Photo courtesy of LB Track
Lord Botetourt junior Kendal Howard had his best-ever indoor shot put at the state meet last week to win the event and lead the LB boys to a 16th place finish in the Class 3 standings. Heritage High swept the meet, winning both the boys and girls state championships in their home city of Lynchburg at the Liberty University indoor facility.
All of Botetourt’s boys’ points came from the shot put, as Howard won the event and fellow LB junior DJ Toliver was fifth. Howard won the event with a toss of 50’ 10.5” for a new personal record. That was 10 and a half inches better than second place Ayden Conley of Christiansburg, a senior.
Toliver took fifth with a heave of 47’10.5” to also place on the state level. Seth Huard, a third LB junior in the event, was just two spots off placing with a 10th place finish in 41’ 11.5”.
LB junior Rye Jackson ran the 500 meters and finished ninth in a time of 1:08.95. That was just .05 seconds behind the last scoring position, as Jack Parlee of Spotswood ran a 1:08.90.
Elijah Rose competed in the high jump at the state meet but was suffering from a hamstring injury and did not place.
The LB girls’ team was represented by Jillian Harris, who ran the 55-meter hurdles. Jillian did not score but placed 12th with a new personal record of 9.46.
“I want to say how incredibly proud I am of all the kids who made it to states,” said LB coach Michelle Gantzhorn. “Outdoor track and field practice begins today (Monday) and I guarantee you, you will see these kids back at Liberty this spring fighting for a state title.”