VIRGINIA BEACH — It was a great weekend for Hampton Roads athletes at the VA Showcase meet at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

Grassfield senior sprinter Sophie Rambo got the weekend started Friday night when she set a national high school record in the 500 meters in 1 minute, 10.07 seconds. Her time beat the record held by Olympic champion Athing Mu, who ran 1:10.22 to set the mark at the 2020 VA Showcase. Rambo’s time also makes her the 26th-fastest American of all time.

But that wasn’t all.

Hickory’s 4×800 relay of Zach Schubert, Tristan Fancher, Daniel Mudd and Tyler Trago finished runner-up as the Hawks dropped nearly 10 seconds off their previous best time of 7:58.94.

They ran 7:49.61, just coming short of beating Florida’s IMG Academy, which ran 7:49.41.

“I told them we needed to have a better time going into Millrose,” Hickory coach Jud Sarver said, referring to the prestigious Millrose Games that will be held Feb. 1 in New York City. “But when I saw that IMG was here, I knew it was on. I knew it was going to be big.”

Sarver had to switch his lineup, however, because Schubert, the team’s normal anchor leg, had a slight hip injury.

The same foursome also didn’t run particularly well in the distance medley relay Friday night.

“I think it fired them up,” said Sarver, who was hoping they could run in the low 7:50s. “And it was the right move switching those guys up.”

Schubert trailed the leaders but moved up to the front on the final lap. Fancher kept the Hawks near the front, and Mudd put them in the lead. That left it up to Trago, who tried his hardest to hold the lead, but IMG edged the Hawks at the line

“I knew that as long as Tyler was there coming off the turn, that we had a chance. He’s a fighter,” Sarver said. “But I am really proud of these guys. I told them we gotta go 7:40 indoors just to get a look at Penn Relays (prestigious outdoor track meet). And now we got it.”

Hickory 4×800 relay team of Zach Schubert, Tristan Fancher, Daniel Mudd and Tyler Trago run 7:49.61 – 10 seconds fast than previous best – to finish runner-up to IMG at the VA Showcase meet. The Hawks have the fastest time in the nation by a public school team this season. pic.twitter.com/1hIFTDUMl8

— Larry Rubama (@LHRubama) January 17, 2026

Quincy Wilson, who attended Great Bridge Middle before transferring to track powerhouse Bullis School in Maryland, ran the second-fastest high school time in the 500 when he won in 1:00.56. His time was second behind Bayside’s Andrew Salvodon, who ran 1:00.49 last year to beat Wilson and set the national record. Wilson, who will run for Maryland in the fall, also helped Bullis set a national record in the mixed 4×400 relay.

Nansemond River senior Michailyn Rose won the Invitational girls triple jump with a leap of 42 feet, 8¼ inches, which is the best performance in the state this season. Rose — along with teammates Simone Ellis, Jasmine Gaines and Audrina Chew — won the girls shuttle hurdles in 33.18, the fastest time in the state this season. And she finished fourth, behind Rambo, in the Invitational 500 meters.

Deep Creek junior Destini Gatling finished third in the Invitational girls high jump by clearing 5-4.

Nansemond River finished fifth in the Invitational boys 4×400. The team of Aaron Williams Jr., Jeremiah Jones, Timothy McFarland and John Cody ran 3:20.79, the best time this season in Class 5.

There were many other outstanding performers:

• Smithfield sophomore Caleb Greer ran 4:20.00 to finish fourth in the boys 1,600 meters.

• Granby’s Devin Forbes Jr., Brandon Layne, Johnny Chatmon and Brenton Buie ran 31.41 to win the boys shuttle hurdles.

• Maury junior Chaundra Cooper won the girls triple jump (38-4½).

• Kellam junior Avery Handlon won the girls pole vault (11-6). Lafayette junior Ruth Moore was second and Grassfield’s Catherine Schwind was third, both clearing 9-6.

• Norfolk Academy’s Taylor Kulow was second in the girls high jump, and Churchland’s Ma’Riyah Williams was third.

• Landstown’s Kyle Matthews won the boys triple jump (47-7).

• Churchland’s Airris Vann won the girls shot put (35-8½).

Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com

https://www.pilotonline.com/2026/01/17/hampton-roads-athletes-do-well-at-va-showcase-track-meet/