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With strong individual performances at the Region 1C track and field meet last Wednesday in Pearisburg, six Parry McCluer High School athletes advanced to the Class 1 state meet.
The top four finishers, as well as those qualified by time or distance, advanced to the state meet, which will take place on Friday and Saturday at the James Madison University track and field complex in Harrisonburg.
In the Region 1C meet at Giles, PM junior Kovyk Chandler won the boys’ 800-meter run, finishing in 2:05.42 to beat the runnerup, Auburn’s Andrew Tickle, by nearly eight seconds. Tickle finished in 2:13.09. Reviewing Chandler’s race, PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, “Kovyk went out really hard, but he lacked a bit of his usual finishing close with no one to race.”
In the state meet, Chandler will compete in the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run, having qualified by time in both races earlier this season. At last year’s state meet, Chandler won the 3200 and placed second in the 1600.
Also winning a regional title for the PM boys was freshman Logan Wheelock, claiming the 3200-meter run in 11:12.61. Wheelock edged the runner-up, Eastern Montgomery’s Spencer Sisson, who finished in 11:13.69. “Logan’s race went out slow, as his main competitor didn’t want to take the lead initially,” said Poluikis. “I told him, at 200 meters, not to worry about time. He won with a finishing kick in the final 150 [meters].”
Freshman Josh Cooper also advanced, placing third in the boys’ 1600-meter run in 5:03.79. In the 800-meter run, Cooper finished seventh in 2:18.38.
Also racing for the PM boys, freshman Caden Mason completed his season by placing 11th in the 800-meter run in 2:48.32.
Sophomore thrower Rayshan Richardson concluded his season, placing 12th in the shot put with a toss of 37 feet, 7.5 inches and finishing 13th in the discus with a heave of 96-5.
Leading the PM girls was freshman Kyra Lee, who placed second in the 3200-meter run in 13:35.45. She trailed the winner, Eastern Montgomery’s Valeria Castillo (12:58.82), but was well ahead of the third-place finisher, Giles runner Alexia Allen (15:09.74).
Joining Lee at the state meet will be junior Jasmine De Souza, who placed fourth in the girls’ 1600-meter run in 6:06.31 to advance. De Souza also raced in the 800-meter run and missed advancing by one place, finishing fifth in 2:45.26.
The lone PM thrower to advance to the state meet was freshman Kamilah Richardson, who placed fourth in the girls’ shot put with a toss of 31-0.5. In the discus, Richardson finished 10th with a throw of 69 feet.
Concluding strong debut seasons of throwing for the PM girls were freshman Keeli Wheeler and sophomore Presley Austin. Wheeler placed 11th in both events, tossing the shot put 23-8.5 and throwing the discus 60 feet. Austin finished 12th in the discus with a heave of 57-10.
The PM boys placed eighth of 14 scoring teams, tallying 26 points. The PM girls finished ninth of 11 scoring teams with 18 points.
Auburn won the boys’ meet with 111 points, Narrows (109) placed second, and George Wythe (66) finished third.
In the girls’ meet, Auburn (168) won, Giles (96) placed second, and Fort Chiswell (47) placed third.
At the state meet, all of the Blues’ events will take place on Saturday. The first event of the day will be the girls’ 3200-meter run, scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by the boys’ 3200-meter run. Field events are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Other races are scheduled to take place in the afternoon.
