WAR shows well at VA Showcase
Published 10:17 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2018
The Warriors track and field team had some notable performances at the VA Showcase track meet.
Nansemond River High School track and field team traveled up to Lynchburg last weekend to participate in the VA Showcase, a big meet that featured some of the top in-state and out-of-state competition. Per usual, the Warriors had some notable performances, one of which came from the boys’ 4×200 team.
They placed the second-fastest time at the meet with a time of 1:27.74. That time was the fastest for the boys in school history and is Virginia’s No. 1 fastest time and also the second-fastest time in the country. The 4×200 was run by Daiqwuan Faircloth, Kevin Johnson, Jevon Waller and Jacob Nixon. Even though the time they ran was impressive, the Warriors were upset that a slight error cost them a first-place finish. However, they were still happy with what they were able to accomplish.
“I feel like we did very well last weekend,” Johnson said. “At the same time though, if you are not first then you are last, so we are now preparing for the next appearance on the track.”
A bad hand-off from the second to the third leg cost the Warriors a first-place finish, but the athletes vowed to work on their error. They are hoping the next time around they can take the top time in the country.
“We went into the race with a positive mindset,” Faircloth said. “We were telling each other we had to show everybody that we are not playing this year. We want the U.S. No. 1 time, so we just did our job on the track. But we are working to improve on our mistakes and hopefully take No. 1.”
Coach Justin Byron was proud of the way his boys’ team ran especially this early in the season. Byron has stated before that he felt this season could be one of the more successful seasons he has had in terms of his boys’ team.
Other notable performances included Kori Carter, who finished second in her heat in the 300-meter dash at 39.09 and placed fourth in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.9. Faircloth had a personal record in 55-meter hurdle with a time of 7.43, and he had a personal record of 7.56 in the prelims before the finals as well. He also ran a time of 35.19 in the 300-meter to qualify for states. Waller placed fifth in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.49.