Parry McCluer High School senior Kamilah Richardson won the Class 1 state title in the girls’ shot put, and six PM boys and the boys’ 4 X 800-meter relay team earned all-state honors by placing in the top eight on Friday and Saturday at the James Madison University Track and Field Complex in Harrisonburg. The PM boys placed fourth of 32 scoring teams, while Richardson, PM’s only girl competing, scored 10 points to tie for 19th place of 35 scoring teams.
Richardson, who became PM’s first girl to win a state throwing title when she claimed the indoor shot put title in March, won decisively on Saturday. Her top throw went 38 feet, 1.75 inches, John I. Burton’s Reghan Sensabaugh placed second with a toss of 36-2.5, while Auburn’s Allyson Harris finished third with a throw of 35-8.5.
In early May, Richardson set the outdoor school record in the shot put with a toss of 38-8 at a meet in Louisa County. At the state meet, Richardson was also entered in the discus, but she scratched on Friday and did not record a mark.
The PM boys’ top finish was in the 4 X 800-meter relay on Friday. After a lightning delay, the Blues had a tight race with Middlesex and, after some elbowing from Middlesex runners late in the race, placed second by hundredth of a second, finishing in 8:11.19, a school record by about five seconds. Eastern Montgomery placed third in 8:28.81. PM’s team members were sophomore Kebryl Chandler, juniors Josh Cooper and Logan Wheelock, and freshman Caleb Cooper.
On Saturday afternoon, Chandler placed third in the 1600-meter run in 4:31.13, trailing Altavista’s Shane Stevens, who won in 4:23.73, and Grundy’s Keyston Hartford, who placed second in 4:26.39. Josh Cooper placed fourth in 4:35.13, and Wheelock finished sixth in 4:41.08.
In the 800-meter later in the afternoon, won by Gavin Dustin of Mathews in 2:00.89, Chandler placed fourth in 2:03.03. Josh Cooper followed in 10th in 2:06.58.
On Saturday morning, Wheelock led the PM boys in the 3200-meter run, placing third in 9:52.74. Caleb Cooper followed in seventh in 10:07.24, and freshman teammate Hinckley Lovelace finished 11th in 10:26.39. PM freshman Sebastian George came in 18th in 10:45.01, a personal record (PR) by about 10 seconds.
PM sophomore Henry Lovelace earned all-state honors in the boys’ 100-meter hurdles, placing sixth in 16.32 seconds, a PR.
Junior Griffin Harlow led the PM boys’ throwers, placing third in the shot put with a PR toss of 54-1.5 on Friday, qualifying for the adidas Track Nationals, which will be held June 20-22 in Greensboro, N.C. Auburn’s Kobi Bonds won the shot put with a throw of 56-6.5, Patrick Henry-Glade Spring’s Tyler Barrett placed second with a toss of 54-2.5, and George Wythe’s Kyle Stephens finished fourth with a throw of 52-7.
On Saturday, after a late start due to a weather delay on Friday, Harlow placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 140-3. Senior teammate Rayshan Richardson, twin brother of Kamilah, wrapped up his high school career by finishing 14th with a heave of 124-10.
In the team standings, the PM boys scored 45 points to trail winner Brunswick (73), Middlesex (72) and Auburn (60). Rounding out the top five was Mathews (39).
Auburn won the girls’ meet with 73 points, Brunswick (65) placed second, and Eastside (63) finished third. Completing the top five were Northampton (48) and Westmoreland (46).
The Blues will miss their three seniors: Rayshan and Kamilah Richardson and Keeli Wheeler, a thrower who was a regional qualifier in the girls’ shot put and discus.
For the full story and photos from the state meet, with comments from PM coaches and athletes, please see our June 11 newspaper.
