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PM’s Richardson Wins Shot, Breaks Own School Record
In their only local meet of the season, the Parry McCluer High School indoor track and field teams had strong performances at the East Coast Elite Meet, which featured athletes from several states, on Saturday at Virginia Military Institute’s Corps Physical Training Facility.
The top showing came from PM senior Kamilah Richardson, who won the girls’ shot put, breaking her own school record by 8.75 inches with a throw of 38 feet, 4.25 inches. Also competing in the shot put for the PM girls was junior Phoebe Woods, placing 30th with a toss of 21-8.25.
Senior Kyra Lee represented the PM girls in the 1000-meter and 1600-meter runs. She placed 53rd in the 1000-meter run in 3:54.42 and finished 46th in the 1600meter run in 6:21.5.
For the PM boys, sophomore Kebryl Chandler placed third in the 1600-meter run in a personal-record (PR) time of 4:21.29. Junior teammate Josh Cooper finished 20th in 4:39.68 and was followed by his younger brother Caleb, a freshman, in 30th in 4:47.73. PM junior Logan Wheelock finished 31st in 4:47.75. Other Blues in the race were Hinckley Lovelace (42nd, 4:54.73), Sam Carpenter (71st, 5:12.45), and Caden Mason (102nd, 7:34.46).
PM head coach Chris Poluikis commended Caleb Cooper and Hinkley, who both ran PRs. “They’re younger, so it’s easier to get PRs, but it was still some fine racing from them to get there,” said Poluikis.
In the 1000-meter run, Chandler had another top 10 finish, placing in sixth place in 2:37.71, a PR. “In the two races that he ran, it was probably the best he looked since the Virginia Showcase [cross country race in October],” said Poluikis. “It was two really good races from him,” said Poluikis.
Josh Cooper finished 20th in the 1000-meter run in 2:45.60. Other PM boys competing in the race were Wheelock (32nd, 2:51.84), Caleb Cooper (55th, 2:58.54.), Lovelace (66th, 3:02.53), Carpenter (72nd, 3:04.44.) and freshman Sebastian George (93rd, 3:28.04.).
In the 55-meter hurdles, PM sophomore Henry Lovelace placed 17th in 9.28 seconds.
The PM boys placed 11th in the 4 X 400-meter relay in 3:49.84. Team members were Josh and Caleb Cooper, Wheelock and Chandler.
In boys’ shot put, junior Griffin Harlow led the Blues by placing third with a PR toss of 50-9. Senior teammate Rayshan Richardson finished eighth with a PR throw of 44-5, and junior Vincent Wilson came in 30th with a toss of 34-3.
Reviewing the meet, Poluikis said, “Everyone looks in shape. We raced fine, but these faster races are a shock. When you get to the second half of the races, we’ve got to hit these, but at the first part of the season, I have low expectations. We do this so we can do it better.”
Next up the Blues will compete at the Liberty Premier Invitational on Saturday at Liberty University.
ECE Club Athletes Compete
Members of the local East Coast Elite club team, comprised of local athletes coached by Drew Ludtke, also competed well in the East Coast Elite Meet on Saturday. Many of the team members go to Rockbridge County High School.
For the boys, Tyler Ludtke won the 1000-meter run in 2:47.86. Teammates following him were Sammy Eastwood (second, 2:53.35), Leif Guse (third, 2:56.63), Trenton Cash (fourth, 3:00.87) and Grant Swenty (fifth, 3:15.46).
Ludtke also led the team in the boys’ 300-meter dash, placing second in 40.06 seconds. Teammates following him were Chase Potter (sixth, 45.2), Trey Rhamey (13th, 56.37), Ben Holston (16th, 59.67) and Chase Ricker (17th, 1:00.9).
Guse won the boys’ 1600meter run in 4:54.11, with Eastwood placing second in 4:56.39 and Cash finishing third in 4:58.59. Other ECE team members racing were Swenty (eighth, 5:28.08) and Tyler Pins (18th, 7:08.62).
The ECE boys placed second in the 4 X 400-meter relay in 5:13.59.
Chase Potter led the boys in the 500-meter dash, placing second in 1:22.11. Teammates following him were Rhamey (fifth, 1:40.96), Chase Ricker (sixth, 1:46.24) and Holston (seventh, 1:49.26).
In the boys’ 55-meter dash, Luca Beristain led the ECE team, placing eighth in 9.33 seconds, and teammate Tiago Beristain finished 11th in 10.26.
Drew Potter placed second in the boys’ shot put with a toss of 33-11.5.
For the ECE girls, Reagan Imler won the 500-meter dash in 1:28.98.
Brooke Eichelberger led the ECE girls in the 1600-meter run, placing fourth in 6:14.72. Teammates following her were Abigail Fencer (12th, 7:04.64) and Anna Fencer (13th, 7:23.28.
In the girls’ 55-meter dash, Kaleigh Knick placed fifth in 8.85 seconds, followed by teammates Ellie Loesel (eighth, 10.28), Cosette Rhamey (ninth, 10.45) and Brooklynne Ricker (11th, 1:14.65).
Knick also led the ECE girls in the 300-meter dash, placing ninth in 53.04 seconds. Teammates following Knick were Rhamey (15th, 1:04.52), Loesel (18th, 1:06.14) and Ricker (19th, 1:14.65).
The ECE athletes will compete at a meet in Roanoke on Saturday.
ABOVE, PM junior Griffin Harlow launches the shot put. He placed third with a personal- record (PR) toss of 50 feet, 9 inches. AT TOP RIGHT, Fighting Blue sophomore Henry Lovelace (center) leaps over a hurdle in the boys’ 55-meter hurdles. Lovelace finished 17th in 9.28 seconds. AT CENTER NEAR RIGHT, PM sophomore Kebryl Chandler leads a group of boys in the 1600-meter run, in which he placed third in a PR time of 4:21.29. AT LOWER NEAR RIGHT, Throwing the shot put is PM senior Kamilah Richardson. She won and broke her own school record with a toss of 384.25. AT FAR RIGHT, PM junior Logan Wheelock (10) follows a Broadway runner closely in the boys’ 1600-meter run. Wheelock finished 31st in 4:47.75. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)
