Standing Strong and Steady

This time, though, no one had to brave the elements as they did on many a weekday afternoon since the competition occurred in the comfortable, athlete-friendly climes of the Bolling Fieldhouse at St. Christopher’s.

 

That said, the Cougars’ resolve to stand strong and steady through difficult conditions played a significant role in steeling them for the challenges unrelated to weather that lay ahead.

 

Collegiate’s girls placed second in the LIS with 104 points, well behind St. Catherine’s (231.5) but ahead of Norfolk Academy (58.5), Trinity Episcopal (47), and Veritas (14).

 

“What always impresses me about championship meets is how our coaches prepare our athletes to peak at the right time,” said Beth Kondorossy, the Cougars’ head girls coach. “We had several girls who qualified for the state meet (Feb. 15). We also had a lot of girls surprise themselves by running times, jumping heights and distances, and throwing distances that they didn’t think they were capable of. There’s been a lot illness going around. We had several girls out this week with the flu who came back and competed today even though they weren’t 100 percent. That shows their commitment to the team.”

 

With 39 points, Collegiate’s boys placed fourth in the Prep League behind Woodberry Forest (160), St. Christopher’s (147), and Fork Union (86) and ahead of Norfolk Academy (18) and Trinity Episcopal (5).

 

“We’ve had several injuries and a lot of sickness, so we were down as far as the number of participants available to compete,” said Brent Miller, head boys coach. “We did a great job of persevering, working hard, and fighting through some nagging injuries to be the best that we could be.”

 

Sophomore Virginia Harris won the 1000 in 2:57.91, both a school and LIS record. Her time is tops among all runners in the Richmond area and eighth in Virginia.

 

“Virginia followed the race plan to get out fast and run her own race,” said distance coach Matthew Richardson. “She looked relaxed and made it look easy. It wasn’t easy, but she was having fun, and when you’re having fun, things tend to go the way you want them to.”

 

Harris also ran the anchor leg (following Sadie Webb, Amelia Haske, and Nora Wallace) of the 4x800 relay team that finished first in 10:10.75. All earned All-LIS honors. Webb also placed second in the 3200 (11:46.67) and Haske, an 8th grader, fourth (12:35.51).

 

The Cougars placed three in the 1600: Rosie Ferrell (second, 5:24.82), Anne Lewis (fifth, 5:45.00), and Samantha McMullin (sixth, 5:47.61).

 

“The girls distance team has had success over the past couple of years coming off cross country,” said Richardson. “Eighth graders all the way to seniors, there’re a lot of great kids, great leaders, and great athletes. The depth and numbers in all the events were great.

 

“What’s fun is that we have distance runners who want to run. If I said I needed them in the 55 dash, they’d line up and run without blocks, but they’d line up. That’s just the way the girls team is, and it’s fun to watch.”

        

The Cougars also placed three in the 500: Kennedy Richardson (second, 1:22.40), Ferrell (fifth, 1:26.72), and Sophie Sloan (sixth, 1:27.62). Richardson placed fifth in the 300 (43.88) as well.

 

Sallie Martin finished second in the high jump (4-6) and Adelaide Clarkson fourth (4-0). Anna Kuhlen was second (9-0) and Lawson Vaughan third (8-0) in the pole vault.

 

The girls 4x400 team (Harris, Ferrell, Sloan, Richardson) placed second in 4:21.67.

 

In the 4x200, both the boys (Nasir Diggs, Heath Brown, Rhodes Neuner, Oreoluwa Tokan-Lawal) and girls (Britton Berson, Lawson Vaughan, Jazie Dunn, Elle Garnett) placed third in 1:36.47 and 1:58.41, respectively.

 

Brandon Anderson (5-10), Bishop Foster (5-10), and Tae-Veon Johnson (5-6) finished 2-5-6 in the high jump. Anderson also took fourth (20-9) in the long jump. Diggs, a freshman, was fifth in both the long jump (20-8) and triple jump (40-6.5). Rhodes Neuner was third in the 55 hurdles (8.99), and Preston Sutherland sixth (personal best 4:50.60) in the 1600.

 

As a team, the Cougars are young, evolving, and resilient. Consistent training and patience are key. Understanding the process is paramount.

 

“The development is the best part: to see them grow and figure it out and learn to enjoy competing,” Richardson said. “As they’ve done that, it’s become a better and better team each day.”