The Lord Botetourt and James River track teams competed in the “Terrier Challenge” at William Byrd High School in Vinton last Saturday. The LB boys were fifth and River’s boys took sixth among 14 teams competing.
For the LB boys, the Distance Medley team took first place as runners took a turn running the 1,200m, 400m, 800m and 1,600m. LB’s team of Evan Gates, Bryce Branscom, Rye Jackson and Carter Hudson won with a time of 11:54.1.
The Sprint Medley team of Joey Isaacs, Zion Wood, Cade Lang and Jack McDaniel placed third for the Cavaliers, as did the 4×100 relay of Isaacs, Woody, Lang and Dylan Knick. Knick took third in both the 110 and 300m hurdle races while Jackson was eighth in the 400m.
In the field events Dmetri Toliver was second in the discus and fourth in the shot. Kendal Howard was second in the shot and Seth Huard was eighth in the discus. Elijah Rose was sixth in the high jump and Knick was eighth in the long jump.
For James River, Ben Bailey cleared the bar at 5’10” to win the high jump and Brian Moran was seventh. In the triple jump Bailey was fifth and Moran was seventh.
River won the 4×800 with the foursome of Jacob Hill, Michael Jergensen, Cayden Shorter and Nathan Etzler. The 4×400 team of Etzler, Chase Minnix, Walker Wilson and Hill took fifth. Etzler also ran in the 400m and took second while Jergensen was fourth in the 3,200.
In the throwing events Canaan Clark was third in the discus and seventh in the shot. Alex Eastman was sixth in both.
“We have a pretty sound boys team,” said River coach Greg Dyer. “We have some athletes.”
Holly Hylton led the River girls with a third in the 400 and ran on the eighth place 4×100 relay team with Kelsey Firebaugh, Ava Thacker and Naveah VanBuren. VanBuren was seventh in the discus and Emma Francis was seventh in the shot put.
For the LB girls the Sprint Medley team of Annalise Coon, Alexa Carillo, Elizabeth Meadows and Falan Peters took fifth. Meadows was fifth in both the 400 and 200 and Jillian Harris took seventh in both the 100 and 300m hurdles.
This Saturday both the LB and James River teams will compete in the Golden Eagle Invitational at Staunton River High School. The meet is expected to attract over 20 teams.