Boys' track and field preview

By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI | The Winchester Star

Mar 21, 2018

If Handley senior Trey Causey’s outdoor track and field season is anything like his indoor season, eyes will be following him wherever he goes this spring.

Causey ended his 2017 outdoor season with a personal-best 6 feet, 8.25 inches to take 10th in the high jump at the New Balance Nationals, and he’s soared even higher this winter.

He won the first state high jump title of his career at the Class 4 indoor state meet on Feb. 24 at Roanoke College with a mark of 6 feet, 10 inches. The University of Virginia signee then set a personal record to take second and earn All-American honors at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York with a mark of 7-0.25 on March 10.

Causey also continued to show that the high jump isn’t the only event track enthusiasts need to watch him in. At the Class 4 indoor state meet, Causey was also third in the 55 meters (6.57) and third in the triple jump (45-8). As a junior, Causey had a top mark of 44-4 in the triple jump outdoors and took seventh in the state. He was also a state qualifier in the 100 meters and had the area’s second best time (11.22) in that event.

During the indoor season, Causey won the high jump, triple jump, long jump and 55 meters at both the district and region meets.

The Handley boys — who won the Region 4C indoor meet and took second at the Class 4 Northwestern District indoor meet — have several other talented athletes that should make them competitive on a regular basis.

Senior John Delaney — The Winchester Star Boys’ Cross Country Runner of the Year — was sixth in the state in the 3,200 last spring and posted the area’s No. 2 times in the 1,600 (4:25.89) and 3,200 (9:36.85).

Handley juniors Jack Armel and Max Doerwaldt are coming off strong indoor seasons. Armel tied for fifth in the pole vault at the state meet (12-0) and Doerwaldt was seventh in the 55 hurdles (8.16).

Millbrook won the Conference 21 West outdoor title last year, but the Pioneers go into this season without state champions Cameron Faint (300 hurdles, now at NCAA Division I George Mason University), The Winchester Star Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2017, and Alec Schrank (3,200 meters, now at NCAA Division I Air Force).

The Pioneers lost several other key performers as well, but Millbrook coach Kevin Shirk was pleased with the indoor seasons of John Pullen (second in the 1,600 at the indoor district meet) and David Blackstone (third in the triple jump).

Sherando possesses two of the area’s best field performers in juniors Isaiah Allen and T.J. Washington.

Allen posted the area’s top marks last spring in the shot put (55-6) and discus (158-0), taking second and fourth in those two events, respectively, at the state meet. Allen was fourth in the shot put at the Class 4 indoor state meet this winter.

Washington posted the area’s best marks in the triple jump (46-1.25) and long jump ( 22-3.25) last year. He was second at the state meet in the triple jump and ninth in the long jump.

At James Wood, Mike Onda takes over as head coach after serving as an assistant track coach since 2000. He has also been the Colonels’ head cross country coach since 2004.

The James Wood boys feature the Conference 21 West 100-meter champion from last spring in sophomore William Crowder (top mark of 11.34 seconds, third in the area). Onda was also pleased with what his team did in the indoor season. At the indoor district meet, junior Drake Tews was second in the high jump (5-10) and senior Dominic Revetta was third in the shot put (43-1).

Fauquier in particular should provide a strong challenge for the local schools in the Class 4 Northwestern District. The Falcons won the indoor district title, and the Falcons finished higher than all the Winchester-Frederick County schools at last year’s 4A West Region meet.

In the Bull Run District, Clarke County brings back the area’s fastest 100 (11.13) and 200 (22.96) runner in senior Tanner Dinkins. Dinkins was fifth in Class 2 in the 100 and ninth in the 200. The Eagles’ distance crew is led by Nick Dawson, who placed eighth in Class 2 at the state cross country meet in the fall.

The following is a glance at each area team. Roster information and outlook statements are provided by coaches:

Millbrook

Head coach: Kevin Shirk, 7th year.

Last season: Conference 21 West champions, 9th in 4A West region, 10th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Cameron Faint, Alec Schrank, Antwon Rodgers, Josh Davis, Jared Hawthorne, Andrew Smith.

Top returning athletes: John Pullen, Jr., distance; David Blackstone, Sr., jumps; Jacob Young, Jr., throws; Jayden Johnson, Sr., sprints; Will Martin, Sr., hurdles (2nd in area in 300 hurdles last year, 40.55).

Top newcomers: Brad Hambrick, Jr., distance; Daniel Torres, Jr., sprints, Noah Robinson, Jr., throws.

Shirk’s outlook: “After losing two state champions and many top athletes in each event to graduation last spring, we are looking to rebuild this year and fill in the spots with some of our younger talent. We return several athletes who competed well in the indoor season, like John Pullen and David Blackstone, and look to continue that success into outdoor. In other events, we will rely on some new faces coming in and earning their spots on the team.”

First meet: April 11 in Class 4 Northwestern District mini at Sherando

Handley

Head coach: Mike McKiernan, 7th year.

Last season: 3rd in Conference 21 West, 11th in 4A West Region, 20th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Arthur Ashe, Eli Bell.

Top returning athletes: Ian Ganey, Sr., throws; Joe Mammano, Sr., throws; Quinten Newman, So., throws; Trey Causey, Sr., sprints/jumps; Tyson Long, Jr., sprints/jumps (3rd in the area in the high jump last year, 5-10); Max Doerwaldt, Sr., hurdles/pole vault; Jack Armel, Jr., hurdles/pole vault; John Delaney, Sr., distance; Ethan Bishop, Jr., sprints; Miles Ashe, So., sprints; Cooper Dawson, Jr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Matthew Peete, Fr., hurdles.

McKiernan’s outlook: “There is nice mix of veterans and youth, which has provided a great deal of energy to the team. In addition, we have a good deal of depth and should be competitive in most meets.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

Sherando

Head coach: Jamie McCarty, 2nd year.

Last season: 2nd in Conference 21 West; 8th in 4A West Region; 9th in Class 4 state meet.

Key losses: Jacquari Hayes, David Restrepo, Hayden Williams, Sam Johnson.

Top returning athletes: Isaiah Allen, Jr., throws; T.J. Washington, Jr., jumps; Kyle Holliday, Sr., hurdles (3rd in the area in the 110 hurdles, 15.83); Ty Waits, So., middle distance (3rd in the area in the 400, 52.59).

Top newcomers: Keli Lawson, Fr., Jumps, Jay’lin Polston, Fr., sprints.

McCarty’s outlook: “We feel very good about the work our kids have put in to start the season. We feel very good about our depth in the jumps and throws. We had another great year for turnout, so finding some depth in the sprints and mid-distances will be a priority.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

James Wood

Head coach: Mike Onda, 1st year.

Last season: 5th in Conference 21 West, 19th in 4A West Region.

Key losses: Mason Bean, Cody Dahlinger, Max Lindquist, Chris Vitagliano.

Top returning athletes: Jeremiah Addison, Sr., middle distance; Jackson Clyburn, Jr., sprints; Jacksen Costa, Sr., middle distance; William Crowder, So., sprints; Chance Grove, Jr. throws; Jared King, Jr. throws; Kevin Konyar, Sr., distance; Tyler Ostinato, Sr., middle distance; Logan Owens, So., hurdles, jumps; Bryce Ratlief, Sr., distance; Dominic Revetta, Sr., throws; Nathan Shade, So., distance; Drake Tews, Jr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Jimmy Burdock, Fr., distance; Brandon Dunn, Fr., sprints, throws; Owen Emerson, Fr. sprints; Jake Rust, Jr. jumps; Chris White, Fr. distance.

Onda’s outlook: “We lost some key athletes to graduation. However, many of our top returners had an excellent indoor track and field season, preparing them to be very competitive this spring. We have some new athletes already showing potential. They continue to train hard in preparation for the start of our competitive season, and we are confident that we can exceed last year’s successes as a team.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

Clarke County

Head coach: Andre Kidrick, 12th year.

Last season: 2nd in Conference 35; 4th in 2A East Region; 13th in Class 2A state meet.

Key losses: Andy Bonett, Patrick Cleary, Daniel Braithwaite, Isaiah Waters.

Top returning athletes: Tanner Dinkins, Sr., sprints/jumps; Peter Terzian, Jr., sprints; Kevin Whalen, Sr.; sprints; Nick Dawson, Jr., distance; Connor Hanson, Jr.; distance; Kyle Erickson, Jr., distance; Chase Ervin, Sr. distance; Ed Buzalsky, Sr., throws; Zach Dawson, Fr.; distance.

Top newcomers: Peyton Rutherford, So., sprints; Ellis Nei, Fr., sprints/hurdles; Sam Brumback, Fr., sprints/jumps/throws; Luke Brumback, Fr., sprints/jumps/throws; Jacob Peace, Sr., throws; Rico Nappi, Sr., throws; Daniel Lai, Fr., distance; Josh Hinton, Fr.; distance.

Kidrick’s outlook: “Even though we return a large group of contributors, we graduated many of our leaders and point earners from last season. We are looking at this group of returning athletes to step up as leaders and help to direct our new athletes in a positive direction. We have many new additions to our team that will contribute and develop into competitive CCHS track athletes. We, as coaches, are excited to see who steps up and fills the positions that were left by our graduating seniors.”

First meet: April 7 at Ram County Invitational (at Strasburg)

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.