Zach Vrhovac’s victory in the 800-meter run paced the Albemarle boys track team to a fourth-place finish at the Group AAA meet.

“I feel like I’ve had some talented kids,” said Albemarle track and field coach Lance Weisend. “But to have these four, it’s just amazing.“

The four runners didn’t just break the previous record of 7:42.22, they shattered it by nearly six seconds with their time of 7:36.99.

It appears some members of the Albemarle boys track team picked up right where it left off.

After winning the Northwest Region championship by nearly tripling their next closest opponent’s point total (Mountain View), the Patriots are looking to bring home a state title.

The Albemarle boys 4x800-meter relay team added another victory to its triumphant season on Friday night at the 102nd Millrose Games.

The Albemarle boys 4x800-meter relay squad, which recorded the season’s fastest time in the United States on Saturday at the Virginia Tech Invitational, will be joined by Western Albemarle miler Tyler Stutzman at the event.

The Patriots made the most of the home field advantage as both teams finishing second and qualified for the VHSL state championship.

For years, cross country fans have yearned for a “State Open Championship”, where Group A, AA, AAA and private schools come together in the same race to decide who truly is the best in Virginia. Anyone who was lucky enough to be out at Panorama Farms for the Albemarle Invitational on Saturday afternoon witnessed the next best thing.

This weekend, Male and Weisend took those who worked out in the summer to the Outer Banks Invitational. Both teams rewarded their coaches with first-place finishes, breaking a couple of records in the process.

What the azalea-lined fairways of Augusta National are to golf and the steeples of Churchill Downs are to horse racing, the brick bleachers of Franklin Field at Philadelphia’s Penn Relays are to track and field.