"We'll Find a Way"

They missed prime training time as their championship competitions approached, and once they returned to school, their outside opportunities were severely limited.

 

They and their coaches had two choices: say “Woe is me” or “We’ll find a way.” Without hesitation, they chose the latter.

 

“In a way, the challenges made us stronger,” said Beth Kondorossy, head girls coach. “There were three inches of ice out on the track, and we made the best of it. No one complained. We have over 100 kids, and we were sharing three lanes of 300 meters because that’s all that was available. The experience bonded the winter track team together. The situation was comical and something you could roll your eyes at and be frustrated, or you could make the best of the situation.”

 

How, though, do you make the best of oppressive elements?

 

“The challenge was being away from each other,” said distance coach Matthew Richardson. “We’re stronger when we see each other every afternoon.

 

That said…

 

“We came up with some creative solutions,” Richardson added. “The distance group ran down the hallways and through the weight room of the athletic center one afternoon. We created a little loop around campus that the kids named the snoval (snow oval). Those are things they’ll remember about being creative, overcoming obstacles, and having fun. Yes, it was a challenge, but a good challenge.”

 

On Feb. 7, the Cougars placed third in the Prep League and second in the League of Independent Schools competitions held at St. Christopher’s.

 

Sophomore Nasir Diggs won the Prep League triple jump (43-6.25) and 300 (school record 35.58), placed third in both the long jump (22-2) and 55 (6.63), and earned the outstanding field event performer citation.

 

James Bonbright placed second in the pole vault (12-6), and Tae’veon Johnson and Kyle Spicer tied for third, and Watson Andrews finished fifth in the high jump, all with marks of 5-6.  Each of the boys relay teams — 4x200 (1:34.03), 4x400 (3:46.60), and 4x800 (8:59.78) — placed third.

 

In the LIS meet, Virginia Harris won the 3200 (11:42.33) after placing second in the 500 (1:20.33), and Rosie Ferrell won the 1000 (3:05.96).

 

Ashley Grace Johnstone (34-0), Kamryn Williams (33-4.5), and Aleigha White-Barfield (28-11.5) placed 2-3-4 in the shot put. Samantha McMullin (5:36.27) and Claire Beville (5:38.34) finished 2-4 in the 1600. Annie Kuhlen finished third in the pole vault (9-6). The girls 4x800 (10:44.86) and 4x400 (4:22.47) placed second and the 4x200 (1:52.81) finished third.

 

Five days later in the VISAA championship meet at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, Collegiate’s girls placed fourth (out of 13 teams) and the boys fifth (out of 15).

 

“The top-five finish for both teams was a testament to how hard everyone worked, especially missing several days of practice and being limited when we were out there.,” said Brent Miller, head boys coach. “The kids never complained. They did what they needed to do to train through the adversity and put together an admirable run at the end of the season.”

 

Once again, Diggs earned the outstanding field event performer award.

 

In addition to placing second in the long jump (21-2.75), fifth in the 300 (35.35), and seventh in the 55 (6.65), he won the triple jump (42-11.75) with his best jump of the day by 18 inches on his final attempt to move from second place to first.

 

“What a gutsy performance,” Miller said.  “In his later jumps (of six attempts), Nasir made some adjustments to pull out the victory.”

 

Andrews (5-10) and Spicer (5-8) placed 2-5 in the high jump and Bonbright (11-0) fourth in the pole vault.

 

In the girls competition, Harris, the LIS and VISAA cross country champion, won the 1600 (5:13.71) and finished fifth in the 500 (1:21.40).

 

Ferrell (3:04.47 in the 1000) and Kuhlen (9-6 in the pole vault) placed second. Johnstone (34-11.5), Williams (31-2.5), and White-Barfield (29-10.25) opened the meet with a 2-5-7 finish in the shot put. Anne Lewis placed fifth in the 3200 in 12:03.97, a personal best by seven seconds.

 

The Cougars went into the 4x400 relay, the meet’s final event, in fifth place, three points behind Trinity Episcopal.

 

Rising to the moment, the team of Chinyere Onwuchekwa to Ferrell to Emily Beggerow to Beville placed fourth in 4:14.53 to surpass the Titans by six places and jump a place in the standings.

 

“The girls were excited and really competed,” said Coach Kondo. “I think they finished better than they thought they would. They wanted to do whatever they could to help the team.”

~Weldon Bradshaw