03/12/2024
VA House of Speed Makes a Wondrous Winter Roar at AAU Indoor Nationals!
The VA House of Speed athletes left a trail of fire at the 2024 AAU Indoor National Championships, and we're bursting with pride!
24 Athletes competed and we came away with 5 National Champions and 13 All-Americans. Over half of our athletes earned 27 medals over the weekend. I was hoping for one National Champion, and we got 5!!
That a wrap for VA House of Speed at the 2024 AAU National Indoor Track and Field Championships. We are bursting with pride over how well our team came together and competed against over 3000 athletes! We had amazing PRs by so many athletes throughout the 3 days of the Championships and wonderful team spirit.
Congratulations to the entire team for your accomplishments and our wonderful coaching staff (Coach Damon, Caren, Julius, Omar and Heather). And thank you to our wonderful parents for all you do to support the team. We are so appreciative!
A huge congratulations to our AAU National Champions and All-American honorees and competitors:
· Indiana Owings (15-16U): An individual National Champion in the 3000m and triple All-American with 2nd place in the 4x800m relay, and a dominant 4th place finish in the 1500m!
· Caleb James (14): A triple threat, earning All-American status as a National Champion in the 4x800m relay, in the 3000m (3rd), and in the 1500m (5th)!
· Marek Manka (15-16U): Another triple threat, earning All-American status in the 800m (5th place), anchoring the amazing 4x400m relay team (3rd place), and on the thrilling 4x800m team (2nd place).
· Zachary Paredes (15-16U): A triple All-American with a 4th place finish in the 800m, 3rd in the thrilling 4 x 400 and anchoring the spectacular 4x800m relay team (2nd)!
· Dillon House (15-16U): Our final All-American triple threat soared to a 6th place finish in the Long Jump, in the Triple Jump (7th), and a blistering PR as the 1st leg on the 4x400m team (3rd place).
· Jonas Yiengst (15-16U): Double All-American with 2nd place in the 4x800m relay, and 7th place in the 1500m!
· Thomas Kim (13): Double All-American as a National Champion in the 4x800m relay, 4th place in the 3000m, and 11th place in the 800m!
· Aydin Barikbin (13U): Double All-American as a National Champion in the 4x800m relay, 5th in the 3000m, and 12th place in the 1500m!
· Mason Yiengst (14U): Double All-American as a National Champion in the 4x800m relay, 8th place in the 800m, and 12th in the 1500m!
· Andras Jacobson (11U): Double All-American with 3rd place in the 3000m, 7th place in the 1500m, and 16th in the 800m!
· Isaac Wheatley (14U) – All-American with 3rd place in the 4x400.
· Leila Barikbin (9U): All-American with 5th place in the 1500m, and narrowly missing All-American with 9th place in the 800m!
· Tyler House (10U): All-American with 6th place finisher in the Shot Put!
Beyond the All-Americans, there were fantastic performances across all age groups:
· We saw blazing runs from Jermon (Jay) Bafaty, Marcellis (Marcy) Gomez, Isaac Wheatley, and Issa Owens in the 60m, with Maeva-Lyonna Bock showing her speed in the girls' 60m and 200m. The young guns, Matthew Hergenroeder and Jaysen Pickett, impressed in the 60m and 200m for their age groups. Evan Daffan truly excelled with an iron man showing in the 60m and later in the 3000m which Hunter Combs came in to support our 4x200 relay.
· Carter Haransky, Isaac Wheatley, Jaylen Pickett, and Jaysen Picket battled it out in the 200 and 400m with Jaysen, Carter and Isaac all achieving personal records. Paulina Darmenova displayed her incredible grit and talent in both the 400m and 800m and Aya Noori also represented the team in the 200m and 400m for the girls.
· Audrey Yiengst and Olivia Thompson were distance machines with impressive runs in the 1500, and 3000 respectively.
· Matthew Hergenroeder, Tyler House. Jaylen & Jaysen Pickett displayed their jumping talent in the long jump along with Dillon House. Tyler and Jaysen also displayed their throwing prowess (Shot Put) while Jaylen competed in the High Jump.
· Our relay teams were incredible - earning 1st, 2nd and 3rd! National Champions in the (14U) 4x800m, 2nd place in the 4x800m (15–16-Year-Old), 3rd Place in the 4x400m (15–16-Year-Old) and 12th place by our 4x200m (12 year-old) - each demonstrating incredible teamwork and ex*****on.
A special shoutout to Zachary Petersen who despite being hurt, still came to the meet to support our team. We know you'll be back even stronger next year!
This was a phenomenal performance by the entire VA House of Speed team. We are so proud of your dedication, hard work, and sportsmanship. Let's keep this momentum rolling!
You can click on the VA House of Speed link on Athletic Net to see the complete results from the weekend. Thank you to all the athletes and especially the parents who helped to make this possible.
House of... SPEED!!!