Cosby Boys Get Their First; Manchester Girls Repeat

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond
scontomanolis@digitalsports.com

The Cosby boys and the Manchester girls ran away from the competition at the Dominion District track and field championships.

Pun intended.

The Titans claimed their first ever title with a score of 155.50 while the Lancers had 195 to win their second straight and 12th in 16 seasons on Wednesday at Midlothian High School.

The Manchester boys, who led after the first day of field events, came in second at 95.50 and Midlothian was third with a 92.

"We came in a little bit down today because we're not as strong in our field events," Cosby's Mitchell Shifflett said. "But our sprints and distance have come through so far and hopefully we can hold on to it at the end."

The second-year program did more than just hold on and Shifflett, a sophomore who also plays baseball, had a lot to do with that.

He was named runner of the year after taking the 100- (11.19) and 200-meter dashes (22.52), and was the anchor on the Titans' winning 4x100 relay team. Anthony Carlie, Andre Redd and Joseph Thomas were the other three members of the team which ran a 42.86.

In the 200 Cosby placed one through five with Shifflett followed by Redd, Thomas, Carlie and Christopher Broadnax.

Monacan's Will Simmons garnered field events athlete of the year. He finished second in the long jump, third in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump.

Titans coach Bryan Still was honored with boys coach of the year.

On the girls side, Midlothian was second with 132 points and Cosby was a distant third with 65.

Manchester was led by Desiree Russell (runner of the year). The sophomore won the 100 (12.48), the 200 (25.75) and along with Stephanie Brown, Candice Hairston and Erica Caldwell claimed the 4x100 (50.12).

Midlothian's Paige Johnston set a district meet record in the 800 with a time of 2:16.60, besting the previous record of 2:18.62.

"I'm really excited about the record but I'm more excited that I finally feel like I'm back to racing where I want to be now." Johnston said. "I have been going through a lot with a lung condition."

L.C. Bird's Andrea Powell took the long jump (16-6) and high jump (5-4) and was second in the triple jump (35-00.75) to pick up field events athlete of the year.

Lancers coach Gene Bowen was named girls coach of the year for the tenth time.