By Tim Tassa — Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — Millbrook's Schavon Hinds might have been more disappointed than anyone to hear Saturday's cracks of thunder.

Lined up in the third lane of the final section of the 300-meter hurdles, Hinds was supposed to be readying for the pop of the starter's gun.

Instead, lightning and imminent thunderstorms cut the 40th annual Apple Blossom Invitational short, negating the junior's chance to sweep the hurdles events and add to her two previous first-place finishes on the afternoon.

"For Millbrook girls, we're so used to running outside in the rain and different weather that we're just used to it, but I wish we could've gotten it in," Hinds said just after the meet was canceled.

"I was excited for it; I was all pumped up to do it."

Hinds started her day with a top performance in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.1 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than second-place finisher Theresa Trader, of Loudoun Valley.

Hinds also claimed top honors in the high jump with a leap of five feet.

Following the meet she said she was disappointed with her fifth-place showing in the long jump, but contributed to a second-place finish in the girls 4x100 meter relay for the Pioneers.

"Schavon always does so well, and I'm so proud of her because she always does her best, it's great," said Madison Ross, one of Hinds' 4x100 relay partners.

"She did a great job," Pioneers head coach Jennifer Ireland said. "She's been doing really well, and her times keep getting better."

Through 11 girls events, the Pioneers enjoyed a third-place showing with 49 points, finishing behind Loudoun Valley (68 points) and Park View (54). Sherando placed fourth, scoring 31 points, followed by Skyline in fifth with 26. Other area notables were James Wood, which finished in eighth with 14 points, followed by Clarke County (13), Handley (10) and Warren County (6).

"They did really well today," Ireland said of her group. "We set some personal goals before the meet, and they met them and they actually exceeded them, and they did a great job."

"We did great — amazing," Hinds said. "I'm so proud of the team, we did a great job."

After an hour-long rain delay, the decision was made to cancel the meet after frequent lightning and the threat of approaching thunderstorms for the duration of the afternoon.

The girls 800-meter, 200-meter dash finals, 3200-meter run and 1600-meter relay were canceled.

"I'm sure everybody that didn't get to run was really upset," Ross said

Leading the way for the Hawks were Jasmine Burrill, who posted the top mark in the girls long jump (17-2), and Ashley Rassmussen, who placed second in the discus with a throw of 106-6.

Sherando was paced by the performances of Megan Hunt, who finished second in the 400-meter dash, Lauren Carter, who was second to Hinds in the long jump, and Carolyn Thiel, who placed third in the triple jump.

Handley's day was highlighted by a first-place finished in the 3200-meter relay and James Wood received a second-place finish by Rachel Carson in the 1600-meter run.

* Contact Tim Tassa at ttassa@nvdaily.com

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