Albemarle Boys DMR wins National Title

It appears some members of the Albemarle boys track team picked up right where it left off.
After helping AHS bring home the school’s first Group AAA Indoor state championship (since 1975) two weeks ago, the quartet, running as the Albemarle 5 Guys, came from behind to outkick what was arguably the deepest DMR field in history to win a gold medal at the National Indoor Championships in Boston on Saturday evening.
The foursome of Zach Vrhovac (3:07 -1,200), Garrett Bradley (50.0 seconds in the 400), Luke Noble (1:54.7 in the 800 and Anthony Kostelac (4:09 in the 1,600) surged past the best teams in the nation as they clocked a meet record time of 10:02.1, which vaulted them to No. 2 on the all time U.S. list.
“I’m so proud of these guys”, said coach Buz Male, who, in addition to a State title, guided Albemarle to a runner-up spot at the state cross country championships this past fall. “They seem to thrive on the pressure and the more intense the competition the faster they run.“
Male got his wish (and more) for tough competition as each of the top eight teams in Saturday’s race ran faster than last year’s winning time.
The “Crozet Crew” (Western Albemarle students Satterwhite, Howard-Smith, Sitler and Stutzman), who posted that national championship winning time last year, ran an amazing 10 seconds faster on Saturday evening and yet the defending champions finished fourth among the impressive and historic field.
Vrhovac led off, running his first ever 1,200, and he battled his way through heavy traffic and handed the baton to Bradley with Albemarle in the lead.
Bradley then rocketed to a personal-best in the 400, passing off to Noble just a step out of first. Noble dropped two seconds off his 800 personal-best and gave the baton to the nation’s fastest junior with Albemarle’s group tied for second place.
Kostelac, who after grabbing the baton quickly found himself in third, waited patiently before making his move. With just a little over 600 meters to go he unleashed a fierce kick as he passed the two front running teams from New Jersey.
The tall and lean Kostelac never looked back, recording the fastest mile time run by a junior in the nation this year.
“Anthony ran a really smart leg,” Male added. “He tucked in and with three laps to go he passed the leaders from Morris Hills. He was so calm and cool as he finished out his mile PR with an unbelievable 28.2 second last lap (200 meters). With this win the guys are now ready and hungry to break the national record (for the 4x800 relay).”
Albemarle teammate and junior sensation Jordan Hill finished sixth out of 60 competitors in the 200 meter trials on Saturday evening as he easily qualified for today’s finals with an impressive 22.16. Hill will also compete in the long jump.
Fellow Patriots Liz Barclay (1600) and Rachel Hopkins (500) also compete today. The Crozet Crew’s (Western Albemarle) Tyler Stutzman (1,600) and Kyle Satterwhite (3,200) run today as well.