The Glenvar boys tied for seventh and the girls were 15th in the Class 2 state track meet last weekend. Three Rivers District rival Floyd County swept both the boys’ and girls’ team titles as James Madison University hosted the Class 1 and 2 meets in Harrisonburg on Friday and Saturday.
“We had a great meet,” said Glenvar coach Neil Swanson.
Glenvar had a state champion in senior Joey Loder, who is headed to Radford University to run track next year. Joey won the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 39.18 and he also finished second in the 110 hurdles at 14.63. Loder now has three state championship medals this school year as he took first in the 55 hurdles and 500 meters at the state indoor championships in March.
Loder also anchored Glenvar’s sixth place 4×100 relay team. The foursome also consisted of Ranger Swanson, Grayson Harris and Tre Dawyot as they ran a time of 43.97.
The Glenvar 4×800 team took third. Cash Malcom, Aldin Smith, Asher Faught and Evan Harris combined for a time of 8:20.40.
In the girls’ meet Elle Graffeo took fourth place in the pole vault, clearing seven feet. Sophia Hammersley was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 16.87 and just missed scoring in the 300 hurdles with a ninth place finish. Anna Hall earned a point for the Highlanders with an eighth place in the 1,600 and Rayya Bryson was one spot away from all-state with a ninth place in the 800.
Glenvar took fifth in two relay events. The 4×400 team of Hall, Bryson, Lauren Smith and Kailee McDonald ran a time of 4:20.84 and the 4×800 team of Hall, Bryson, Smith and Everly Shanks came home in 10:24.88.
“Overall, I think we had a successful season,” said Swanson. “This year’s team was the smallest since I’ve been at Glenvar and hopefully the numbers will rebound next year.”
