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Led by senior Kovyk Chandler’s two individual wins, the Parry McCluer High School boys indoor track and field team placed fourth of 14 teams in the Region 1C and 2C meet on Friday at Kerr-Cregger Field House at Roanoke College in Salem.
The Fighting Blues will send six individuals and two relay teams to the Class 1 and 2 state meet, which will take place next Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 28 and 29, at Liberty University. In addition to those qualified by time or distance, the top three individuals and top three relay teams advanced to the Class 3 state meet.
The PM boys scored 52 points, trailing only winner Auburn (100), Floyd County (95) and Glenvar (90). Following the Blues in fifth place was Martinsville (40).
Chandler won the 1000-meter run in 2:41.37 and claimed the 1600-meter run in 4:28.19. In those two events, Chandler has racked up five regional titles. His younger brother Kebryl, a freshman, placed second in the 1000-meter run in a personal-record (PR) time of 2:41.39. Also competing in the 1000-meter run was PM sophomore Josh Cooper , who placed fifth in 2:47.88.
Joining Kovyk in the 1600-meter run were PM sophomore Logan Wheelock, who placed fifth in 4:49.85, and freshman Sam Carpenter (10th, 5:18.58).
The PM boys placed fourth in the 4 x 400meter run in 3:50.14. Team members were Wheelock, Cooper and Kovyk and Kebryl Chandler.
For the PM girls, sophomore Kyra Lee placed ninth in the 1600-meter run in 6:06.85 and 11th in the 1000-meter run in 3:49.29.
The Blues had four throwers competing. For the boys, sophomore Griffin Harlow placed second in the shot put with a toss of 49 feet, 3.5 inches, trailing only Auburn’s Kobi Bonds’s winning throw of 50-4.75. PM junior Rayshan Richardson finished sixth with a throw of 41-6.5, and sophomore teammate Vincent Wilson came in 15th with a toss of 34-4.
For the PM girls, junior Kamilah Richardson placed sixth with a throw of 31-0.5.
The PM girls scored three points to tie for 13th place of 15 teams. Auburn won the girls’ race with 119 points, Floyd County (90) placed second, and Appomattox County (85) placed third. Completing the top fi ve w ere L iberty ( Bedford) ( 78) a nd Glenvar (56).
Lee is the lone state qualifier for the PM girls. State qualifiers for the PM boys are Cooper and Kovyk and Kebryl Chandler (all in 1000, 1600 and 3200-meter runs), Wheelock (1600 and 3200-meter runs), Harlow (shot put) and the 1600 and 3200-meter relay teams. The Blues will not contend in all these events due to entry limitations, along with time and energy constraints.
