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The Parry McCluer High School indoor track and field teams, along with several athletes from Rockbridge County High School, participated in the East Coast Elite Meet on Friday at Roanoke College’s Cregger Center in Salem.
The meet was originally scheduled to take place on Saturday at Virginia Military Institute’s Corps Physical Training Center, but it was moved up due to inclement weather.
“I was very thankful that the race director did not cancel the meet,” said PM head coach Chris Poluikis.
Freshman Kebryl Chandler had the top finish for the Blues, winning the boys’ 1600-meter run in 4:32.34, while his older brother, senior Kovyk Chandler, placed second in 4:33.06. Both were state-qualifying times. “What they do in races is just unreal,” said Poluikis, “Kovyk is tough as nails. He’s just going to gun it and has no fear. He was just fearless in the race.” Poluikis said that, with Kebryl in third and Kovyk in fourth in the final lap, both had a kick to move up to the front of the race.
PM sophomore Josh Cooper placed 15th in the unseeded 1600-meter run in a state-qualifying time of 4:49.74.“It was great for us to check that off and have Cooper run a state-qualifying time,” said Poluikis. “That really opens us up for the rest of the season.”
For the first time, PM sophomore Logan Wheelock broke the five-minute mark for the 1600-meter run, finishing 21st in 4:58. Freshman teammate Sam Carpenter followed in 44th place in 5:31.94, and sophomore Caden Mason came in 59th in 7:22.65. Other than Kovyk, all Blues ran personal records (PRs).
In the seeded boys’ 1600-meter, RC freshman Preston Spangler, who runs for the East Coast Elite club team, won in 4:45.59. His time qualified him for the Adidas Indoor National Championship in March. Teammates following were freshmen Tyler Ludtke (second, 4:56.18), Blake McClung (third, 4:58.31) and Sammy Eastwood (fourth, 4:59.09).
Kovyk Chandler placed second in the boys’ 1000-meter run in a personal-record (PR) and state-qualifying time of 2:42. Chandler had already qualified for the Class 1 and 2 state meet in the 3200-meter run.
Cooper placed 10th in the 1000-meter run in 2:53.73, and Kebryl Chandler finished 11th in 2:55.14. Also competing in the race for the Blues were Wheelock (21st place, 3:01.58) and Carpenter (35th, 3:21.4). All Blues ran PRs. In the boys’ 500-meter dash, Mason placed 42nd in 1:46.
The PM boys competed in the 4 X 400-meter relay, placing sixth of nine teams in 3:57.48. “The reason we did that is for practice,” said Poluikis. “We are planning to run the 4 X 800-meter relay at [the state meet].”
Representing the PM girls was sophomore Kyra Lee, who placed 19th in the unseeded 1600-meter run in 6:15.76 and finished 20th in the 1000-meter run in 3:50.91.
In the seeded girls’ 1600-meter run, RC senior Deena Ludtke placed third in 5:29.5.
The PM boys took three throwers. Sophomore Griffin Harlow qualified for the state meet in the shot put, placing fourth with a toss of 46 feet, 4.25 inches. Junior teammate Rayshan Richardson finished 11th with a throw of 39-4.75, and sophomore Vincent Wilson came in 26th with a PR throw of 31-8.
The Blues will travel to Lynchburg for the Walter Bass High School Invitational on Saturday.
Due to inclement weather, RC did not travel to Lynchburg for the Heritage Invitational last Saturday. The Wildcats will compete in the Walt Cormack Memorial Meet, sponsored by the Virginia Track Coaches Association, on Saturday at VMI’s Corps Physical Training Facility, starting at 9 a.m.
