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Heather Holt repeats as 1600 champion at Virginia 5A/6A indoor championships Heather Holt repeats as 1600 champion at Virginia 5A/6A indoor championships
(about 13 hours later)
When Heather Holt first started running competitively as a freshman on Marshall’s cross-country team, the success that immediately followed wasn’t exactly impossible to predict.When Heather Holt first started running competitively as a freshman on Marshall’s cross-country team, the success that immediately followed wasn’t exactly impossible to predict.
As early as the fifth grade, when a new gym teacher introduced a track and field program as a fun afterschool activity, Holt and her twin sister, Ashley, jumped to the front of the races.As early as the fifth grade, when a new gym teacher introduced a track and field program as a fun afterschool activity, Holt and her twin sister, Ashley, jumped to the front of the races.
After track fell out of the picture and the Holts’ running was limited to pacing up and down the soccer field, coaches took note of how the two sisters were faster than the other players.After track fell out of the picture and the Holts’ running was limited to pacing up and down the soccer field, coaches took note of how the two sisters were faster than the other players.
So when Holt won her first state title in the 5A cross-country championship as a freshman last year, it didn’t take much convincing to leave soccer behind and focus solely on cross-country and track and field.So when Holt won her first state title in the 5A cross-country championship as a freshman last year, it didn’t take much convincing to leave soccer behind and focus solely on cross-country and track and field.
“It’s been really great, actually,” Holt said Sunday, one day after she won her second consecuitve state title in the 1,600 at the Virginia indoor track and field title at Boo Williams Sportsplex. “It was kind of all new to me because I hadn’t run that much before, and then once I started, it kept coming. It’s been really exciting to go through that and keep learning as I go.” “It’s been really great, actually,” Holt said Sunday, one day after she won her second consecuitve state title in the 1,600 meters at the Virginia indoor track and field title at Boo Williams Sportsplex. “It was kind of all new to me because I hadn’t run that much before, and then once I started, it kept coming. It’s been really exciting to go through that and keep learning as I go.”
She outpaced the field and finished in 5 minutes 1.74 seconds to defend her 2015 title and set a new personal record.She outpaced the field and finished in 5 minutes 1.74 seconds to defend her 2015 title and set a new personal record.
Holt, who was All-Met in the fall and has started receiving introductory letters from interested colleges, went on to finish third in the 1,000 in 3:03.04. Ablemarle’s Kathryn Mayo won the event in 3:00.04.Holt, who was All-Met in the fall and has started receiving introductory letters from interested colleges, went on to finish third in the 1,000 in 3:03.04. Ablemarle’s Kathryn Mayo won the event in 3:00.04.
“After each race I’m thinking, I could do this next time and I’m taking that from each race,” said Holt. “And even when I’m thinking I got it, I always learn something new. Also from watching other people race, I feel like I’m still getting it. I’ve got a good handle on it, but I’m ready to learn more.”“After each race I’m thinking, I could do this next time and I’m taking that from each race,” said Holt. “And even when I’m thinking I got it, I always learn something new. Also from watching other people race, I feel like I’m still getting it. I’ve got a good handle on it, but I’m ready to learn more.”
Jefferson junior Saurav Velleleth won the boys’ 5A 3,200 in 9:27.99. Reagan Bustamante of West Springfield won the girls’ 6A 1,000 run, finishing in 2:52.20 ahead of Oakton’s Kira Buttrey (2:58.97) and Herndon’s Olivia Duston (3:00.87). Jefferson junior Saurav Velleleth won the boys’ 5A 3,200 in 9:27.99. Reagan Bustamante of West Springfield won the girls’ 6A 1,000 run, finishing in 2:52.20, ahead of Oakton’s Kira Buttrey (2:58.97) and Herndon’s Olivia Duston (3:00.87).
The Chantilly boys’ 4x400 relay team captured first place in 3:24.38 ahead of T.C. Williams (3:26.38) and South Lakes (3:26.50).The Chantilly boys’ 4x400 relay team captured first place in 3:24.38 ahead of T.C. Williams (3:26.38) and South Lakes (3:26.50).