Girls' track & field notebook

LYNCHBURG — Millbrook’s Janai Washington picked the right time to leap higher than she has all spring.

The freshman placed fourth in the girls’ high jump with a mark of 5 feet to earn her second state medal in that event this year. Washington also placed sixth in the indoor state meet.

At the state indoor meet, also at Liberty, Washington jumped 4-10 after previously clearing 5-0. Since then, she hadn’t leapt higher than 4-11 in a meet until Saturday.

“I was a little frustrated [I hadn’t jumped 5-0 outdoors], but I knew I could do it,” Washington said. “Today, I almost got 5-2, which I was really excited about. So I’m ready for indoor next year, and to keep training and get better.”

Millbrook coach Jamie McCarty told Washington the key was doing well early. McCarty said a lot of people usually struggle with the high opening height of 4-10, and eight of the 19 girls failed to clear it Saturday. Washington cleared it on her first attempt. Washington was then one of just four people who attempted 5-0 to clear it on the first attempt.

“If you [clear those heights on the first attempt], 99.9 percent of the time, you’re All-State, and that’s what she did,” McCarty said.

There were only six people total who cleared 5-0. McCarty said it was great to see Washington nearly clear 5-2, which only the top three finishers managed to do.

“We thought she had it, then the bar just kind of trickled off,” McCarty said.

Washington also has a bright future in the 400 as well. She only took 16th out of 18 runners on Saturday (she finished in 1:02.28). But she was one of six freshmen qualifiers and has a top time of 1:01.47. Washington said her goal next year is to break 60 seconds.

“She’s still learning in that event,” McCarty said. “It was a great freshman year for her.”

James Wood

Sophomore Kate Konyar was the only Colonel girl to earn All-State honors, doing so in the 3,200.

A year ago, Konyar placed fifth in the 3,200 in 11:23.78, and had a season-best of 11:22.45. On Saturday, Konyar placed fourth in 11:18.87, just off her best of 11:18.58.

Konyar and Loudoun County freshman Fallon Fetterolf were basically neck-and-neck for almost six full laps, then Fetterolf pulled away to take third. Konyar finished almost six seconds ahead of the fifth-place finisher to match where she was seeded coming into Saturday.

“I was definitely hoping for a PR, but it’s fine,” Konyar said. “I’m happy I got fourth.”

With the weather getting warmer, Konyar placed 12th in the 1,600 later in the day in 5:25.51. Konyar didn’t approach her PR, but she also improved in that event this year, running a top time of 5:16.89 after having a best of 5:17.85 in 2023.

“It was hard today, running after the 3,200 and it still being hot,” she said. “I just pushed through and tried my best. I’m proud of my season [in all events], and how I grew throughout the season, and how I did [in meets].”

Sherando

Sarah Starling had one of the biggest leaps of anyone in any event as far as where they were seeded compared to how they finished.

In the shot put, the senior was seeded 15th out of 20 girls with a mark of 34-11. By the time was competition was over on Saturday, Starling was in third place after having improved by a full foot with a mark of 35-11.

The volleyball standout first started throwing for Sherando’s track team last year, and she was successful right off the bat. She qualified for the state meet in the shot put and placed 13th, and her top mark for the season was 35-3.5.

Starling saw improvement in the discus this year (a state qualifier in the event, she went to 109-10 after topping out at 105-10 last year). But she said it was frustrating not to see improvement in meets this year in the shot put since that was her better event last year. Starling said she has hit 36 feet in practice.

On Saturday, she finally surpassed her 2023 PR with the sixth and final throw of her high school career.

“It’s exciting,” said Starling when asked about getting All-State. “I’ve come a long way since last year, and it’s fun to look back on it.”

Starling will play volleyball for NCAA Division III Mary Washington next year. She’s glad she didn’t limit herself to volleyball, though.

“The coaches have been amazing,” she said. “Being there, helping you whenever you need it.”

Sherando coach Brad Symons was glad to see Starling finish so strong.

“All her hard work paid off,” he said.

Sophomore Mercedes Silver had a solid meet. She earned All-State honors in the high jump for the second time this year, placing sixth with a mark of 5-0 on Saturday after placing fifth with the same mark at the state indoor meet. (Silver needed two attempts to clear the bar at 5-0.) Her best mark this year is 5-1.

Silver also took 15th in the 300 hurdles in 48.15. Her best time is 46.93.

“It was a good day for her,” Symons said. “She was close to clearing 5-2, so she’s right there. And she’s got a strong future in the 300 hurdles. We’re probably going to give her more to do next year because she’s such a good athlete.”

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