There are 33 track and field teams in the Central Region - 34 if you count the unofficial "Team Osipenko."

Former Russian national team pole vaulter Val Osipenko will have particular interest in this weekend's state Group AAA vaulting competition in Newport News.

Of the nine girls qualifying for the states meet (through region placement or by meeting state standards), seven train under Osipenko at XTreme Heights/GymQuest in Glen Allen.

Osipenko's state-qualifying female pupils include Carolina Poma and Stephanie Oleson of Henrico, Hillary Parsons of Douglas Freeman, Sydney Hobart and Lizzie Powell of Patrick Henry and Caitlin Walton of Mills Godwin.

On the boys side, Osipenko coaches state qualifiers Matt Armentrout of Deep Run and Spencer Aldridge and Eric Zwarycz of Godwin.

Armentrout won the region title (14-6) last week and is the defending state outdoor champion.

Another of Osipenko's disciples is Anne Marie Gordon (formerly of Godwin and now at Duke), the 2005 and '07 state champ.

Val Sr. and Nadia Osipenko's children, Val Jr. and Vika, were vaulting champs for Atlee before earning scholarships to the University of Virginia.

If area vaulters aren't in the Osipenko camp, they are apt to be aligned with Kyle Bishop of Mechanicsville.

At his home training facility, Bishop coaches girls region champ Emma Dejarnette of Atlee and with state qualifiers Rachael Hawks and Cameron Overstreet, also of Atlee.

Girls state vaulting is today, the boys tomorrow, at Todd Stadium. - Fred Jeter