Blues’ Boys Place Fourth Of 32 Teams
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.
“I’m very happy that I accomplished this my senior year,” said Richardson, who has been throwing for the Fighting Blues for three years.
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.
Richardson showed notable improvement in the shot put throughout the year. At last year’s outdoor state meet, she placed fourth with a. toss of 36-1.
Praising Richardson, PM throwing coach Danny Cole said, “She’s a hard worker. She’s just determined. She’s one of those that doesn’t stop it unless she takes it and wins it. That’s her goal. She wants to go win it all.”
Crediting Cole for helping her progress and win two state titles, Richardson said, “I’d like to give a shout-out to Coach Cole. He’s very patient, and he motivates me. He makes me the best I can be. Without him, I don’t think I would’ve survived with shot or even disc, but he’s the absolute best coach I’ve ever had.”
Richardson added that her opponents from Region 1C rival Auburn also motivated her to throw farther. “I love the girls at Auburn,” she said. “They’re my favorite friendship I’ve made since I started throwing.”
In the fall, Richardson will be a student at Radford University, but she doesn’t know if she’ll be part of the track and field team.
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. After some elbowing from Middlesex runners late in the race, the Blues 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. All four Blues had impressive times, with Chandler running the fastest 800meter split of the four, clocking 1:56. At last year’s outdoor state meet, the PM boys won the 4 X 800-meter relay, and they won at the state indoor meet this past winter.
Reviewing Friday’s race, Josh Cooper said, “It was hard to lose that by so little.”
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.
Chandler, who won the 800-meter and 3200-meter runs at last year’s outdoor state meet before claiming the 1000-meter and 1600-meter titles at the indoor state meet in March, reviewed his individual performances after finishing the 800-meter run. “Obviously, it’s disappointing, but some days you just don’t have it, and today it just wasn’t there,” he said. “An important part of running is staying up through the downs and staying realistic through the ups.”
This summer, Chandler plans to stay focused, and he intends to run a half marathon on his own.
Josh Cooper said he was pleased with his 1600-meter run, but he wished he did better in the 800. “I know I’m so much better than that, but today just wasn’t the day,” he said. “I just didn’t have it. … Everyone’s getting so good.”
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.
Going over his 4 X 800-meter relay runners’ individual races on Saturday, PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, I think it’s possible that they had to push a little too hard yesterday. It’s just odd that last night they ran so fast, and today was a little bit of a struggle.”
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, about a foot-and-a-half shy of his PR (141-9.5).
Reviewing this year’s state meet, following his fifth-place finish in the shot put and 12th-place finish in the discus last year, Harlow said, “I feel that it went very well. I’m happy about every single one of my marks, and I’m just excited for nationals. I’m excited to keep working hard and be back next year for something better.”
Harlow added that Cole “has been a great help. He’s all you can ask for in a coach, really.”
Senior teammate Rayshan Richardson, twin brother of Kamilah, wrapped up his high school career by finishing 14th in the discus with a heave of 12410. Richardson will go to Virginia Tech in the fall and might join the throwers club.
Cole said the Richardsons have been “great to work with. Their morals and ethics, all that’s just spot on.”
In the team standings, the PM boys, who had placed second last year for their highest finish in program history, scored 45 points last weekend to place fourth, trailing only 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.
Poluikis and Cole look forward to working with their returning athletes. Most of the runners plan to run cross country in the fall, with the boys aiming to win their third consecutive Class 1 state title. Cole noted that his younger throwers plan to keep practicing and going to throwing camps over the summer.
RUNNING NEAR the lead at the end of the first of two laps in the boys’ 800-meter run are PM junior Josh Cooper (789) and sophomore Kebryl Chandler (far right). Chandler placed fourth in 2:03.93, and Cooper finished 10th in 2:06.68. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
PM SENIOR Rayshan Richardson throws the discus. He placed 14th with a throw of 124-10. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
FIGHTING BLUE junior Griffin Harlow spins before launching the discus. He finished eighth with a throw of 140 feet, 3 inches, and placed third in the shot put with a personal-record toss of 54-1.5, qualifying for the Adidas Track Nationals. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
