News at St. Catherine's

Times-Dispatch: St. Catherine's claims VISAA state indoor track titles

Saints won a fouth consecutive state indoor track ad field title over the weekend.
     From morning to the afternoon, these track athletes were dedicated to finishing strong. With a packed room, parents and fans cheering their team on and players beating their personal bests, only one team on both sides of the meet could come out on top.
     One team added another title to a dynastic run, while another defeated the winners of last year’s state meet.
     St. Catherine’s and Collegiate claimed the girls and boys team titles at the VISAA state indoor track and field championships at the St. Christopher’s fieldhouse Saturday. St. Catherine’s dominated the competition with 162.5 points, and Collegiate totaled 106 to get past St. Christopher’s by 8.
     It was the fourth indoor title in a row for St. Catherine’s and its ninth in the past 10 years (including a tie from 2012).
     “We had a couple of school records, a couple of meet records, and everybody stepped up and did what they had to do,” said St. Catherine’s coach Sherry Edwards.
     St. Catherine’s path to victory started with a bang, with the Saints winning both the 4x800 relay and the 4x200 relay.
     In between the two relays, senior Jailah Channer took first in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.31. The Saints would later extend that lead with Channer claiming first place in two field events, including the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches) and the long jump (17-10).
     “I was very proud of not only my performance, but the whole team,” said Channer, who was named the girls’ field-event MVP. “I think we have a lot of strength in numbers and versatility, which makes us really unique because we can put anybody in anything and still be able to score points. So I think overall today, it was a really successful day.”
     Along with top finishes from Abby Armstrong, who came in third in the 1,000 and fifth in the 1,600, and Anne Gamble Jennings, who finished in fourth in the 3,200, the team came to reclaim their title over the course of seven hours.
     “It’s hard to pick out one person [that stood out], we scored double points in 14 out of the 15 events, so that means you are getting a lot of effort from different people,” Edwards said.
     Adding to the seniors’ contributions in the meet, was Willa Shannon, who sprinted her way to a first-place finish in the 300 (41.16) and the 55-meter hurdles (8.32). Archer Gurkin added a victory in the 500 (1:19.14).
     On the boys’ side, Collegiate jockeyed for the lead with St. Christopher’s throughout the afternoon, but the Cougars came back to take control and clinch the team title late.
     “Last week, we came in second in the [Prep League],” said Collegiate coach Brent Miller. “We regrouped and came back really focused this week and looked at what we needed to do to come out here and work together as a team in the last meet of the season, and we really put it all together.”
     Miller said that the three captains that competed — Gilbert Deglau was out due to injury — stepped up for the team when they were behind, and the other athletes followed suit.
     Donald Adams placed second in the 300 and first in the long jump. Johnny White contributed by finishing third in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600.
     Liam Bellamy ran three events, placing first in the 500 (1:06.70), second in the 1,600 and third in the 1,000.
     “I don’t think it could have gone better,” said Bellamy, a senior. “I’m so proud of all these guys, it’s the most team-oriented group of guys I have ever seen in any sport I have ever played.”

Girls results
Team scores: 1. St. Catherine’s 162.5; 2. Collegiate 71.5; 3 Norfolk Academy 52; 4. Episcopal 40; 5 St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes 37.5; 6. Paul VI 32; 7. St. Margaret’s 26; 8. Stonebridge 20; 9. Bishop O’Connell 19; 10. Veritas 18
55 dash: Jailah Channer (STC) 7.31; 300: Willa Shannon (STC) 41.16; 500: Archer Gurkin (STC) 1:19.14; 1,000: Reagan Gilman (VER) 3:02.97; 1,600: Hope Frost (SB) 5:05.15; 3,200: Hope Frost (SB) 11.23.12; 55 hurdles: Willa Shannon (STC) 8.32; 4x200 relay: St. Catherine’s 1:46.06; 4x400 relay: St. Catherine’s 4:07.48; 4x800 relay: St. Catherine’s 10:09.92; PV: Ashley D’Ambrosia (COL) 10-6; HJ: Jailah Channer (STC) 5-2; LJ: Jailah Channer (STC) 17-10; TJ: Sydney Beverly (NA) 34-6.25; SP: Mide Enajekpo (STM) 35-5.5


Boys Results
Team scores: 1. Collegiate 106; 2 St. Christopher’s 98; 3. Woodberry Forest 61; 4. Fork Union 58; 5. Virginia Episcopal 40 6. St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes 36.5; 7. Episcopal 36; 8. Saint John Paul the Great 29; 9. Peninsula Catholic 22.5; 10 Benedictine 21
55 dash: Malcolm Johnson Jr. (SSSA) 6.35; 300: Aaron Lindsey (EPI) 35.42; 500: Liam Bellamy (COL) 1:06.70; 1,000: Daniel O’Brien (VES) 2.29.80; 1,600: Daniel O’Brien (VES) 4:19.75; 3,200: Daniel O’Brien (VES) 9:19.88; 55 hurdles: Jayden Smith (STC) 7.60; 4x200 relay: Episcopal 1.31.91; 4x400 relay: Episcopal 3:27.43; 4x800 relay: St. Christopher’s 8:11.41; PV: Drew Philhower (BEN) 14-6; HJ: Alfred Stratford (COL) 6-5; LJ: Donald Adams (COL) 22-5; TJ: Jayden Smith (STC) 43-0; SP: Mathieu Masse-Pelletier (WBF) 57-4.75
Back
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.