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Led by distance runners, the Parry McCluer and Rockbridge County high school indoor track and field teams performed well at the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday at Liberty University. It was one of the largest meets of the seasons for both schools, with more than 100 teams competing.
The top performance for PM came from junior Kovyk Chandler, who broke his own school record by about six seconds in the boys’ morning 3200meter run, finishing in 9:50.68. “It’s not as exciting as the mile record that he broke in his last meet [Jan. 13 at Liberty], but it’s still a great achievement for him,” said PM head coach Chris Poluikis.
Leading RC was junior Deena Lutdke, who qualified by time for the Class 3 state meet in the girls’ seeded 3200-meter run, placing 18th in 12:06.18, a personal record (PR).
Senior Evan Roney had the top performance for the RC boys, placing 11th in the 1000-meter run in 2:38.59, a PR. Roney qualified for the state meet by time in the event in December.
Junior Jasmine De Souza led the PM girls in the unseeded 3200-meter run, placing ninth in 13:33.49, and freshman teammate Kyra Lee followed in 10th in 13:34.48.
In the boys’ 1600-meter run, freshman Josh Cooper finished 120th in 5:04.43.
PM freshman Logan Wheelock came in seventh in the boys’ unseeded 3200-meter run in 11:14.57. “Wheelock has a chance to qualify for state, depending on how things fall in the regional meet,” said Poluikis. “His biggest chance to get in will be the 3200, so this is a prep for that.”
The RC boys had several sprinters who stepped up. Hunter Howald placed 126th in the 500-meter dash in 1:17.71, a PR, and Konner Orebaugh led the Wildcats in the 300-meter dash, finishing 258th in 41.87 seconds.
RC freshman Fisher Howald came in 146th in the boys’ 1600-meter run in 5:14.18, a PR by about 14 seconds.
For the RC girls, Grace Rolon finished 62nd in the 1600-meter run in 5:46.77. Madeline Swisher came in 120th in the 500-meter dash in 1:37.99 and finished 185th in the 300-meter dash in 49.26 seconds, both PRs.
Also competing in the 300-meter dash were Brooke Eichelberger (203rd, 50.05 seconds) and Lydia Kendall (266th, 53.58).
Deborah Fashida came in 150th in the 55-meter dash in 8.32 seconds, a PR.
In the girls’ 4 X 200-meter relay, the Wildcats placed 50th in a season-best time of 2:04.83. Team members were Eichelberger, Kendall, Swisher and Fashida.
Ben Batis led the RC throwers, placing 41st in the shot put with a toss of 35 feet, 7 inches, while Konner Orebaugh finished 112th with a throw of 28-2.
Leading the PM throwers was Kamila Richardson, placing 26th in the girls’ shot put with a toss of 26-2, while teammate Katey Shifflet finished 55th with a throw of 22-10.5. “Kamilah and Katey are remaining pretty consistent and hitting just below their PRs,” said PM throwing coach Danny Cole. “This is to be expected as they learn all the multiple techniques.”
The Wildcats will play host for the Valley District meet on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Virginia Military Institute’s Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington. The sub-Region 5D meet will be taking place at the same time at the facility.
The Blues will spend the next two weeks focusing on training for the Region 1C and 2C meet at Roanoke College’s Cregger Center in Salem on Friday, Feb. 17.
