Makenzie Moore (right) of James River is a step ahead of LB’s Tabatha Martin.
Photo by Rowen Miller

LB’s Max Burke (right) beats River’s Erik Tolley to the finish line in the 110-meter hurdles.
Photo by Rowen Miller

The local track teams opened the outdoor season with a meet at Lord Botetourt last week. The LB girls edged James River, 67-65, while the River boys took an 84-46 win.

“We have 90 athletes on the team this year,” said LB coach Christopher Caldwell. “We’re very young, but we have a great deal of potential.”

First place winners for the LB girls included Brooklyn Shelton in the 800, Haley Caldwell in the 3200, Reyna Petry in the 100 hurdles, Sydney Robinson in the shot put, and Kyndall Lythgoe in the discus and the 4×100 and 4×800 relays.

River first places in the girls meet included Lauren Ogle in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, the long jump and the 300 hurdles, Katelyn Wiley in the 400 and triple jump, Grace Montgomery in the 1600, and Susan Schulz in the high jump and the 4×400 relay.

For the boys, River had firsts from Ian Hester in the 100 dash, 300 hurdles and the long jump, Darious Cheatwood in the 400 and shot put, Noel Preece in the 800, Chase Perkey in the triple jump, Will Miller in the 3200 and all three relay teams.

LB took first with Max Burke in the 110 hurdles and high jump, Clark Moeller in the 200, Maxwell Klimczak in the 1600, and Nick Francis in the discus.

Both teams will stay busy this week. Today, River is at Auburn for a meet and this Saturday both teams will be in the Colonel Classic at William Fleming High School.