In Fairfax, a Sport Fights to Survive

When Friends of Indoor Track was started in 1995, its main objective was to bring an indoor track facility to Fairfax County. Now, the organization is fighting just to keep the sport alive in the area.

To cope with a $170 million shortfall in its 2010 budget, Fairfax County Public Schools has put indoor track on the chopping block and will decide its fate next month. According to data provided by FIT, 2,735 students participated in indoor track last school year, more than any other winter sport.

At yesterday's Friends of Indoor Track Invitational at Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, about 1,300 supporters signed a petition to be forwarded to members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Nearly all of them stood in line to have Nikeya Green, Tiombé Hurd and Alan Webb -- graduates of Fairfax schools who now compete professionally -- sign red T-shirts that read "Save Indoor Track" across the front.

Green built a stellar indoor track career at Hayfield before becoming a six-time all-American at Wake Forest. In 2007, she became the national 800 meters champion indoors.

"Indoor track opened up the possibilities," Green said. "Who knows, if I had four full seasons taken away, if I would've had the same opportunities in my development."

Dan Woolley, president of FIT, said members of the county's board of supervisors and board of education were invited to yesterday's meet; none attended. While standing near the finish line, Woolley gestured toward the crowded stands and the hundreds of athletes that darted around the facility.

"For about $50 [per athlete]," Woolley said, "look what we can provide for these kids" for the entire season.

Degfae Enjoys Attention

Leoule Degfae has felt like a rock star since earning all-American honors at the national cross-country championships earlier this month. The public address announcer singled him out at a meet last week. At yesterday's meet, a young runner approached him and told the Edison senior All-Met he enjoyed watching him race.

"I just remember when I was a freshman and all those [older] guys were running beast times," Degfae said. "I never thought I'd be this good."

Degfae was that good yesterday, winning two races with record times at the FIT meet. He led the 1,600 meters from start to finish before breezing to the line in 4 minutes 18.54 seconds. He was as dominant about two hours later, taking charge early in the 1,000 and winning the race in 2:32.93.

Elsewhere, Herndon senior Hiruni Wijayaratne was also a double winner. She cruised to victory in the 3,200 in 11:18.27, a meet record, after surviving a scare from W.T. Woodson's Erica Howes in the 1,600.

Oxon Hill senior Cearha Miller set a meet record in the 300 (40.21 seconds) before helping her 4x400 relay team to victory.

Bishop McNamara's Saniel Atkinson won the triple and high jumps. In between, she finished third in the hurdles.

Eleanor Roosevelt sophomore Amirah Johnson set a meet record in the 1,000, crossing the line in 2:58.35, nearly six seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.