Mohamed Labor-Koroma, Jr Win 300m Dash State Title; Four Chargers Earn All-State Accolades!
The 2011 Virginia AAA State Indoor Track Championships were held at the Boo Williams Sportsplex on February 25th-26th. Coming on the heels of one of the most successful regional meets in team history, fourteen motivated athletes travelled to Hampton, VA to represent Chantilly in the biggest meet of the season.
By the conclusion of the meet, the Chargers enjoyed one of the absolute best state meets in team history. The boys team finished 5th place overall, scoring 26 points to become the highest place team from the Northern Region, and second best in the team history, behind the state runner-up teams of 1993-94. Four individual athletes earned All-State honors, in a combined seven different events, a total that hasn’t been achieved since 1999.
Leading the way, as he has done all season, was senior Mohamed Labor-Koroma, Jr. After winning two district titles, and a third 500m dash regional crown, this meet was the one which Mohamed had pointed towards all year. Despite being used to competing in 4-7 events in each meet this season, he chose to focus on three: the high jump, the 500m dash, and the 300m dash. He went into the meet placed amongst the leaders in each, and poised to surpass his personal best 5th place state meet finish of a year ago. What happened on Saturday represented the best day in Mohamed’s career. His day started early with the high jump. Competing against a stellar field, Mohamed easily passed the opening height of 6’ 1”, a height that had knocked out half of the field. While he would not clear another height, he did earn his first medal of the day, with this 8th place finish.
Once the afternoon running events came, Mohamed showed that he has peaked perfectly for the season. In the 500m dash, he started strong and fast, and ran up amongst the leaders through the first 300m. Making a move on the backstretch of the last lap, Mo made his bid, and fought valiantly to the line, where he was just barely held off, taking 2nd place in his favorite event, and demolished his own school record with his 1:04.51 finish. Despite the disappointment of not winning his first state title, Mo returned to the track for the 300m dash. Running in Lane 6, Mo started off a strong as he ever has, and maintained his form through the first 200m. Coming around the last bend, he was challenged by the same runner, from Oakton, who had beaten him at regionals the week before, only this time Mohamed fought through it all the way to the line. He won his first state title, capping off what has been a brilliant career for Mohamed, and rightfully carved his name up amongst the CHS greats. His time of 35.18 also earned him his second school record in the meet, and third of the season.
Sophomore Sean McGorty also enjoyed a strong state meet. After a cross country season which saw him place 4th in the state, much has been expected of the young distance runner. By all measures, Sean has not disappointed. He qualified for, and competed, in the difficult 1600m/3200m double, one of only a select few to do so. Despite the fast paces and accompanying fatigue, Sean showed a sense of real maturity, and ran to personal bests in both events. In the 1600m run, he finished 5th place, in a time of 4:22.79. He also fought to a valiant 6th place in the later event, the 3200m run, where he improved his personal best by seven seconds, with his 9:33.20 finish.
Senior Nina Ullom enjoyed her best state meet experience. Competing at states for the fourth time, she finally finished in the medals. While she did not improve upon her personal best height of 10’ 0”, she did tie it, which was good for 5th place.
Sophomore newcomer, Kendall Cowne, ran in her first state meet. Competing in the 1000m run, she ran against a field which may have been the deepest in state meet history, with no fewer than nine girls running below 3:01 for the race. Cowne held her own, and running aggressively, held on for eighth place, in a time of 3:00.08.
Cowne also competed in the 4x800m relay, which had been 3rd at the regional meet. Despite suffering a fall in the third exchange, Cowne, and her team of senior Hannah Strub, sophomore Elise Kinsey, and Megan Toole, ran a credible time of 9:52.23, their second best time of the season, for 12th place.
The Chargers were also represented in several other events, competing well, but not earning All-State honors. Junior Arthur McDuffy competed in his first state meet in both the long jump (18th- 20’ 8”) and triple jump (21st- 42’ 5”). Senior Tiffany Mitchell also competed in the triple jump (21st-34’ 4”) and teamed with sophomores Samantha Lull and Rachel Reinhardt, and junior Jacki Sieder to place 12th, in their second best seasonal time of 1:50.08. Junior Miles Ransom was the final state meet competitor, competing in the high jump.
The coaching staff is so proud of all that these young men and women achieved this past weekend, and indeed for their persistence, dedication and leadership all season. They would also like to thank a great group of parents for travelling to support the team this weekend, as they have all year.
Full results can be found at: www.chargercctrack.com/wtresults.html.
A full seasonal performance list can be found at: www.chargercctrack.com/wtperflists.html.
ALL STATE HONORS
- Mohamed Labor-Koroma- STATE CHAMPION- 300m Dash (35.18) (NEW CHS RECORD); 2nd Place- 500m Dash (1:04.51) (NEW CHS RECORD); 8th Place- High Jump (6′ 1″)
- Sean McGorty- 5th Place- 1600m Run (4:22.85); 6th Place- 3200m Run (9:33.20)
- Nina Ullom- 5th Place (tie)- Pole Vault (10′ 0″)
- Kendall Cowne- 8th Place- 1000m Run (3:00.08)
