FMS Track and Field Takes 2nd in VIC

Report from Coach Greene

For the first time since 1998, the Caisson Track and Field team finished in the top 2 in the VIC. Here’s how it went down:

We were already behind the 8 ball as we gave up critical points to LCA, Blue Ridge, EMHS, and Roanoke Catholic by not competing in the High Jump, 110 High Hurdles, or Pole Vault.

Starting with the Field Events, Nicolas Craan scored our first point of the day with a 6th place finish in the long jump. Craan would add another point for FMS and Brian Reaves would score two as they took 6th and 5th respectively in the Triple Jump.

Reaves would also score the first medal of the day with a 3rd place finish worth 6 points in Shot Put. Novak Porter would also add 2 points with his 5th place finish.

Brandon Olszewski scored a second place medal worth 8 points with his personal record and school record of 128′ 5″ in the Discus Throw. Allan Davis and Porter would also score 3 valuable points in the event finishing 5th and 6th.

On to the track…Bevan MorrisonRodgers turned in another sub-12 second run scoring 2 points for his 5th place effort in the 100m dash.

Zach McIntyre added another point with a 6th place finish in the 200m dash.

Rodney (Deon) Washington continued his stellar season with a 3rd place medal and 6 points in the 400m dash. Jerry Qiao would give us another crucial point with a 6th place finish.

In the 800, two LCA runners jumped out to a big lead on the first lap but Blake Daugherty gave everything he had, literally sprinting the final 400m to take first place. Once Chance Berry saw Daugherty catch the two LCA runners, he knew he had a shot at a medal as well. Berry sprinted the last 300 meters to take third. If he had 20 more meters it would have been second. 16 more points for the good guys

Colin Turnnidge ran away with the 1600m run winning by 10 seconds. Daugherty would also finish 6th. 11 more points. Turnnidge would also dominate the 3200m run, lapping up to 5th place. Berry would finish 3rd. 16 more points.

Everyone knows that “Biggie” is an ironic nickname for Morrison-Rodgers but he has been our best hurdler all year. However, he was seeded last in the 300m hurdles. There were only four athletes in the event, 2 from LCA, and one each for FMS and EMHS. The top seed from LCA was disqualified for a false start. Biggie ran a great race but was third coming down the home stretch. The runner from LCA was way out front but Biggie was tracking down the EMHS athlete. Then it happened, the EMHS hurdler tripped on the next to last hurdle and Biggie scored a second place medal and 8 points for FMS.

Biggie would also start the 4x100m relay with Washington, Kang, and Olszewski. It was our best 4×100 all year and Olszewski made up a lot of distance on the LCA anchor but we still finished 2nd, 2 seconds back of LCA. BUT, an illegal handoff in the second zone disqualified LCA and Fishburne took over first place. 10 more points.

The 4×400 team of Brandon Campbell, Washington, Olszewski, and Kang would finish second to EMHS. Add 8 points.

Turnnidge, Daugherty, Berry, and Campbell dominated the 4x800m setting a school record and winning by 41 seconds. That’s 10 more points.

The final tally would be:

LCA 214
FMS 114
EMHS 65
Blue Ridge 42
Roanoke Catholic 23

We accomplished our goal of top two, and pushed LCA in every event we faced them. Their sheer numbers beat us. We gave a better effort and matched their talent. It was a great day that all the Fishburne family can be proud of.