VIRGINIA STATE MEET

Western Branch Boys, James Robinson Girls Win Class 6 Titles; Joshua-Kai Smith Dominates Hurdles Finals

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Western Branch, a national powerhouse during the 2010s, won its first state title in boys track and field since 2019. Bryice Smith led the way with victories in the Class 6 100- and 200-meter dash finals at the Virginia state championships on June 6 at Todd Stadium. 

Smith ran 10.57 to win the 100 and 21.01 to take the 200. James Craig added wins in the shot put (62-11) and discus (185-4). 

Joshua-Kai Smith of Gar-Field was a star individually, winning the Class 6 hurdles titles in 13.44 seconds and 36.58. 

Sophomore Petra Gruendel won the girls 1,600 meters in 4:50.10 and led James Robinson to a close team win over North Stafford. Teammate Olivia Jones won the 400 in 55.42.

Michailyn Rose won the high jump and triple jump (40-6.50) and Nansemond River flexed hurdles and relays power to win the Class 5 girls title. Audrina Chew won the 100 hurdles in 14.28 after going 13.99 in the prelims. 

Joshua Johnson led Freedom (South Riding) to the Class 5 boys team title with his sprint double victories, 10.51 in the 100 and 21.58 in the 200. 

Corye Richardson of Churchland won the Class 4 boys 110 hurdles in 13.81 seconds at Liberty and led his team to the boys title. 

Freshman Imani Moore of Varina won the Class 4 100 meters in 11.67 seconds and the 200 in 23.77w. 

Blacksburg won the girls team title with 88.33 points. Reilly Thomas won the 800 meters in 2:12.50, Kensington Jones won the discus and the 4x400 relay also won. 

Cole Boone of Pulaski County won the Class 3 boys 800 meters final for the third year in a now and the senior went out in style with 1:49.13 in his final state meet. 

Eric Duncan and Ethan Thorne went 1-2 in the boys 3,200 meters and hurdler Triston Graves won the 110 hurdles in 14.07 to lead the Lord Botetourt boys to the team title. 

Sophomore Eliana Bradner was a standout for Heritage of Lynchburg, sweeping the hurdles (14.00/43.32) to lead the Pioneers to the girls team title. 

Floyd County swept the Class 2 team titles at James Madison. 

The boys won the 4x800 relay and had scorers sprinkled throughout the events. The girls team won with Reagan Lynch winning the 400 and 800 meters and anchoring the winning 4x400 relay. 

Kobi Bonds threw 62-1 to win the Class 1 shot put and was part of 1-2-3 finishes in both the shot put and discus for the Auburn boys, who got 48 of its winning total of 60 points out of those two events. 

Nevaeha Hobson and Makiya Hopkins piled up big points for the Cumberland girls, which won the girls team title. Hobson and Hopkins both scored in four events.

Northampton's Rylee Coates won the high jump, long jump and pole vault. She was also third in both hurdles finals. 

Team Champions - 

Class 6 - Western Branch boys 53 points, James Robinson girls 56.5 points - RESULTS

Class 5 - Freedom (South Riding) boys 72 points, Nansemond River girls 100 points - RESULTS

Class 4 - Churchland boys 68 points, Blacksburg girls 88.33 points - RESULTS

Class 3 - Lord Botetourt boys 62 points, Heritage (Lynchburg) girls 106 points - RESULTS

Class 2 - Floyd County boys 68 points, Floyd County girls 65 points - RESULTS

Class 1 - Auburn boys 106 points, Cumberland girls 60 points - RESULTS