It’s a challenge to single out who are, or could become, the top high-school indoor track-and-field athletes across Northern Virginia participating in the current winter season — because there are so many.
The 2025-26 campaign is ongoing and continues through early March.
From Arlington, at least a handful of individuals head the list of potential top performers, with others working to reach that same standard.
Two to watch are sophomore distance runner Molly Hardwick from the Yorktown Patriots and senior speedy sprinter Cameron Bowser of the Bishop O’Connell Knights. Both already have won races in early-season indoor meets this winter.
Hardwick won multiple girls cross country races during the fall season, with a highlight of finishing second in the state meet.
“Molly makes running fun and is so good so fast,” Yorktown coach Emily Stewart said.
During last spring’s outdoor track-and-field boys season, Bowser won a 400-meter race in a school-record time of 47.64, and ran the 200 in a swift 22.34. In addition, he was a conference champion in the 400 and placed second in the 200.
Bowser runs all sprints races, including relays. He will run in college for the University of Virginia’s men’s team.
“Cam already is so fast and has so much more potential to improve,” O’Connell coach Jim Connor said.
Also for O’Connell boys are the distance running Brefczynski brothers, Jayse a junior and Landon a freshman. They helped O’Connell win a state team cross-country title during the fall.
A top performance for the Washington-Liberty Generals girls team is versatile senior Gabriala Netwall. Including jumps and various races, Netwall participates in multiple events in each meet, sometimes as many as five or six. She won a 500-meter race, the high jump and ran on a winning relay in one meet already during this indoor season.
Addison Schimmell (pole vault), Maddie Bryes (1,600 meters), Alda Edsall (1,000 meters) and Hannah Bellerose (3,200 meters) are other top athletes for the Washington-Liberty girls.
For the W-L boys team, watch Ben Tahu, a top high jumper and hurdler.
For the Wakefield boys, Chris Gilpin is someone to watch because, like Netwall, he is versatile in various events. Wakefield’s Devin Carlson is a pole vaulter with big potential.
From Fairfax County schools, there are a number of top girls distance runners to watch, led by Oakton High School senior Caroline Sapperstein. She won district, region and state cross-country championships during the spring.
Others are McLean High’s Jaidyn Buday; Robinson’s Karina Bird, Claire Andersen and Alexandra Bird; West Springfield’s Allie Horner; and Marie Campbell and Caroline Elliott of South Lakes. Elliott is a defending state champion during the outdoor season in the 800 and 1,000 races.
For the private-school Potomac School Panthers girls team, keep an eye out for distance runners McKinley Busen and Sabine Barbee.
Keep an eye on Marshall High hurdler Isabella Gervase.
Two top girls sprinters are Tristin Payne and Julia Wallace, both from South County High School.
Apria Smith of Chantilly High is the defending outdoor girls state champ in the triple jump, as is her teammate Jacqueline Bullock in the girls pole vault.
On the boys side from Fairfax County teams, Chantilly’s Chris Hwang is the defending state outdoor champion in the shot put and discus, with Madison High’s Caden Green and Woodson’s Barrett Pullen top contenders in both events. Caron Cockerham of Falls Church is a top triple jumper.
Among top distance runners are Centreville’s Danny McGlynn, Thomas Jefferson’s Will Fadden, West Potomac’s Robert Leonard, Westfield’s Riyad Belayachi, Woodson’s Isaac Schools, Robinson’s Zach Paredes and West Springfield’s Gavin Smith.
South County’s Christian Turner is a fast sprinter, as are Alex Guthrie of South Lakes and Nicholas Bailey of West Springfield.
West Potomac’s Max Tuttle, Annandale’s Jeremiah Nelson, Wakefield’s Tavon Buckner and South Lakes’ Black Jackson are top jumpers. For the Potomac School boys, watch distance runners Luke Carter, Eli Levine and Trip Moser. From Alexandria’s Bishop Ireton High School, Jason Day can be strong in long races.
Two top girls sprinters are Tristin Payne and Julia Wallace, both from South County High School.
