Ashburn Athletes Russell, Herndon Have Big Weeks

Summer is not typically a big time for high school sports news, but last week two standout area athletes nonetheless grabbed headlines locally and beyond. 

One Thursday, Broad Run's track and field superstar Jonathan Russell competed in the World Youth Championships in Lille, France. Russell, who earlier this year won Virginia AA state titles in both the 200- and 300-meter hurdles, competed in the 400-meter hurdles at the international event. He finished third in his semifinal heat with a time of 52.06. The time was an improvement over the 52.48 he ran at the World Youth Trials to qualify.

However, Russell just missed making the finals in France after his time landed him in ninth place overall; only the top eight runners advanced. Congratulations to Russell on the great season, and good luck in your senior season at Broad Run.

Stone Bridge's soccer scoring machine Ashley Herndon may not have made international headlines last week, but she certainly made a splash on the national soccer scene by verbally committing to play at James Madison University in 2013. Herndon, a rising junior for the Bulldogs, has already scored 54 goals in just two varsity seasons.

Herndon also stars for the nationally ranked VSA Heat Blue travel team. It appears JMU head coach Dave Lombardo will reap additional rewards from Herndon's connections to the Heat Blue, as Herndon's teammate Meghan Cox (Lee High School, Fairfax) also agreed to play for the Dukes in 2013 shortly after Herndon's announcement. Before heading off to Harrisonburg, Herndon has two years left on the pitch at Stone Bridge, as well as time she'll be spending playing for the D.C. United women's team in the United Soccer League's W-League. Congratulations to Ashley and good luck at Stone Bridge and beyond.