Legendary New Kent athletes Pollard, Otey selected for Virginia High School League Hall of Fame

Two former standout athletes of New Kent County High School have been selected as part of the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) Class of 2022.

Mia Pollard and Kiamesha Otey will both be inducted during a ceremony on Sunday, Apr. 24, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Charlottesville.

Pollard was a stand-out athlete in both outdoor track and field and basketball. She was a member of the track and field team won four consecutive district, region, and state outdoor track and field championships from 1983-86, outscoring teams by herself in 1985 and 1986. She accumulated a total of 13 individual state titles, hold school records in the 400-meter dash, high jump, and 800-meter relay. She accumulated 11 individual region titles, six regional relay titles, and accumulated district and region MVP accolades for four consecutive years. As a basketball player, she finished with 632 points, 631 rebounds, and 439 steals, earning all-district honors and being a part of two district championship teams. She continued her track and field career at the University of North Carolina, earning All-American honors in the 800-meter run, and was inducted into the initial class of New Kent High School’s Hall of Fame.

Otey dominated sprint events from 1996-1999 at New Kent High School. When she graduated, she held three state records as a sprinter and long jumper She accumulated 13 individual state titles and one relay title in outdoor track and field, highlighted by four consecutive state titles in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, and three consecutive state titles in the long jump. Adding to that, she won 14 individual regional championships, named district and region MVP for consecutive years, and was ranked 10th in the nation in the long jump in 1998. Otey also participated in basketball, earning all-district honors. She continued her collegiate track and field career at the University of Virginia, where she was a three-time All-American in the 60-meter dash and the long jump. She won the NCAA Indoor Championship in 2003 and qualified for the United States Olympic Trials. She is the current ACC record holder in the long jump, finishing off her career by winning the U.S.A. Indoor Track and Field indoor long jump championship with a leap of 20’9½”. Otey was inducted into New Kent High School’s Hall of Fame as pat of the Class of 2020.