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Parry McCluer High School junior Kovyk Chandler defended his state title in the boys’ 3200-meter run and placed second in the 1600meter run at the Class 1 state track and field meet on Saturday at the James Madison University Track and Field Complex in Harrisonburg. Three other Fighting Blues – Logan Wheelock, Kyra Lee and Jasmine De Souza – also earned all-state honors by placing in the top eight.
In the 3200 on Saturday morning, Chandler took the lead with just over 400 meters to go and pulled away in the final lap, finishing in 10:04.16, running the second half of his race in 4:59.4. Castlewood senior Adam Gibson placed second of 17 runners in 10:12.34. Lebanon junior Derek Mitchell, who was leading for most of the race, finished third in 10:18.34. Mitchell had beaten Chandler for the Class 1 state cross country title last fall, but he finished second to Chandler in the 3200-meter run at the Class 1 and 2 combined state indoor track and field meet in early March. Chandler holds PM’s school record of 9:31, which he ran at the Dogwood Track Classic on May 6 at the University of Virginia.
After the race, Chandler said that, for him and PM head coach Chris Poluikis, it went “exactly like we planned,” with Chandler focusing on keeping his pace and kicking at the end.
Joining Chandler in the 3200 was Wheelock, a freshman, placing seventh in 11:09.66. Wheelock, who had run a 3200 in 10:48 in cooler weather this spring, said the state meet “wasn’t bad.” He said he really wanted to finish in the top five, but the heat got to him. Looking forward to continuing to run cross country and track in the coming years, Wheelock said, “I’ve got some time.”
Less than four hours after the 3200, with temperatures in the 80s in the early afternoon, Chandler competed in the 1600. In a similar way to how he raced in the 3200, Chandler stayed near the front for almost the entire race before taking the lead with just over 400 meters to go.
“The pace went out real slow,” said Poluikis. “Nobody wants to take the lead in a championship race.”
I n t he f inal l ap, G rundy senior Kaleb Elswick, who specializes in the 800-meter run and did not run the 3200, surged ahead. In a dogged sprint to the finish, Elswick won in 4:31.32, finishing the final 400 meters in 59.223 seconds. Chandler, who had won the 1600-meter run at the state indoor meet, placed a close second on Saturday in 4:31.78, running the final 400 meters in 1:00.385. “That was the best he’s ever closed in the mile,” said Poluikis.
Elswick had finished right behind Chandler in the state cross country meet last fall. In Saturday’s race, Lancaster junior Matthew Kane finished third of 16 runners in 4:35.3.
“It really was a very good race,” added Poluikis.
Also competing in the 1600 for the Blues was freshman Josh Cooper, who ran in the first heat and placed ninth in 5:01.4, about a second shy of his personal record (PR). “He ran great,” said Poluikis. “He had a great race. The field slowed down too much in the middle.”
Reviewing his race, Cooper said, “I think I did a good job racing.” He noted that he did his best to stay with the leaders, finishing near the front of his heat. “That’s what Poluikis wanted,” said Cooper.
For the PM girls, Lee completed an impressive freshman year by placing sixth in 20 runners in the 3200-meter run, finishing in 13:11.51, about two seconds shy of her PR. De Souza, a junior, followed in seventh in 13:13.62, a PR by about nine seconds and 71 seconds faster than her time at the state meet last year. “It was definitely better than last year, but it felt worse,” said De Souza. Auburn’s Kasey Rosenbaugh won the race in 12:03.75.
De Souza also competed in the 1600-meter run, placing 10th of 13 runners in 6:17.61. Having run the 3200 less than four hours earlier, De Souza said, “The 3200 killed my legs.” Galileo’s Carol-Anne Garrett won the 1600 in 5:32.45.
PM’s lone thrower, sophomore Kamilah Richardson, placed 10th of 17 individuals in the girls’ shot put with a toss of 30 feet, 7.5 inches, a mark that was 2 feet, 3.5 inches shy of the PR she threw to place eighth at the indoor state indoor track and field meet in early March. Galax’s Emily Edwards won the shot put on Saturday with a toss of 40-6.
Reviewing Richardson’s performance, PM throwing coach Danny Cole said, “I am very proud of Kamilah for her first year throwing. Her first time picking up a shot put was in November, and she’s placed eighth [in the state] in indoor and 10th in outdoor which is a great accomplishment for a sophomore. I’m looking forward to what the years bring for her. She did not quite throw her best today, but the experience of the state meet will definitely help her during her junior and senior years. She is determined to continue practicing through the summer and fall, lifting weights, and throwing to prepare for the indoor season.”
“Her technique this year has been very basic,” added Cole. “We will now continue to work on her glide and get her throwing where we can tweak multiple areas for further distances.”
While Richardson was the only PM thrower at the state meet, Cole has high hopes for the rest of his throwers. For the boys, sophomore Rayshan Richardson and freshmen Griffin Harlow and Vincent Wilson have shown promise, while sophomore Keeli Wheeler and freshman Katey Shifflet have great potential for the girls. “We are young, and the throwers are going to be up and coming especially there in the junior and senior years. Several of the throwers are ranked in the top of their class and distances so as long as they keep working, stay determined.”
With just three boys competing, the PM boys placed 13th of 34 scoring teams, tallying 20 points. The Blues had the top finish of any Pioneer District team. Lancaster won with 80.5 points, Middlesex (61) placed second, and Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (49) placed third. Rounding out the top five were Grundy (44) and Central-Lunenberg (37).
In the girls’ team standings, with just three individuals competing, the Blues tied Pioneer District rival Narrows for 29th place of 36 teams, tallying five points. Auburn (70) won the meet, Northampton (66.5) placed second, and Cumberland (59) finished third. Completing the top five were Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (39) and Chilhowie (35).
Under the direction of Poluikis, Cole and assistant coach Robert Williams, the Blues have high hopes for the future, with no seniors on this year’s teams.
