Tigers may have to share Group AA track title
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By Robert Daski
Published: June 2, 2008
Now it may have to share its title with Park View of Sterling.
Due to a scoring error, the Tigers may be forfeiting three points from their team total, which would drop them into a tie with Park View.
The original team scoring showed Brentsville edging Park View 45-42.
The issue in question is the results of the 800-meter run. Brentsville’s Sarah Earman was credited with finishing sixth in the event but, because of the possibility of incorrectly recorded times, may have actually finished out of the top eight.
Instead, Park View could be awarded three points for finishing sixth in the 800, an outcome the Virginia High School League is exploring. It is believed that Park View’s Megan Barnes, who was originally awarded 11th on Saturday, could earn the sixth-place finish.
The top eight finishers in each event are awarded points with 10 being given for first place and one for eighth place.
As of Monday afternoon, a decision had not officially been reached according to a VHSL spokesperson. VHSL co-director of athletics Tom Dolan did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Darrell Earman, who served as Brentsville’s indoor track coach and is Sarah’s father, noticed the results on the running Web site, milestat.com, Sunday morning. He notified the meet director and informed him that he believes what was posted is incorrect.
“I found it and it had Sarah finishing sixth. Sarah’s not sixth,” said Darrell Earman, who indicated that he spoke to someone from Park View to be sure members of that school were aware of the situation.
As of Monday evening, neither of Brentsville’s outdoor track coaches, Mel Cheshire or Jacob Pilipski, had been notified by a VHSL representative as to what the ruling may be.
A phone message left for Brentsville athletic director Jane Earman, Sarah’s mother, was not returned.
Cheshire feels the times recorded in the girls’ 800 were slower than usual, adding that some heat results may have been recorded incorrectly.
“Some finished times instead of being 2:25 were recorded as 3:25,” said Cheshire, who admits that he has not seen any information that VHSL officials are using to provide a fair ruling or any information that would have led meet officials to score the results the way they did on Saturday.
Cheshire, who said he was not present for the girls’ 800, added that could mean Earman’s “place in the 800 would have been at the bottom” of the overall results.
Sarah Earman’s 800 time is currently listed at 2:21.89. She entered the Group AA meet having finished fourth in the 800 at the Region II meet with a time of 2:24.64. She finished second in the event at the Northwestern District meet at 2:22.13.
“There’s still some question in terms of who ran what time [at the state meet],” Cheshire said.
Cheshire is unsure how the members of Brentsville’s girls’ track team would react if they are declared co-champions instead of overall champions.
“They performed well,” Cheshire said. “They had a good meet. They were pleased with the efforts and the results they had. Whatever the officials decide, that’s their job. We’re not going to question or complain. What they determine is fair.”
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