Yellow Jackets rally to win Cedar Run track meet

It appeared Battlefield’s girls’ track team was on its way to winning its second straight Cedar Run District outdoor title.
The Bobcats won four individual events and a relay in the early portion of the meet.
Then it was time for the 200-meter dash and the 3200-meter run. Two events that featured Breanna Walker and Ariel Karabinus, two of Osbourn Park’s best athletes.
A one-two finish in both events helped the Yellow Jackets overtake Battlefield and reclaim their place atop the Cedar Run.
Osbourn Park totaled 135 points to Battlefield’s 129 to avenge its loss to the Bobcats in last year’s district meet.
“We’re really proud of ourselves,” said Osbourn Park sprinter Kayla Tyrrell, who helped the Yellow Jackets by winning the 400.
Walker and Amanda Nocera gave the Yellow Jackets a boost by placing first (25.64) and second (26.04), respectively in the 200.
Another push for the top spot came from Ariel Karabinus and Ashley Wybersky as they took the top two spots in the 3200 in 11:26.64 and 11:33.34, respectively.
The final strike came from Tyrrell and her teammates in the 1,600-meter relay. The Yellow Jackets took third in that event (4:18.64), one spot above the Bobcats.
When the team results were announced, Osbourn Park gathered for a team picture holding the trophy. The Yellow Jackets never knew their final three events would be so crucial.
“I didn’t look at the results [from the early part of the meet] at all,” Tyrrell said. “Our coaches told us to compete and have fun.”
It was certainly a proud night for Karabinus. Tendonitis in her shin forced her to miss last year’s meet. All she could do was stay informed of her Osbourn Park’s progress was doing thanks to her teammates calling and updating her.
“I’m just happy to be running right now,” Karabinus said. “Last year, I was getting updates and people were saying, ‘This is how we’re doing, blah, blah, blah.’ I felt so horrible for so long.”
On Wednesday, Karabinus delivered another solid postseason performance. She won the 1600 (5:06.64) before returning to the track for the 3200. Her finishes earned her the honor of female athlete of the meet.
Her other teammates played a role in the victory. Walker and Nocera were one-two in the 100 (12.64) and (12.74). They also helped the Yellow Jackets win the 400-meter relay (49.44). Jasmine Majors won the discus (96-04).
“We felt if everyone had a good day, we could accomplish this,” said Karabinus, who continued to bask in glory as she left the infield, giving Wybersky a piggy-back ride back to the team tent.
Battlefield won the boys’ competition with 120 points.
Stonewall Jackson senior Damien Thigpen was named the male athlete of the meet. He won the 100 (10.94), 200 (21.54) and 300-meter hurdles (37.24).