Despite having smaller numbers than usual due to spring break, the Rockbridge County High School track and field teams had impressive performances at the Zack Broadaway Invitational on Saturday at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater.
The meet honored Coach Broadaway, founder of the meet and longtime leader of the Turner Ashby track and field program.
Leading the RC boys, Grant Swenty broke five minutes in the 1600-meter run for the first time, placing 15th in 4:55.79. “He’s been working towards this for a while,” said RC head coach Julie Tisone. “Big moment for him.”
In the 800-meter run, Swenty finished 24th in 2:17.81.
The RC boys’ other distance runner competing was Hudson Saunders, who placed 28th in the 1600-meter run in 5:18.84 and 34th in the 800-meter run in 2:30.28.
Jakob Bailey set personal records in both of his individual events, coming in 27th in the 100-meter dash in 12.57 seconds and 22nd in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 3 inches.
Calvin Lambert represented the RC boys in the 400-meter dash, coming in 37th in 1:00.36.
The RC girls placed fourth in the 4 X 100-meter relay in 54.1 seconds, after clocking 54.53 seconds the previous Saturday. Team members were Abigail Harding, Kyra Strowbridge, Keziah Howard and Sarah Lewis. Tisone said the team “keeps getting faster and faster. Keep your eye on this team.”
Harding placed fifth in the 100meter hurdles in 18.1 seconds and 16th in the long jump with a leap of 12-10.5.
Carroll placed seventh in the 300-meter hurdles in 55.59 seconds and came in 17th in the long jump with a mark of 12-9.25.
Lewis led the RC girls in the 100-meter dash, placing 14th in 13.52 seconds, while Strowbridge finished 23rd in 13.88, and Howard came in 30th in 14.65. Howard also finished 30th in the 200-meter dash, clocking 31.48 seconds.
In the girls’ 400-meter dash, Hannah Ivins placed 26th in 1:17.72.
Tisone noted that many of her runners were trying events for the first time. “We are figuring out which events are best for each runner,” she said.
The lone RC thrower competing was Kaitlyn Higgins, finishing 41st in the girls’ shot put with a toss of 19-8.
The RC girls placed 14th of 18 scoring teams, tallying 11 points. Spotswood was the winning girls’ team, scoring 79 points, while Fort Defiance (70) placed second, and TA (63) finished third. Rounding out the top five were Broadway (55.5) and Lightridge (54).
Broadway won the boys’ meet with 84 points, Spotswood (79) placed second of 17 scoring teams, and TA (72) finished third. Completing the top five were Lightridge (68.5) and Harrisonburg (68) The RC boys did not score any points.
Today, Wednesday, the Wildcats will face district rivals at Wilson Memorial in Fishersville, starting with field events at 5 p.m. The Wildcats will hold their only home meet of the season next Wednesday, April 22, at 5 p.m. against district rivals.
