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Parry McCluer High School junior Kovyk Chandler won the boys’ 1000-meter and 1600-meter runs to lead the Fighting Blues at the Region 1C and 2C meet on Friday at Roanoke College’s Cregger Center.
Chandler is one of three individuals who will represent the Blues at the Class 1 and 2 state meets next Wednesday and Thursday, March 1 and 2, at Liberty University.
If not qualified by time or distance, the top three individuals and relay teams advanced to the state meet.
Also qualifying for the PM boys was freshman Logan Wheelock, who placed third in the 3200-meter run in 11:15.35.
Advancing for the PM girls was freshman thrower Kamilah Richardson, who placed third in the shot put with a throw of 28 feet, 10 inches, a personal record (PR) by two feet.
In the team standings, the PM girls placed eighth of 14 teams with 16 points, and the PM boys finished 13th with 16 points. Floyd County won the girls’ meet with 112 points, Appomattox County (105) placed second, and Auburn (85) finished third. Glenvar (128) won the boys’ meet, Alleghany (88) placed second, and James River (37) came in third.
In the boys’ 1000-meter run, Chandler finished in 2:43.22. He won the 1600meter run in 4:36.38. Last year, Chandler won the state title in the 3200-meter run.
PM head coach Chris Poluikis said, “Kovyk has a great chance of winning states this year, and it’s hard for me to say that he’s not the favorite.” Poluikis said that Chandler raced in the 1000-meter run instead of the 3200 at regionals to get extra speedwork leading into the state meet.
Also running for the PM boys was freshman Caden Mason, who finished 22nd in the 500-meter dash in 1:34.68.
For the PM girls, freshman Kyra Lee placed fourth in the 3200-meter run in 13:34.42, missing advancing by one place. Junior Jasmine De Souza finished sixth in the 3200-meter run in 13:49.62 and seventh in the 1600meter run in 6:10.03, a PR by more than 10 seconds. “I was really expecting a PR from Jasmine,” said Poluikis. “She had been doing really well in the speed workouts leading up to the meet.”
Including Kamilah Richardson, the Blues had four throwers at the meet. Sophomore Rayshan Richardson placed 13th in the shot put with a throw of 34-6, and freshman Griffin Harlow finished 15th with a toss of 31-5. Both ended the season with PRs. For the PM girls, freshman Katey Shifflet placed 12th with a throw of 22-1.75.
