At the Mobile Challenge of Champions, Robert E. Lee senior Sean Holston won the 400 meter dash in a national leading time of 46.77 to break 47 seconds for the first time and improve upon his 47.12 previous best from his national championship at Nike Indoor Nationals. Holston also ran a US top ten time in the 200 meter dash as he doubled back to win the event in 21.58, which is just off his indoor and all-time best posted at Nike Indoors of 21.53. With his sprint double, Holston was named the MVP of the meet. Not a bad week for Holston with the MVP honors in Alabama as well as announcing his future home at Florida State University. (Photo by John Nepolitan for DyeStat.com)
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Robert E. Lee senior Sean Holston, one of the top high school sprinters in the country this year, has committed to run for the defending NCAA Division I outdoor champions of Florida State University next year. Holston will join 2006 Bayside High School (Virginai Beach, VA) graduate Charles Clark, who won two national championships last year for 200 meters at Nike Indoor and Nike Outdoor Nationals. Holston has already won two national championships in his senior year with wins at Nike Indoor Nationals last month in the 200 and 400 meter dash. Coach Braman at FSU now finds himself with two of the best sprinters ever produced from the state of Virginia. Holston will be opening his outdoor season this weekend less than four hours from his future college destination at the Mobile Meet of Champions in Mobile, Alabama. Holston will be competing in two events in the 200 and 400 meter dash and should face fairly strong competition. (Photo by John Herzog)
In all, there were seven meet records, six in field events and one on the track at the 6th BRUCE DALLAS INV @ Cumberland Valley HS. There were a few double champs, and a few athletes who soloed and contributed to three or more event wins. CV swept the team titles behind Juan Steward and Abby Huber, but AA Boiling Springs was 2nd in the girls team chase. Justin Shirk got a MR in the Jav to start his soph campaign. At the COUNCIL ROCK KIWANIS INV at Council Rock North HS, Coatesville was 42 points better that Neshaminy in the 19-team invite, powered in large part by their distance squad. Jason Ward won the 3000, with teammate Jason Leonard 2nd. Drew Mahoney took the 5000. Owen Dawson was 2nd in the 800 to Tennent's Mike Pio. And Kyle Dawson was 2nd in the 1500. Isaac Bryan of Pennridge took 1st. Coatesville won the DMR and the 800 sprint medley relay. In the pole vault, both Joe Berry of Hatboro-Horsham and Max Chichkin of Council Rock South cleared 14-06. Abington's Jerret Eaton captured both the 110 and 400 hurdles. Quick sprints from Kyle Reeves of Pennsburg in the 100; by Chad Sargent of Neshaminy for 200; and Cheltenham's Brandon Bing in the 400. At the MORGAN STATE HS INV in Maryland, Norristown performed well in the blustery conditions. Gabriella Rinehart won the shot put. Peter Selby took 1st in the 110 hurdles and the guy's 4x400 was 3rd. At the SUSQUEHANNA HS CLASSIC at Susquehanna University, The Hughesville hurdle-jump tandem of Rachel Houseknecht and Rebekah Newhart were busy accumulating points. Rachel won the 100 and 300 hurdles. Rebekah was 2nd in the 100 hurdles, and took 1st in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. Williamsport's Josh King edged Montoursville's Gary Bush in the 100, and led the Millionaire's 4x100. Zachary Barr of Williamsport put the javelin out 180'. At the CHESTNUT HILL ACADEMY INVITATIONAL, Chestnut Hill's Phil Thomas bettered a year-old meet record in the long jump by an inch. Wayne Crawford tuned up in the shot put with a throw of 52'. And Penn Charter's 1600 sprint medley relay ran 3:47.4. The COLONIAL RELAYS in Williamsburg VA returned after a two-year absence with a familiar flavor – lots of PA teams. Oh... and PA on top on in the 4x800. Archbishop Prendergast ran a strong 9:37.49 for the win, with Saint Basil Academy close for 2nd in 9:42.66. LaSalle led the boys' race, winning in just over 8 minutes. Great Valley took 2nd, followed by Upper Dublin in 4th, Germantown Friends in 5th, and Archbishop Ryan in 6th. Basil's Kathleen Davis captured the 3000 in 10:21.13. Germantown Friends' Jake McKenzie had the best showing for the PA boys in the 3K. PA – or should be say Monsignor Bonner? – went one-two in the shot put. Sean Wilks threw 50-11 for the win. Chris Licci was 2nd with a toss of 49-00. Five PA girls' team moved to the finals of the 4x100, behind the top qualifying time of Swenson.Four PA boys' teams qualified. Father Judge had the 2nd best qualifier. Leemue Koimene of Father Judge cleared 6-1 to take the boys' high jump. (In the photo by Brandon Miles of MileSplit.com, you can see the snow that led to the cancellation of Day Two). It was cold and windy in Southwest Virginia at the FASTER, FARTHER, HIGH INVITATIONAL at Radford University on Saturday as well, and Wilson HS of West Lawn PA must have felt like it was home. But Tory Toso persevered and won the pole vault. She also ran on the winning 4x100 relay. The Wilson girls also won the 4x800. For the Wilson boys, Donnie Wonnie won the 400 and ran on the winning 4x400. The girls tied for first in the team competition with 112 points. The boys were 2nd. On Thursday 4/5 at the RUSTIN INVITATIONAL at West Chester's new Bayard Runsin HS, it was quite a workout for Unionville ace Paul Springer. He won the 800 and ran tempo to take 2nd in the 1600 and 3200. He also ran the 4x400, which Unionville won. Alanna Owens ruled the shot put for the home team. On Wednesday, 4/4 at the LARRY SIMMONS INVITATIONAL at Penncrest, Ridley's Sam Smarkola pulled off a quick sprint double in the 200 and 400. In the half-lapper, Cardinal O'Hara's Sarah Houtmann was sub 26. For the boys, Kevin Wilbank sub-23. The 3200's were strong and with some good depth. Rob Speare of Strath Haven set the pace and Radnor's Hannah Granger and Liz Milewski went one-two. Cardinal O'Hara swept the 4x100's and 4x400's. In the throws delayed until Saturday because of Wednesday's weather, Karen Shump of host Penncrest, won the Discus and shot put.