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Five local high school runners – two from Parry McCluer and three from Rockbridge County – competed in the Foot Locker South Regional cross country meet to conclude the season on Saturday at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C.
The top finish was by PM senior Kovyk Chandler, who placed 32nd of 210 harriers in the championship boys’ race, completing the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 32.3 seconds, about a second shy of his personal record. Two weeks earlier, Chandler had won the Class 1 state meet in Virginia, finishing the flat and fast 5K course at Green Hill Park in Salem in 15:54.1.
The McAlpine Park course is mostly flat, but, unlike the flat Green Hill Park course, has several hills, including a big one in the middle of the race. Of Chandler’s race, PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, “I wasn’t anticipating him placing that high.”
The winner of the boys’ race was Patrick Koon of Tallahassee, Fla., finishing in a blistering time of 14:48.6.
Also competing for the Fighting Blues was freshman Kebryl Chandler, Kovyk’s younger brother. Kebryl, who had placed a close second to Kovyk at the state meet two weeks earlier, competed in the freshman boys’ race on Saturday and placed second of 83 runners in 16:12.6. Winning the race was Andrew Beroset of Gulf Breeze, Fla. in 16:00.8.
“I thought they both did really well,” said Poluikis of the Chandler brothers.
For RC, Preston Spangler competed in the freshman race and placed seventh in 16:55.3. Both Spangler and Kebryl Chandler received medals.
In the state team scores, Virginia placed first of seven states in the freshman boys’ race and fourth of 10 states in the championship boys’ race.
Reviewing the meet, Spangler said, “Overall, I believe that it was a pretty good experience, and I am happy to have helped the Virginia team win the freshman 5k race. As for my performance, I was disappointed about my time and place. I put in a good effort, but I was hoping for a better outcome. But in the end, I had a good time competing and watching my friends races.”
Also racing for the RC boys on Saturday was Trenten Cash in the sophomore boys’ race. Cash finished 73rd of 95 runners in 18:38.2. Grady Jenkins of Midlothian, Texas won the race in 16:04.
In the team standings in the sophomore boys’ race, Virginia placed fourth of eight states.
Representing the RC girls in her final high school cross country race was senior Deena Ludtke, finishing 109th of 138 harriers in the championship girls’ race in 19:39.1, nearly 10 seconds faster than her time at the Class 3 state meet two weeks earlier, when she’d placed 26th. Winning the girls’ race was Elizabeth Leachman of San Antonio, Texas in 18:45.2.
Virginia was the top team of eight states represented in the championship girls’ race.
Ref lecting on her race, Ludtke said, “Running at Foot Locker was super fun, and I’m glad I got to have that experience. I was happy to have a better race and time that I did at states, and I’m ready to start fresh for indoor track.”
Ludtke and the RC boys were coached this season by RC head coach Julie Tisone, along with assistant coaches Louise Uffelman and Ludtke’s parents, Drew and Jen.
PM SENIOR Kovyk Chandler crosses the finish line in 32nd place of 210 runners in the Foot Locker South Regional cross country meet on Saturday at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, N.C. Chandler finished the 5-kilometer course in 15 minutes, 32.3 seconds, finishing the first kilometer in about 60th place and passing runners throughout the rest of the race. (Kedryn Chandler photo)
