Liberty University Hosts Top High School Talent at Virginia Showcase

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

The two-day Virginia Showcase begins Friday at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA with over 3,000 high school athletes competing from around the country, as well as from Jamaica. Dan Roth of the Washington Post has highlighted a few of the marquee matchups.

Lake Braddock VA senior Kate Murphy will be in action both Friday and Saturday. She and her Lake Braddock teammates will compete Friday in the girls distance medley relay. Last year at the Penn Relays, Murphy used a 4:36 anchor leg to bring the baton home in 11:36. All four runners from that relay return this year.

Murphy is also in action Saturday against seniors Rachel McArthur (Patriot VA) and Samantha Watson (Rush-Henrietta NY) in the girls 1,000 meters. Watson currently holds the top time in the country in the 800 (2:06.92) and McArthur leads the nation in the 1,000 (2:49.80).

Tyrese Cooper, the sophomore sprint sensation from American FL has made the trip north to compete in Friday's boys 300 invitational race against Western Branch VA senior Micaiah Harris and Bullis MA junior Eric Allen Jr. Cooper and Allen are doubling back Saturday in the boys 55-meter preliminaries. St. John's College senior Eric Harrison Jr. is the top seed.

Saturday will see a showdown between Western Branch and Jamaican high school St. Jago in the girls 4x200 relay. Western Branch currently holds the US#1 time at 1:37.50.

Brandon McGorty, a senior from Chantilly VA, is set to compete in his first 800 race of the season Saturday. He ran 1:48 outdoors as a junior and currently has the US#1 time in the 1,000 (2:26.87).