Rockbridge County High School athlete Ariana Mitchell completed a strong freshman indoor track and field season in the high jump at the Class 3 state meet on Monday of last week at Liberty University.
Mitchell had qualified by height for the state meet in the first meet of the season, when she cleared 5 feet on Dec. 11 at Fork Union Military Academy. At the state meet, she was unable to clear the starting height of 4 feet, 8 inches in three tries. The state champion was Hidden Valley sophomore Lucy Kochenderfer, clearing 5-4.
RC head coach Jennifer Showalter looks forward to Mitchell’s improvement over the next few years. “It was a great experience for Ariana to compete at the state level as a freshman,” said Showalter.
Mitchell, who tied for second place in the high jump at the Valley District meet and finished sixth at the Region 3C meet, also competed well in the 55-meter dash this season.
The Wildcats had a small and young team this winter. For the Valley District meet, they had just four athletes competing, with Mitchell and sophomore Celia Jones advancing to the Region 3C meet. Jones advanced in the 55-meter hurdles, placing third at the district meet before concluding her season by placing 11th at the Region 3C meet.
Other Wildcats competing at the district meet were a pair of sophomores in the shot put: Cate Wilson and Finbar Looney, RC’s lone boy on the team.
The Wildcats had no seniors this year, and Showalter looks forward to continuing to work with the indoor athletes who will return for the upcoming outdoor track and field season.
