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.

From staff reports

A Roundup of Local Prep Signings

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.

Over the next two weeks, Albemarle’s father-son tandem that has been a fixture on the sidelines — since Zach joined his dad when he became the Patriots’ ball boy as a fourth-grader — will play out their final two games together. It’ll start with the pair’s final home game Friday night against Stafford, their 29th together of what will soon be an even 30 contests.

Much has been made of Albemarle’s offense and its big play ability, but four games into the season, the Patriot defense has done its share of the heavy lifting as well.

Albemarle used a well-rounded team performance and excelled in all three phases of the game in a win over a battered and outmanned Charlottesville team Friday night.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. county rivals Albemarle (0-1) and Western Albemarle (1-2) will get a chance to test out all their new elements against an old rival as the two meet at Western.

Yet with the exception of two stoppages in play to tend to cramping sessions in each of his legs, the two-way standout from Albemarle that is listed favorably at 155 pounds had done his part.

When Albemarle quarterback Jeremy Robinson went down with a wrist injury against Brooke Point in 2007, the Patriots’ opponents got something of a break.