May 27, 2011
By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

FRONT ROYAL- The explosion. The speed. When John Simms comes off the curve and heads into the final straightaway in the 200 meters, it's usually a pretty exhilarating sight.

For James Wood on Thursday, that moment could not have been more disheartening.

Simms pulled up after pulling his right hamstring halfway through the 200 meters at the Region II track and field meet at Warren County High School.

True to his competitive nature, a limping Simms slowly continued on until he reached the finish line, but it was a huge blow for the sprint star.

Simms - who earlier in the day handily captured the 100 title - might recover in time to run at the Group AA state meet next week, but he wasn't able to last year after hurting his left hamstring at the Region II meet.

"I don't really know what to say," said Simms, who stopped and leaned over several times during his slow walk off the track. "I'm completely crushed and broken-hearted."

Simms said that not just because he was injured, but also because of how much it meant to him to perform well Thursday. He wanted to take the next step toward proving he's one of the state's best.

"Today was more than just about districts and breaking records," Simms said. "This is regionals. This is my first time winning at regionals. That meant a lot to me."

Simms' win in the 100 meters (10.87 seconds, 0.19 better than the runner-up) helped James Wood's boys score 14 points and tie for 10th.

Louisa County was first with 121 points, Broad Run was second with 54, Sherando was ninth with 16, Handley was 19th with 9 and Millbrook was 22nd with 2. Simms said he didn't have any indication that something was wrong with his hamstring before the 200.

"I was completely good," he said. "I felt good in the [100]. I felt amazing in the one. I did the same steps that I did in the 100. I tried to get myself prepared mentally. I came out here and felt like I was going to be good. It didn't happen."

Simms was left wondering what he might have done wrong.

James Wood coach Matt Stegmaier said he knows Simms certainly did everything to make sure his left hamstring was healthy this year, so now the team will have to go back to the drawing board.

"We'll focus on making sure he's healthy, because he works too hard, and he's so determined," Stegmaier said. "It's really unfortunate for something like that to happen. He had a great 100-meter dash, and he came in mentally tough and ready to go in an event he thought he could win."

Stegmaier could tell Simms was also disappointed he couldn't help the 4x400 relay, which failed to qualify for the state meet.

Simms hopes he can still run this year, but he added that nothing can take away the feeling of winning the 100.

"The 100 was the light of my day," Simms said. "I won something. I gave my best, and that's all I can ever do."

The only other local winner was Sherando sophomore Chris Smith, who continued his strong postseason by taking the high jump with a mark of 6 feet, 4 inches. That topped his previous best of 6-3 that he recorded in winning last week's Northwestern District meet.

"My practice has helped a lot," Smith said. "My teammates are pushing me, that's for sure. I'm ecstatic."

Smith qualified for the state meet last year, and he thinks that experience should serve him well at the Group AA meet, which begins Thursday at Harrisonburg High School.

"That's going to help a lot," Smith said. "I'm not nervous no more. Just go out there and jump."

Handley was led by Derek Dowrey (second in the shot put, 51-0 ). Millbrook was led by Ryan Farnan (sixth in the 1,600, 4:24.37).

James Wood's 4x400 team (Morgan Craig, Shannan Thorne, Laura Seymour, Amber Hawkins) was fourth in 4:17.05.

The top six individuals and top three relays in each event automatically qualify for the state meet.

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