Potomac Falls' Lee Wins Track Title
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Christina Lee's road back to running was a long and painful one.
For the Potomac Falls junior, it started in the fall with shin splints that forced her to sit out the cross-country season. It continued in January when the former Virginia AA Dulles District cross-country champion, accustomed to massive amounts of weekly mileage, was only allowed to run 17 minutes per day.
But on Saturday, the road culminated in a state championship.
After a third-place finish earlier in the day in the 1,600 meters, Lee ran the 800 in 2 minutes 16.70 seconds to claim first place at the Virginia AA state championship track meet at Harrisonburg High School. She helped the Panthers to a third-place finish in the girls' team event with 37 points.
"It means a lot," Lee said afterward. "I really wanted to try to win in the mile, and that didn't happen, and our 4x800 team got [disqualified for a false start] yesterday, and that was really disappointing, and I just wanted to come out here at the end of my season and go out with a bang."
Especially considering the way her school year started.
"It was an amazing race based on what we've come from," Potomac Falls Coach Dolph Null said. "I think it says a lot about her character, a lot about her heart, and a lot about her personality."
Photo Gallery
Reader Gallery: 2009 Spring/Summer Sports
The Dulles 9/10 All-Stars finished third at the state tournament after claiming the District 16 title to reach the event. Their final record was an impressive 9-1. (Don Ventrice)
The Loudoun County Hawks 16U baseball program won the Virginia Sports Complex 2009 16U Virginia State Championship tournament on July 19th. Front Row, left to right: Kris Pratt (Loudoun County), Ryan Johnston (Broad Run), Colin Deely (Potomac Falls), Tyler Saleck (Loudoun County), Tyler Hawk (Potomac Falls), Henry Massey (Loudoun County), Ryan Miller (Potomac Falls), Back Row: Coach Steve Johnston, Coach Mark Putnick, Taylor Clarke (Broad Run), Michael Lascomb (Potomac Falls), Tyler Mocabee (Stone Bridge), Steve Putnick (Stone Bridge), Taylor Cokeley (Loudoun County), Coach Eric Lascomb. Not pictured: Justin Matzker (Leesburg Christian School). (Courtesy of Mark Putnick)
NoVa West Lacrosse’s U15 team the Virus won the Southern Classic lacrosse tournament in Charlottesville over the weekend, improving to 11-2-1 on the season. (Courtesy of Matt Pinkston)
Park View senior Meredith Oare placed second in the hammer and fifth in the discus at the 2009 USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships. (Courtesy of Brian Baird)
Park View senior Meredith Oare shows off her medals from the 2009 USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She placed second in the hammer and fifth in the discus. (Courtesy of Brian Baird)
The Lower Loudoun Little League Senior Division All-Stars took home the District 10 title and are headed to the state tournament this weekend. Pictured - Front Row: Hayden Earley, Demetri Austin; Middle Row: Coach Davis, Tyler Lieb, Scott Trump, JT Page, Dan Laub, Nick DeMott, Ryan Doyle, Coach Lieb; Back Row: Coach Bass, Ryan Biever, Sean Raven, Sam Bass, Sam Ryan, Ryan Kuhn, TJ Davis. Missing: Matt Byrd, Jance Shine. (Courtesy of Tim Lieb)
The Dulles Little League American League 9/10 All Stars swept through the District 16 All Star Tournament at Crittenden Park over the weekend to reach this week's state tournament. Pictured: Coaches from the left: Mickey Cmeyla, Jeff Maffe, Bill Smallwood; From the left: Matthew Lord, Matthew Fialdini, Matthew Branson, Patrick Dengler, Gino Ventrice, Casey Johnson, Sean Clark, Justin Weiss, Ben Maffe, Robbie Ferreira, Braden Cmeyla, Nick Smallwood, Malachy McGann (Renee Ventrice)
The Loudoun Fuze U13 lacrosse team went 5-0 during a Father's Day weekend tournament in Annapolis. (Mark Failor)
The 10U Loudoun Longhorns travel baseball team recently won the 2009 Old Dominion Baseball League championship. Pictured are, kneeling in the front row: Bryce Pearson, Robbie Ferreira. Standing in the middle row are: Patrick Hartmann, Devon Adams, Dominick Marinelli, Nick Smallwood, Jonathan Hough, Joey Skov, Jack Shepherd and Chad Koehler. Back Row: Coach Pete Adams, Manager Mike Marinelli, and Coach Chuck Koehler. (Scott Shepherd)
The LFC Avalanche U13 girls' soccer team won the ODSL's Division 2 title for the 2009 spring season. (Photo Courtesy of Sally Sumser)
The Loudoun girls' U9-Black team swept through the 2009 FPYC Father's Day All-Star Tournament over the weekend, bringing home the title. (Courtesy of Russ Shaw)
The 11U Loudoun Longhorns took home the USSSA State Championship and will compete at the Triple Crown National Championship next month. (Steve Salva)
Heritage placed first in the boys' 4x100 relay at the Virginia AA state championship track meet on Saturday. Members of the relay team include: Roger Smith, Brian Dove, T.J. McPhaul and Ross Madison, who teamed up to finish in 42.64 seconds. (Courtesy of Kate Cassidy)
Heritage also placed first in the 4x400 girls' relay at the Virginia AA state championship track meet. Emma McLaughlin, Amy Taylor, Shaquera Leach and Hannah McLaughlin finished in 4:00.10. (Courtesy of Kate Cassidy)
The Loudoun Valley girls' soccer team celebrates their Cedar Run District tournament title following a 2-0 victory over Battlefield in Thursday's championship game. (Frank Etro)
The Potomac Falls Panthers celebrate their first ever Dulles District regular season title on senior night in Sterling. The Panthers finished the season with a perfect 14-0 record in league play and advance to the regional playoffs for the third straight season. (Missy Rubino)
The Potomac Falls Panthers take a knee in in the outfield after their senior night game against district rivals Broad Run. The Panthers won their first ever Dulles District regular season championship with a perfect 14-0 mark. (Missy Rubino)
Sydney Wrighte, 9, a third grader from Liberty Elementary School from South Riding, won the Level 5 Virginia State Balance Beam Championship. She also placed 2nd on Vault, 4th on the Uneven Bars, and finished 2nd in the All Around beating out hundreds of gymnasts in the state of Virginia. The 2009 Virginia Level 5 State Meet was held at Averett University in Danville, Virginia on May 9 & 10, 2009. (Laura Wrighte )
George Mason junior center Gwen Edwards (11) keeps possession while guarded by Potomac Falls junior attacker Alex Wassenberg (7). Mustang Midfielder Courtney Ready (5) and defender Grace Kuipers (7) look to help transition play in a Dulles District tournament quarterfinal won 11-7 by George Mason. (Jane Johansen)
George Mason midfielder Abby Johansen (13) marks a Potomac Falls player during the Mustangs' 11-7 Dulles District tournament quarterfinal victory on Monday, May 11th. (Jane Johansen)
The NVVA Girls' 12 Loudoun Black team named "Blackout" won the Open Division Regionals and is headed to Miami for the 2009 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior Olympic Championship in June. (Front Row: Allison Sims; Middle Row: Ciara Kain, Jorden Gunessever, Shannon Williams, Tayler Tibbits, Emily Solis, Melina Minhas; Back Row: Asst. Coach Chris Kadock, Amy Gottschling, McKenna Kirby, Zoe Textoris, Ast. Coach Karly MacDowell and Coach Mike Quesnel). (Merriellen Tibbits)
Briar Woods senior first baseman Clayton Sylvester makes a throw in a game against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods senior first baseman Clayton Sylvester brings in a ball in a game against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods junior pitcher Austin Frattali delivers a pitch in a Dulles District game against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods junior Logan Harris makes contact at the plate against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods junior outfielder Joe Iglesias loses his shades as he slides in under the tag against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods junior pitcher Austin Frattali delivers a pitch against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods sophomore Victor Rizzardi goes in head first against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods senior Ian Hickman swings over a pitch in a game against Loudoun County. (Tim Sylvester)
Briar Woods junior Kyle Haufler connects on a pitch against Loudoun County (Tim Sylvester)
Heritage junior Ryan Finnegan (18) celebrates after heading in a cross by Jacob Gillispie (13) in a 4-3 win over Park View. Also pictured: Mauricio Lorenzetti (23), Jonathan Castillo (3). (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage senior Josh Thiel (17) flicks the ball ahead during a game against Park View (Also pictured are Heritage junior Eric Dentler (20) and senior John Milloy (2) ). (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage's Josh Thiel salutes Eric Dentler following his second goal in a 4-3 win against Park View. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage senior Josh Thiel (17) heads the ball toward goal in a 4-3 win over Park View. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage junior Jonathan Castillo (3) dribbles the ball during a 4-3 win over Park View. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Loudoun Soccer 96G poses for photos with Washington Freedom stars Abby Wambach and Brianna Scurry. (Shawn Zelman)
The Sterling Golf, Swim & Tennis Club officially kicked off the 2009 golf season with the Annual Frostbite Tournament. There may not have been frost but plenty of wind and not bad play determined the outcome for most of the players. The Frostbite winners were; Championship Flight Ken Albanese,1st Flight Jeff Verhulst, 2nd Flight Morris Jarrett and 3rd Flight Alice Smith. Pictured here are Steve WenPetren, PGA and Club Manager, left, and Morris Jarrett. (George Hidy)
Heritage scored in the first 35 seconds of the game after a throw in. Andy Salzar (#5, SR) scored on the rebound off of a defender. (Katheleen Finnegan)
#15 Eric Mallon, SR, of Heritage High School, competes in a game against Clarke County. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Adrian Valencia, number 9, competes in a game against Clarke County. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Students from Heritage High School compete against a team from Clarke County. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage scored in the first 35 seconds of the game after a throw in. Andy Salzar (#5, SR) scored on the rebound off of a defender. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage teammates Adrian Valencia, Jamie Bruchman, Dane Bruchman and Eric Dentler follow Max Brien out to midfield after his goal in the Pride's 3-0 victory against Dulles District rival Broad Run. (Photo Courtesy of Kathleen Finnegan)
Broad Run is unable to keep Heritage's Jonathan Castillo out of the goal a second time. (Photo Courtesy of Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage goalkeeper Jake Flanagan punches out another scoring attempt by Broad Run past senior John Milloy (2) and Eric Dentler (20). (Photo Coutesy of Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage senior Josh Thiel chips the ball forward to junior Ryan Finnegan who heads it into the back of the net for the Pride's only goal in a 1-0 win over Potomac Falls on Friday, March 20th. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage celebrates junior Ryan Finnegan's goal in the Pride's 1-0 victory over Dulles District rivals Potomac Falls on Friday, March 20th. (Kathleen Finnegan)
Heritage goalkeeper Jake Flanagan made 13 saves and was supported by defenders Eric Dentler (20) and Ryan Traster (21) as the Pride edged Potomac Falls 1-0 on Friday, March 20. (Kathleen Finnegan)
The Loudoun Triple Threat girls’ team won the U10 AAU Division II State Championship April 17-19 in Roanoke after defeating teams from Roanoke, Virginia Beach and Dayton. Pictured are: (front row, left to right) Lauryn Mitchell, Allison Sarver, Madison Szoka, Kiera Wideman, Jackie Rexrode, (back row, left to right) Symone McCoy, Katie Van Nuys, Alyssa Paige, Taylor Green and Victoria Hinchberger. Coaches are Dave Sarver, Carl Mitchell and Rob Green. (Jane Sarver)
Lee went into both races knowing that Blacksburg's distance stars - who accounted for most of the Bruins' 52 points in their girls' team event victory - would sit back early in the race and try to kick late. In the 1,600 meters, she stayed with Blacksburg twins Joanna and Kathleen Stevens, but she finished in 5:06.94, just more than 1.5 seconds behind Joanna's winning time.
In the 800, however, Lee had more of a burst left in the last 150 meters and blew away Hidden Valley's Annie LeHardy and Blacksburg's Sarah Dorrell in the final stretch.
"I was just trying to see who was going to take it out and stay on their shoulder," Lee said. "I guess that the speed work we've been doing really helped in the last 150."
Lee was one of several athletes to capture gold medals over the weekend. Briar Woods's Omar Omokodian, who didn't even qualify for the Dulles District meet last year, won the discus with a throw of 167 feet.
"It's pretty awesome considering the hard work I've put into it," Omokodian said.
Heritage placed first in the boys' 4x100-meter relay and the girls' 4x400 relay. In the 4x100, the team of Roger Smith, Brian Dove, T.J. McPhaul and Ross Madison finished in 42.64. In the 4x400, Emma McLaughlin, Amy Taylor, Shaquera Leach and Hannah McLaughlin finished in 4:00.10.
On Friday, Brenstville senior Danyelle Kent Robinson won the girls' high jump at 5 feet 4, and James Monroe's Jake Kroko won the shot put in 55 feet 2 inches.
Tagged: Briar Woods High School, Heritage High School, high school sports, Potomac Falls High School, track and field
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Your Thoughts...
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Comments:
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Congratulations, Christina. A deserving champion.
Congratulations to all for a great year of track and cross country in Dulles District and Loudoun County. There were many great efforts by some extraordinary young men and women this year. Here's wishing them all continued success in college and beyond.
Can't wait 'til next year as the future looks even brighter:
Christina, Julie Strange, and many other magnificent girls returning.
Is this the year someone dethrones Potomac Falls boys in cross country? Dominion? Someone else?
How far will Omar throw next year?
Will Heritage shake up the Cedar Run district?
Get your tickets now!
Posted by Jogger (anonymous) on June 1, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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