Chantilly Indoor Track Charges into Postseason

The 2010-11 Chantilly Chargers ended their regular season this past Friday, and if recent performances are any indication, they will remain a force to be reckoned with in the post season, starting next Friday, January 28th, with the first day of the Concorde District Championships. Despite building a talented team following last year’s exceptional graduating class, the veterans and newcomers have blended well, and have given equal contributions to this year’s squad.

BOYS TEAM

As they have for the past two years, the boys team fortunes will lean heavily upon the shoulders of senior co-captain, Mohamed Labor-Koroma, Jr. Mohamed has easily been the team’s best all-around athlete, if not the most versatile in the Northern Region, and the three-time Northern Region champion and five-time school record holder has enjoyed the best regular season of his career. He has demonstrated a dominance in the long sprints and mid-distance. He has beaten his own school record in the 500m dash, in 1:05.80, the second-best time in Virginia this year. He also is amongst the region leaders in the high jump (6’ 3” equaling the school record), and 300m (36.07). He also ranks amongst the district’s best long jumpers and pole vaulters, and has helped the Charger boys earn an automatic regional meet qualifier in the 4x800m run. His versatility and strength will prove invaluable to the boy’s team, as they seek their first district title in almost two decades.

Sophomore Sean McGorty has also enjoyed a strong, if abbreviated regular season. The first team All-Met distance runner from cross country concluded his regular season with region leading marks in the 3200m run (9:40.47, a state qualifying mark) and 1000m run (personal best 2:36.50), and a district leading mark in the 1600m run (4:28.35), as well as teaming with Labor-Koroma, sophomore Logan Miller and senior Eric Rolfe in the 4x800m relay. Despite being relatively young in terms of track experience, McGorty is proving that his All-American freshman year was not a fluke, and is upholding the Charger tradition of distance greatness, passed on by 2010 3200m state champion, Chris Foley.

The Charger boys are also getting solid contributions in the field events from juniors Arthur McDuffy and Miles Ransom. McDuffy concludes the regular season as the district leader in the long and triple jumps, and remains in the top six in the region in both events, as he seeks to win his first individual district title and qualify for the state meet. Ransom ranks amongst the district leaders in the 55m hurdles and pole vault, and will provide valuable scoring to the Chargers at the district meet.

GIRLS TEAM

The girls also have enjoyed success this season, and look forward to districts, regionals and states. They have had a strong blend of success in the sprints, distance and field events, a normal reciepe for a solid run.

Chantilly welcomed its newest track star to their legacy with the arrival of sophomore Kendall Cowne. In only her first season running, Cowne was the leader in all mid-and long-distance events from 400m on up. She ranks amongst the district and region leaders in the 500m, 1600m (5:21.96) and 3200m (11:38.25) runs, and qualified for states in the 1000m run (3:02.17). Her versatility gives the Chargers a valuable weapon in the district race, as she can score highly in all three of her events, as well as potentially leading either the 4x800m or 4x400m relays to success.

Senior Nina Ullom provides the Chargers with a solid veteran presence, and as she has done in each of the past two years, has qualified for the state meet in the pole vault, with a seasonal best jump of 9’ 6”. She also ranks amongst the district/region leaders in the 300m dash (43.25), and anchors the girls 4x200m relay, ranked 2nd in the district.

Junior Jackie Sieder just missed the state meet last year in the 500m dash, but has returned for a solid junior year, and will be competitive at the district and regional levels in her favorite event again. Sieder also leads the team in the long jump, and is amongst the leaders in the 300m and 400m events. Senior Tiffany Mitchell will also compete for district honors in the 55m Dash, 4x200m relay, and the long/triple jumps for a second year. Sophomore Samantha Lull has also spent the season amongst the district/regional leaders in the high jump, with a personal best height of 4’ 10.25”.

Other potential scorers for the team include freshmen Megan Toole (1600m) and Megan Rhoads (3200m), senior Hannah Strub (1000m), and junior Lyzan Rashid (shot put).

The Charger coaching staff wish to thank all of their parents and the Chantilly community for their support this season. We look forward to a solid postseason, with the district championships held at PG Sports & Learning Complex on Friday, January 28th and Thursday, February 3rd, regionals at George Mason University on Saturday, February 19th, and the Virginia AAA State Championships at the Boo Williams Sportsplex in Newport News, on February 25th & 26th.

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

Automatic Post-Season Qualifiers include:

AUTOMATIC STATE QUALIFIERS

• Mohamed Labor-Koroma-High Jump- 6′ 3″ (Ties CHS Indoor Record); 500m Dash- 1:05.80 (New CHS Record)
• Sean McGorty- 3200m Run- 9:40.47
• Kendall Cowne- 1000m Run- 3:02.17
• Nina Ullom- Pole Vault- 9′ 6″

AUTOMATIC REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

• Kendall Cowne- 3200m Run- 11:38.25
• Mohamed Labor-Koroma- 300m Dash- 36.07
• Arthur McDufffy- Long Jump- 20′ 9″; Triple Jump- 43- 3.75″
• Sean McGorty- 1000m Run 2:36.50;1600m Run- 4:28.35
• Boys 4x800m Relay- 8:20.64 (Logan Miller, Eric Rolfe, Sean McGorty, Mohamed Labor-Koroma, Jr)