Wybersky and OP second at Gar-Field Invitational

Ashley Wybersky crossed the finish line with a second-place finish in the girls' 3200 before her body determined that it had suffered enough.

Osbourn Park's standout collapsed and she lay on her back as her mother and team trainer rushed to stretch her out and rid her of any cramps that may have overtaken her body.

"I was talking to [teammate] Ariel [Karabinus] and I told her I wasn't going to have a good race unless I pass out," Wybersky said.

Wybersky stayed down for a few minutes, but she rose from the track knowing she could be satisfied with a performance contributing to her team's second-place showing at Saturday's Gar-Field Invita-tional.

The Yellow Jackets totaled 72 points, one week before they host the Victor Cahoon Classic.

"It gets us ready for that and for districts and regionals," Wybersky said.

Wybersky's finish did not just help her team. Her personal-best 11:25.35 qualified her for the Group AAA state meet.

"I was really excited," she said. "I was hoping to get a regional qualifying time, but I was really excited to get a state qualifying time."

Even as Karabinus did not compete after taking SATs in the morning and Tialei Waikiki was sidelined due to a hip injury, freshman Breanna Walker gave Osbourn Park a boost by winning the 100 (12.69) and 200 (25.87).

Her finishes made her the meet's outstanding female performer and she received a plaque to com-memorate her day. She will take the plaque to her church today to show her pastor before hanging it on her wall.

"I know if I apply myself and listen to my teammates and coaches that I'll be a better person and a faster runner," Walker said.

Walker's teammates fed off her enthusiasm. Kayla Tyrrell won the 400 (59.12) and finished fourth in the 800 (2:23.07). Alexa Gomez gave Osbourn Park a fourth-place finish in the shot put (29-03 ½).

"We all have something in us that drives the other person," Walker said. "We feed off that energy and always have high hopes and great spirits."

Stonewall Jackson senior Damien Thigpen applied his energy toward the 100- and 200-meter dashes. He won both in 10.69 and 21.61, respectively, to be named the meet's outstanding male performer.

But he has little time to celebrate. He will return to practice on Monday to prepare for Friday's South-ern Track Classic in Richmond. One of his 200 opponents will be Nansemond River's James Taylor, who beat Thigpen in the 300-meter dash at the Group AAA indoor state meet on Feb. 28.

"I'm going to be going against some really good talent," Thigpen said. "These races will help me prepare better and knock the kinks out for next week."

Less than a week before the Cedar Run District meet, the Southern Track Classic is a meet in which Thigpen is eagerly anticipating. He wants to again race Taylor, who enters as the event's top seed (21.34). But Thigpen is the second-best qualifier at 21.60.

"I feel if I put it all together, it'll be a very close race and I think I'm going to win," Thigpen said. "But it'll be a challenging race. I have to put everything together."

Woodbridge sophomore Isaiah Simmons was Saturday's only other multiple local winner. He won the shot put (54-00) and discus (146-09).

It was also a fine day for the host school. Bryce Miller won the boys' triple jump (40-10), Lindsi Arring-ton won the girls' 1600 (5:14.02) and Jasmine Orsted took first in the girls' long jump by jumping 16-02 ½. The Indians won the boys' 3,200-meter relay (8:16.48).

Other local winners were Forest Park's Lavaughn Williams in the boys' long jump (21-05 ½) and Woodbridge's Andre Washington in the boys' 300-meter hurdles (39.26).

Stonewall Jackson won the girls' 400-meter relay (50.69).