchburg on Feb. 27-28.

Class 4 Region A

King’s Fork won the girls Class 4 Region A title and Grafton won the boys trophy at Boo Williams Sportsplex.

Deja Ward won the long jump (17-3) and triple jump (36-5) to lead the Bulldogs.

Teammate Courtney Johnson was runner-up in the 55 and 300 meters, and Layla Phillips was second in the long jump.

Shinobu Hawk won the shot put (53-1) and Aidan Pentel won the 3,200 (10:15.66) to lead the Clippers’ boys.

Ben Samson finished runner-up in the long jump, Gary Amole was runner-up in the 1,000 and Connor Linehan was third in the 1,600.

Heritage standout Madison Whyte won the girls 55 meters (6.95), 500 (1:19.92) and the high jump (5-4).

Deep Creek’s Amarion Harrell won the boys 55 (6.52) and 300 (35.24).