The 5th Annual Faster Farther Higher Track Meet should have been renamed the Coldest Windiest Slowest Track Meet as Mother Nature did not smile on the athletes that gathered at Radford University. Plagued by snow, gale force winds, and frigid temperatures, the event did not allow for elite performances in either the track or field competition. Performing in sweats, tights and toboggans, the competitors had to settle for fair conditions for all against their rivals.
Although the weather was the talk of the day, there was some good action. Collin Clark of Jefferson Forest won the 800 in 2:08, waiting until the last 200 meters to sprint away for the win. Ramone Worthington of King’s Fork won the 100 in 11.12 and Donnie Wonnie, yes; Donnie Wonnie won the 400 meter in 53.66. On a day when few got close to their seeded time/marks, it does seem unfair to report times that would not accurately reflect the difficult conditions that these athletes faced.
In a preview of the Group A 1600 meter final, Radford’s Nathan Brame showed why he is the defending state champion. He led the group out to a pedestrian 75 second first 400, then he and Jakob Maidens of Lebanon battled step for step over the next 1000 meters. After fighting a strong headwind on the final backstretch, Brame pulled away with 200 meters to go winning in 4:45.71, one second ahead of Maidens who had a 4:46.36.
Brame would later come back in the 3200 meter run and win quite easily by 38 seconds in a final time of 10:07.48.
The Stevens twins of Blacksburg won a distance race a piece with Kathleen Stevens as a five second winner over Cave Spring's Rachel Travitz (2nd, 5:9.06) in the 1600 meter run in 5:44.03, while twin Joanna Stevens took the 800 meter run in 2:30.3. The Stevens sisters later came back in the 3200 meter run to give Blacksburg a top three sweep of the event with teammate Trinity Foreman as the winner in 12:14.82 and Joanna (2nd, 12:38.66) and Kathleen (3rd, 12:38.66) taking the next two places.
Travitz's Cave Spring teammates won the 4x800 meter relay earlier in 10:15.81 with Radford close on their heels at 10:17.38 for a solid run by a Group A school.
With a similar sounding and spelled name to the Cave Spring distance runner, Blacksburg's Rachel Travis won the shot put competition in 35'7", while Giles senior and defending Group A discus state champion Melanie Taylor had the top throwing performance of the day with a mark of 110'9".
Middlesex's Cory Mayo solidified himself as a contender for the Group A boys state title in the discus with a winning mark of 140'8" at Radford with James River of Buchanan's Sawyer Russel four feet behind at 136'6". Russell finished second in the shot put as well with a mark of 46'9" as one of Group AA's best in John Pavia took the event with a throw of 50'4".
The Franklin County girls were very strong in the field events as Jasmine Hairston was one of the few double winners in the meet with solid marks in the cold of 17'1.50" in the long jump and 35'1.50" in the triple jump. Her teammate Erin Patterson had a solid effort in the pole vault with a clearance of 10'6", but had settle for second in the event behind Pennsylvanian Tory Toso of Wilson (10'11.75").
King's Fork won the team competition as their head coach in Cecil Phillips returned to his old stomping grounds as he was the coach previously at Radford High School before moving to the Suffolk school. Coach Phillips had two individual winners in the field events with Allen Kelly clearing 13 feet in the pole vault, while Keith Ricks leaped to a top mark of 21'2" in the long jump.
King's Fork had their most dominant showing come in the 200 meter dash with the top three finishers in the finals with James Alexander as the victor in 21.98 and teammates Keith Ricks (22.33) and Ramone Washington (22.40) closely trailing in second and third place. All three were featured on the winning 4x100 meter relay as well in 44.06. King's Fork finished with 98 points as a team and 13 points ahead of Wilson High from Pennsylvania.
The Blacksburg girls ended up taking a share of the team title with Pennsylvania's Wilson as both teams totalled 112 points.
Most teams left Radford dreaming of future meets with better weather, with a feeling of accomplishment knowing they had survived the elements given them. Those that had a good showing despite the arctic blast took solace in the fact they were able to get it done.