While prelims of the girls meet ran Thursday, the boys of Virginia’s 6A North Region competed in prelims Friday, setting up for a co-ed finals session Saturday.
While there were no individuals knocking on the door of national records like Janet Hu was on Thursday, the boys meet did put together some impressive team battles and left a number of athletes just tenths away from the former region records with finals still to come.
(With reclassification of Virginia high schools this season, the old region records no longer apply, meaning the new set of records will all be set by Saturday’s winners. The records listed appear to be former AAA Northern Region records – we’ve updated the story to reflect this, but kept the records listed for reference.)
Robinson Secondary set itself up well, grabbing the top seed in both freestyle relays and getting within a second of former region records in both. The 200 free relay team of Matt Jones, Luke Jones, James Murphy and James Jones went 1:25.13, only six one hundredths off the old region record of 1:25.07. Matt Jones, James Jones, and Murphy reconvened for the 400 free relay, adding Matthew Honnold to go 3:07.65, just four tenths off the old region record. Both relays should have room to go faster tomorrow to go after those records.
James Jones and Murphy were just off individual record times of their own. Jones holds the top seeds in the 50 free (20.75) and 100 free (47.52), sitting just a tenth off the former record in the 50. Murphy sits atop the 200 (1:41.65) and 500 frees (4:34.61). Both were well off his lifetime bests – if he was saving up for finals, he should be able to put up marks under the old records in both races on Saturday.
One swimmer actually got under a former record: Oakton’s John Shebat in the 100 back. His 48.92 would have knocked off the old mark of 49.31. Shebat also led off Oakton’s 200 medley relay, which holds the top seed, and he qualified first in the 200 IM with a 1:51.72.
Full results for the meet can be found on Meet Mobile under the heading “6A North Region Swim and Dive Championship.” Combined boys and girls finals will begin at 5:30 Eastern Time on Saturday night.
Jared,
All the VHSL classifications have changed and this is the first year that post-season events are being swum. All the old records are obsolete – the VA AAA Northern Region no longer exists. It is 6A North, and tonight all the winners will be new record setters.
Story is updated to reflect this. Thanks for the tip!