-Mark Lorenzoni (on the run since 1973) and Alec Lorenzoni (running since 1999)
The Weekly Race Report
The Weekly Race Report
The Penn Relays is annually the biggest, most prestigious, and arguably the most exciting track meet in the entire country. Part of the appeal is the fact that you have high schoolers, collegians, and professionals all competing on the same track over a three day span. The other part is that the athletes are coming not only from all over the country, but from all over the world as well. Jamaica especially places a heavy emphasis on the meet, and they annually send their best high schools up to compete in the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 meter relays. Even the great Usain Bolt competed here as a youngster and the news that he would be returning this year to run on Jamaica's team in the USA vs the World 4x100 relay meant that Saturday's tickets were going to be a very hot commodity. A record sellout crowd of 54,310 people, most of them clad in Jamaican yellow and green, greeted Bolt with a roar of appreciation, the noise so deafening during his warmup that several races had to be delayed. When the race was finally run, Bolt got the baton a few steps out of the lead, but roared back to win easily, his anchor split of 8.79 one of the fastest ever run. Bolt wasn't the only one out to make headlines at Penn, however, as Virginia head coach Jason Vigilante and his men's 4x800 relay team had made the trip up to Philly with one goal. To win UVA's first Championship of America relay title (and the very large wooden wheel that goes with it) since 1943 and prove to the country that Virginia has arrived as a national middle distance powerhouse to stay...
The quartet of Alex Bowman, Lance Roller, Steve Finley and Robby Andrews toes the line against the nation's best teams, including the favored Ducks of Oregon, who have made the trip all the way from the West Coast with their all-star middle distance squad. Also in the race is Penn State with four runners who all qualified for the NCAA Indoor meet at 800 meters (only 16 make it per event, so they had 25% of the entire field) this year and who all own personal bests of 1:48 or faster. It is pretty obvious that UVA couldn't care less about times, as they stick their noses in it from the gun as fourth year Bowman leads off in a stellar 1:50.20 to give the baton to Roller in 2nd. Lance takes off and runs the relay leg of his life, a scorching 1:46.67 that is the 2nd fastest leg of the entire day and over a second faster than his previous lifetime best. Finley, the fourth year steeplechaser who is not really known for his 800 speed, gets the stick in 2nd and runs UVA's gutsiest leg of the day, chasing Penn State's Lionel Williams at a blistering pace over the first lap and then moving past him to give the baton to Robby tied for the lead with Oregon, with Penn State a couple strides back. Showing no fear, Andrews calmly assumes the pacing duties on the first lap while Oregon's Andrew Wheating and Penn State's Ryan Foster bide their time just off his shoulder. The clock ticks 54, 55 as the trio approaches the bell lap, the slow early pace ensuring a fast, frantic finish over the final 400 meters. Right on cue, Foster barrels by on the inside as the bell sounds, giving Robby a little shove as he makes his bid for home, knowing he can't leave it to a kick against his two faster rivals. As the pace ratchets down, Wheating follows in second while Robby stalks both of them in third, even allowing a 5 meter gap to open up which prompts the announcers (and I'm sure many of the fans in attendance) to believe this three-man race is now down to two. And just when you think he's out of it, Robby shifts gears with 100 meters to go and just like that, he has moved by Foster and is in second, closing on Wheating with every stride. 50 meters to go and he shifts one more time, finding a gear that the other two can't match, and all of a sudden, he is even with the tall Oregon runner who has been the nation's best 800 man the past two years, and then he is by him, flying over the final few meters as he breaks the tape in 7:15.38.
Video of Race (courtesy of flotrack)
Robby breaking the tape (courtesy of virginiasports.com)
It is a truly stunning win with repercussions that will reverberate across the world of track and field over the next few days, not only because Virginia has upset their two more heavily favored opponents, but because their freshman anchor has again bested the Olympian Wheating. The first time was indoors by only a hundreth of a second, some arguing that Robby was only able to pull it off because he had timed his kick so well that by the time Wheating realized he was there, it was too late to react. This time is different though, as the two ran flat out, man vs man, over the final 100 meters. No surprise lunges at the tape, just superior closing speed by Robby as he won by almost two tenths of a second, a margin that is much greater than it may look on paper. But despite the win, there will still be the naysayers, pointing out that Wheating had to anchor the DMR the day before while Robby was fresh, and that the slow first lap meant that Wheating's superior strength was negated. That if the first lap had been closer to 52, Robby wouldn't have been close enough to be able to kick like that at the end. But whatever you may think, there is no doubt that part 3 of this drama is going to be nothing short of epic, as the next scheduled matchup will be at the NCAA Outdoor Championships which is at, you guessed it, Wheating's home track in Eugene, Oregon. No one likes to lose to a freshman, certainly not twice, so the prospect of revenge on his home track in his last collegiate race is something Wheating will surely be thinking about on a daily basis for the next couple months. And while the entire state of Oregon will be hoping for a different ending to Act III, everyone back East has absolutely no problems with the same old story...
The first COA wheel since 1943. Roller, Andrews, Bowman, Finley (from left). Courtesy of virginiasports.com
In other Penn action, former UVA standout Kevin Tschirhart was 5th in the Men's Olympic Development Mile in 4:02.81, another personal best as he continues his quest for a sub-4:00 mile this spring. In the high school boys mile, Albemarle senior Anthony Kostelac was 8th in 4:12.91, a solid showing for the future UVA trackster. Cavalier distance runners Sean Keveren and Andrew Revelle both scored personal bests with Keveren running 14:10.00 in the 5,000 and Revelle hitting 9:10.44 in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Dogwood Track Classic
Fork Union, 2010 Dogwood Track Classic Champions
Most of the area high schoolers descended on UVA's Lannigan Field this past Saturday for the Dogwood Track Classic. Central Virginia was represented well in the team standings as Louisa got the win on the girl's side with 68 points and Fork Union narrowly won the boy's title with 65 points (Albemarle was 2nd with 63 pts). Other area team placings in the top 10 were the Western Albemarle girls (3rd, 54 pts) and the Louisa boys (5th, 37 pts). Individually, Jordan Hill of Albemarle had a great meet as he won four events (high jump, long jump, triple jump, 100 meters) and was 2nd in his fifth (200 meters). On the girl's side, Ashontae Jackson of Orange was a double winner in the 200/400 with blistering times of 25.66 and 56.59.
Jordan Hill, MVP Field Events
For more pictures from the meet, check out our Facebook page...
Other local event winners...
Girls: Mattie Webb (WAHS)- 1600, Javanique Burruss (Louisa)- Long Jump, Western Albemarle- Sprint Medley Relay & Distance Medley Relay
Boys: Wojciech Czernek (FUMA)- 1600, Josh Morris (FUMA)- 3200, Dante Davis (Louisa)- 110 Hurdles & 300 Hurdles, Jan Jeuschede (Woodberry Forest)- Shot Put, Fork Union- 4x100 Relay & Sprint Medley Relay, Western Albemarle- Distance Medley Relay
Monticello distance runners Mike Albert and Nathaniel Hermsmeier (as well as Mustang distance coach Doug Bloor), who both set school records at the Dogwood Track Classic on Saturday. Albert ran a great race with a huge last lap to finish 2nd in the 1600 with a time of 4:24.59, bettering the old record by over 2 seconds (Brian Huffman, 4:26.73 from 2009). The only bad news for Albert on the day was that his 3200 meter school record was broken by junior Nathaniel Hermsmeier, whose time of 9:45.00 smashed both his old personal best of 9:59.46 and the old school record of 9:58.01!
Wojciech Czernek (1st, 4:24.06) and Mike Albert (2nd, 4:24.59) in the 1600
The Virginia 4x800 relay quartet of Lyndsay Harper, Ariane Sloan, Rosemary Barber and Tasia Potasinski, who combined to finish 8th in the Championship of America section with a time of 8:44.19, the fourth fastest in school history and the best time since 1986. Potasinski had the fastest split at 2:08.17.
Eliza O'Connell, who finished 8th in her age group at the National Duathlon Championships in Richmond this past Saturday. O'Connell's stellar position (in her debut duathlon!) qualifies her for the World Duathlon Championships in Scotland in September. Other area races of note were turned in by Brownsville P.E. teacher Cherie Witt and former Ten Miler champion Nicola Ratcliffe.
Stacey & Dave Bruns, and Lance Weisend, who organized and directed the Family Fitness Day on Sunday at Panorama Farms. Hosted by the Charlottesville Day School, this fun run for young runners was the second leg of the Kid's Triple Crown. The third and final leg will be the Discovery Dash on May 29th. For more information on Family Fitness Day, check out NBC 29's article.
Dr. Bob Wilder, who volunteered most of his weekend serving as the medical doctor at the Dogwood Track Classic all day Saturday, as well as the Family Fitness Day on Sunday!
Meet director Rick Lilly, who put on another great meet this year as the Dogwood Track Classic returned to UVA's Lannigan Field.
Madison County junior Clare Moretz, who set two school records at the Woodberry Forest Invitational a few weeks ago with her 5:16.13 (1600 meters) and 11:38.99 (3200 meters) double. Both performances were good enough for first place!
Ethan and Asher Long have only been in town a few weeks, and yet they are already impressing with their road racing finishes. Ethan, who is the brand new executive director at the Virginia Institute of Autism, followed up his 1:16:17 at the Charlottesville Ten Miler with a 20:11 clocking at the Run for Autism 5K, good enough for 13th place overall. His son Asher was the first four year old to cross the line at the Kid's Quarter Mile run at the same event with a time of 2:23, while younger sister Ellery was the first two year old across the line in 4:08!
Several road races on tap this weekend including the Batesville 10K and the Hoos For a Cure 5K on Saturday. Batesville is one of the area's oldest road races and takes runners through a very scenic 6.2 miles as it winds its way up through Crown Orchard before descending back into the town of Batesville over the 2nd half of the race. Hoos for a Cure will take place on the UVA course and all the proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you're looking for something a little longer, the 2nd annual Park to Park Half Marathon in Waynesboro will also take place on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be the first annual Dogwood Youth Duathlon for kids ages 7-14.
On tap for next week (Saturday, May 8th), two completely different races of note. First in the morning, the 2nd annual Montalto Challenge 5K. A unique, all uphill climb to arguably the most beautiful finish line views of any race in Virginia. After the challenging climb, the runners are treated to 360 degree panoramic views of Central Virginia including looking down on the dome room of Jefferson's Monticello. This is a must race for anyone looking to add extra adventure to their running resume. In the evening, at a completely different venue, runners will have the opportunity to go for a two mile personal best at the annual Jennifer Wells Moonlight Run for Meningitis.
The quartet of Alex Bowman, Lance Roller, Steve Finley and Robby Andrews toes the line against the nation's best teams, including the favored Ducks of Oregon, who have made the trip all the way from the West Coast with their all-star middle distance squad. Also in the race is Penn State with four runners who all qualified for the NCAA Indoor meet at 800 meters (only 16 make it per event, so they had 25% of the entire field) this year and who all own personal bests of 1:48 or faster. It is pretty obvious that UVA couldn't care less about times, as they stick their noses in it from the gun as fourth year Bowman leads off in a stellar 1:50.20 to give the baton to Roller in 2nd. Lance takes off and runs the relay leg of his life, a scorching 1:46.67 that is the 2nd fastest leg of the entire day and over a second faster than his previous lifetime best. Finley, the fourth year steeplechaser who is not really known for his 800 speed, gets the stick in 2nd and runs UVA's gutsiest leg of the day, chasing Penn State's Lionel Williams at a blistering pace over the first lap and then moving past him to give the baton to Robby tied for the lead with Oregon, with Penn State a couple strides back. Showing no fear, Andrews calmly assumes the pacing duties on the first lap while Oregon's Andrew Wheating and Penn State's Ryan Foster bide their time just off his shoulder. The clock ticks 54, 55 as the trio approaches the bell lap, the slow early pace ensuring a fast, frantic finish over the final 400 meters. Right on cue, Foster barrels by on the inside as the bell sounds, giving Robby a little shove as he makes his bid for home, knowing he can't leave it to a kick against his two faster rivals. As the pace ratchets down, Wheating follows in second while Robby stalks both of them in third, even allowing a 5 meter gap to open up which prompts the announcers (and I'm sure many of the fans in attendance) to believe this three-man race is now down to two. And just when you think he's out of it, Robby shifts gears with 100 meters to go and just like that, he has moved by Foster and is in second, closing on Wheating with every stride. 50 meters to go and he shifts one more time, finding a gear that the other two can't match, and all of a sudden, he is even with the tall Oregon runner who has been the nation's best 800 man the past two years, and then he is by him, flying over the final few meters as he breaks the tape in 7:15.38.
Video of Race (courtesy of flotrack)
Robby breaking the tape (courtesy of virginiasports.com)It is a truly stunning win with repercussions that will reverberate across the world of track and field over the next few days, not only because Virginia has upset their two more heavily favored opponents, but because their freshman anchor has again bested the Olympian Wheating. The first time was indoors by only a hundreth of a second, some arguing that Robby was only able to pull it off because he had timed his kick so well that by the time Wheating realized he was there, it was too late to react. This time is different though, as the two ran flat out, man vs man, over the final 100 meters. No surprise lunges at the tape, just superior closing speed by Robby as he won by almost two tenths of a second, a margin that is much greater than it may look on paper. But despite the win, there will still be the naysayers, pointing out that Wheating had to anchor the DMR the day before while Robby was fresh, and that the slow first lap meant that Wheating's superior strength was negated. That if the first lap had been closer to 52, Robby wouldn't have been close enough to be able to kick like that at the end. But whatever you may think, there is no doubt that part 3 of this drama is going to be nothing short of epic, as the next scheduled matchup will be at the NCAA Outdoor Championships which is at, you guessed it, Wheating's home track in Eugene, Oregon. No one likes to lose to a freshman, certainly not twice, so the prospect of revenge on his home track in his last collegiate race is something Wheating will surely be thinking about on a daily basis for the next couple months. And while the entire state of Oregon will be hoping for a different ending to Act III, everyone back East has absolutely no problems with the same old story...
The first COA wheel since 1943. Roller, Andrews, Bowman, Finley (from left). Courtesy of virginiasports.comIn other Penn action, former UVA standout Kevin Tschirhart was 5th in the Men's Olympic Development Mile in 4:02.81, another personal best as he continues his quest for a sub-4:00 mile this spring. In the high school boys mile, Albemarle senior Anthony Kostelac was 8th in 4:12.91, a solid showing for the future UVA trackster. Cavalier distance runners Sean Keveren and Andrew Revelle both scored personal bests with Keveren running 14:10.00 in the 5,000 and Revelle hitting 9:10.44 in the 3,000 steeplechase.
Dogwood Track Classic
Fork Union, 2010 Dogwood Track Classic ChampionsMost of the area high schoolers descended on UVA's Lannigan Field this past Saturday for the Dogwood Track Classic. Central Virginia was represented well in the team standings as Louisa got the win on the girl's side with 68 points and Fork Union narrowly won the boy's title with 65 points (Albemarle was 2nd with 63 pts). Other area team placings in the top 10 were the Western Albemarle girls (3rd, 54 pts) and the Louisa boys (5th, 37 pts). Individually, Jordan Hill of Albemarle had a great meet as he won four events (high jump, long jump, triple jump, 100 meters) and was 2nd in his fifth (200 meters). On the girl's side, Ashontae Jackson of Orange was a double winner in the 200/400 with blistering times of 25.66 and 56.59.
Jordan Hill, MVP Field EventsFor more pictures from the meet, check out our Facebook page...
Other local event winners...
Girls: Mattie Webb (WAHS)- 1600, Javanique Burruss (Louisa)- Long Jump, Western Albemarle- Sprint Medley Relay & Distance Medley Relay
Boys: Wojciech Czernek (FUMA)- 1600, Josh Morris (FUMA)- 3200, Dante Davis (Louisa)- 110 Hurdles & 300 Hurdles, Jan Jeuschede (Woodberry Forest)- Shot Put, Fork Union- 4x100 Relay & Sprint Medley Relay, Western Albemarle- Distance Medley Relay
Blue Ribbons To...
Monticello distance runners Mike Albert and Nathaniel Hermsmeier (as well as Mustang distance coach Doug Bloor), who both set school records at the Dogwood Track Classic on Saturday. Albert ran a great race with a huge last lap to finish 2nd in the 1600 with a time of 4:24.59, bettering the old record by over 2 seconds (Brian Huffman, 4:26.73 from 2009). The only bad news for Albert on the day was that his 3200 meter school record was broken by junior Nathaniel Hermsmeier, whose time of 9:45.00 smashed both his old personal best of 9:59.46 and the old school record of 9:58.01!
Wojciech Czernek (1st, 4:24.06) and Mike Albert (2nd, 4:24.59) in the 1600The Virginia 4x800 relay quartet of Lyndsay Harper, Ariane Sloan, Rosemary Barber and Tasia Potasinski, who combined to finish 8th in the Championship of America section with a time of 8:44.19, the fourth fastest in school history and the best time since 1986. Potasinski had the fastest split at 2:08.17.
Eliza O'Connell, who finished 8th in her age group at the National Duathlon Championships in Richmond this past Saturday. O'Connell's stellar position (in her debut duathlon!) qualifies her for the World Duathlon Championships in Scotland in September. Other area races of note were turned in by Brownsville P.E. teacher Cherie Witt and former Ten Miler champion Nicola Ratcliffe.
Stacey & Dave Bruns, and Lance Weisend, who organized and directed the Family Fitness Day on Sunday at Panorama Farms. Hosted by the Charlottesville Day School, this fun run for young runners was the second leg of the Kid's Triple Crown. The third and final leg will be the Discovery Dash on May 29th. For more information on Family Fitness Day, check out NBC 29's article.
Dr. Bob Wilder, who volunteered most of his weekend serving as the medical doctor at the Dogwood Track Classic all day Saturday, as well as the Family Fitness Day on Sunday!
Meet director Rick Lilly, who put on another great meet this year as the Dogwood Track Classic returned to UVA's Lannigan Field.
Madison County junior Clare Moretz, who set two school records at the Woodberry Forest Invitational a few weeks ago with her 5:16.13 (1600 meters) and 11:38.99 (3200 meters) double. Both performances were good enough for first place!
Father/Son Running Tandem of the Week...
(As father and son we've enjoyed many memorable running times together all over the world over the years, so we thought it would be fun to recognize a father/son running team each week)Ethan and Asher Long have only been in town a few weeks, and yet they are already impressing with their road racing finishes. Ethan, who is the brand new executive director at the Virginia Institute of Autism, followed up his 1:16:17 at the Charlottesville Ten Miler with a 20:11 clocking at the Run for Autism 5K, good enough for 13th place overall. His son Asher was the first four year old to cross the line at the Kid's Quarter Mile run at the same event with a time of 2:23, while younger sister Ellery was the first two year old across the line in 4:08!
In the Starting Blocks...
Several road races on tap this weekend including the Batesville 10K and the Hoos For a Cure 5K on Saturday. Batesville is one of the area's oldest road races and takes runners through a very scenic 6.2 miles as it winds its way up through Crown Orchard before descending back into the town of Batesville over the 2nd half of the race. Hoos for a Cure will take place on the UVA course and all the proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If you're looking for something a little longer, the 2nd annual Park to Park Half Marathon in Waynesboro will also take place on Saturday. On Sunday, there will be the first annual Dogwood Youth Duathlon for kids ages 7-14.
On tap for next week (Saturday, May 8th), two completely different races of note. First in the morning, the 2nd annual Montalto Challenge 5K. A unique, all uphill climb to arguably the most beautiful finish line views of any race in Virginia. After the challenging climb, the runners are treated to 360 degree panoramic views of Central Virginia including looking down on the dome room of Jefferson's Monticello. This is a must race for anyone looking to add extra adventure to their running resume. In the evening, at a completely different venue, runners will have the opportunity to go for a two mile personal best at the annual Jennifer Wells Moonlight Run for Meningitis.
