Rockbridge County High School sophomore Ariana Mitchell placed seventh in the girls’ high jump at the Class 3 state indoor track and field meet on Monday of last week at Liberty University. Mitchell, the only Wildcat competing, cleared 5 feet and earned her first all-state honors by placing in the top eight.
The individual champion was Hidden Valley junior Lucy Kochenderfer, defending her state title with a mark of 5-4. Last year, Mitchell qualified for the state indoor and outdoor meets in the high jump, but was unable to clear the starting heights.
At the state meet, Mitchell cleared 4-8 and then 4-10, both on her first tries, before clearing 5 feet on her third try to advance to the finals.
“Ariana had a great state meet,” said RC head coach Jennifer Showalter. “With her just being a sophomore, she has a lot left to gain and achieve as a jumper.”
As a one-girl team in the twoday meet that concluded on Tuesday of last week, Mitchell scored two points to place RC 14th of 17 scoring teams. Heritage won the state title with 26.5 points, Spotswood (13.5) placed second, and Liberty Christian Academy (11) finished third. Tying for fourth place were James Monroe and Hidden Valley with 10 points each.
Mitchell won the Shenandoah District title in the high jump last month and placed fifth at the Region 3C meet. She qualified for the state meet by clearing 4-10 in the first meet of the season on Dec. 10 at Fork Union Military Academy. Her personal record is 5-2.
The Wildcats had a small and young team this winter, with no seniors. Including Mitchell, the Wildcats had five Region 3C qualifiers, all girls. The other four qualifiers were junior Celia Jones, who won the district title in the 55meter hurdles and advanced in the long jump and high jump; junior Cate Wilson (shot put) and freshmen Sarah Lewis (55-meter dash) and Katherine Finn (high jump).
Mitchell and Lewis will compete in the Adidas Indoor National Championships on March 20 and 21 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, with Mitchell qualifying in the high jump and Lewis in the freshman girls’ 55-meter dash.
RC’s lone boy this winter was junior Finbar Looney, who competed in the shot put.
Many of the RC indoor track and field athletes will compete for the RC outdoor track and field team this spring.
MITCHELL
