The Salem and Glenvar track teams competed at two locations last weekend. The Highlanders took six athletes to the big VA Showcase meet in Virginia Beach and both the Salem team and other Highlanders competed in the Walter Bass Invitational at Liberty University, which also had a large number of schools entered.
At Virginia Beach Glenvar senior Joey Loder was selected for the Invitational 55 hurdles, placing 15th out of 41 with a time of 7.67. He also competed in the 300 dash (36.16), placing 104 out of 608 athletes.
Aldin Smith ran a PR in the 1600 with a time of 4:45.63 and a nine-second PR in the 3200 with a time of 10:10.66. The girls 4×400 relay with Anna Hall, Kailee McDonald, Rayya Bryson and Aiden Beverly had a season best with a time of 4:21.27.
At Liberty University Glenvar’s Evan Harris took fifth in the boys’ open 500 with a time of 1:10.10. Evan was also part of the boys’ 4×800 team that took fifth overall with teammates Jackson Wimmer, Cash Malcolm and Asher Fought, and the boys 4×200 who ran a personal best with teammates Will Howard, Wimmer and Bill Brown.
“We are looking forward to being back together and preparing for our next meet on February 7th at Roanoke College for those who qualify,” said coach Bekka Loder.
Salem also ran at Liberty and had some strong performances. DaVon Jones met the state standard n the 55 hurdles and Aedon Wiley did the same in the 300 dash. Salem’s 4×400 team of Wiley, Jones, Fergins Ciril and Nicholas Baxley also met the state standard and Salem’s 4×800 relay team finished fourth and ran a season’s best with Grant Horner, Isaac Snow, Austin Prosser and John Stovall.
“We were very happy to get back to the fast, banked track at Liberty University,” said coach Tom Roth. “Although it was a very long day, we had many season best performances.”
