Virginia grabs spotlight, holds it at NBNI

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

NEW YORK, N.Y. –  A giant life-sized poster that posed the question, “Will You Be The Hunter Or The Hunted?” was the daunting message that loomed over athletes this weekend at The Armory at the New Balance Nationals Indoor. 

It's safe to say the state of Virginia was definitely the land of the “Hunters” this weekend. 

Collectively, Virgina won an impressive 11 national titles and broke five national records in the process. 

“I'm feeling pretty good, actually I'm feeling amazing, I'm feeling fantastic,” a grinning Josephus Lyles said on Sunday.

Lyles, from Alexandria (T.C. Williams), won the 60 meter dash in 6.65 seconds, while his brother, Noah, set a national record in 200, running 20.63. The two teamed up with Tre'kel Locket and Kai Cole to claim the 4x200 relay title (1:26.21). 

“We went and balled out in the 4x2, so proud of my team; I couldn't ask for anything more,” Josephus Lyles said. 

Named the MVP of the meet, Grant Holloway of Chesapeake (Grassfield VA) won the 60 hurdles in a national meet record 7.53 seconds. His time was also a national record for the 55 hurdles in seven seconds.  He completed the weekend claiming the pentathlon crown with 4,230 points -- third all-time in his first serious effort in the multi.

Holloway and the Lyles' will be future teammates at Florida this fall. 

“It's crazy, I remember my freshman year, he (Holloway) was really good,” Josephus Lyles said. 

The Xbc TC (Chantilly) boys' sprint medley relay team of  Michael Scopellite, Justin Loh, Titus Jeffries and Brandon McGorty cruised to a national record, running 3:24.02, while Western Branch's shuttle hurdles team of Anthony Williams, Micaiah Harris, Jahkwan Blackley and Antwan Stukes won in 29.58.    

On Friday evening, Drew Hunter anchored Jungle TC (Loudoun Valley) to a distance medley relay win in 10:03.42.

On the girls' side, the WAR TC (Nansemond River) 4x2 team of  Brandee' Johnson, Morgan Towe, Kori Carter and Syaira Richardson won in 1:37.42. 

“We're excited,” Towe said. 

“The plan was to get out and stay out,” Carter added of their strategy. “Just bring it home.”

Weini Kelati of Leesburg (Heritage), followed up her national record 5,000-meter title (16:08.20) with a dominant win in the 2-mile Sunday, running 10:02.71. Libby Davidson of Lynchburg (E.C. Glass) was runner-up in the 2 mile (10:14.97).

Kate Murphy of Lake Braddock wasn't a first-place winner this weekend, but the junior turned out two great distance performances. Murphy went from seventh place to second Friday evening to anchor the DMR to a runner-up finish in 11:39.10. Sunday, Murphy was part of a ridiculously fast-paced mile won by Katie Rainsberger in a meet record time of 4:36.61. Murphy was second, crossing the line in 4:39.47 -- good for No. 6 all-time.

“That's definitely been a goal since summer, I finally got it,” Murphy said of running sub 4:40. “Now I just got to keep working toward lowering that time.” 

Despite two second place finishes, Murphy said it was a really great weekend, a sentiment shared by a lot of her fellow Virginians. 

“Fun is an understatement,” Josephus Lyles said. “We just come out here and try to give the masses what they want. They want to see a great race; we're going to give them a great race.”