The CCHS track team is in the news again and continues making waves in the track world. They opened their season at a six team matchup at Roane County.
It was a Clay County rout of the event. The track team has the biggest and best all around team they have had in any season. They have continued to get better and better as the years have rolled by, and they are proving it. They have a lot of new faces on the team and are tough to outrun especially on the relay teams. Most of the time in past seasons, the competition has brushed off Clay as overall competitors; individually they have shined but not as a group until this year. The new faces on the team have made a great impact and have put the Panthers on the top.
The weekend started with the 100 meter run. Crystal Chennault took 3rd. Sharina Ratliff took 2nd in the 200 meter and 2nd in the 400 meter. Gabby Beard, an up and coming track star according to her coaches, took a close 3rd in the 200 meter, with a little more experience she will be one to watch. Madelyn Kilpatrick was a close 3rd in the 400 meter and took 4th in the 800. Salyndria Gill took 2nd in the 1600 meter run. Lexi Ramsey took 2nd in the 100 meter hurdles and 3rd in the 300 meter hurdles. Taylor Samples was 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles.
On the relay teams, the Lady Panthers were like gazelles taking 4th in the 4×100, 1st in the 4×200, 1st in the 4×400, and 1st in the 4×800. The Lady Panthers running in the relays are Jacey Collins, Lexi Ramsey, Taylor Samples, Madelyn Kilpatrick, Sharina Ratliff, Celina Humphrey, Gabby Beard, Chloe Jones, Chloe Chennault and Serena Neal. They were 2nd in the 4×102.5. The girls won the event with a points score of 143.
The Lady Panther track team also placed second at the Don Williams Memorial with Sharina Ratliff placing 1st in the 800 meter run. The relay team placed 1st in the 4×200, the 4×400, 4×800, and the 4×102.5. Placing 2nd were Sharina Ratliff in the 400 meter, Madelyn Kilpatrick in the 800 meter and Lexi Ramsey in the 300 meter hurdles.
The boys were just as effective and were burning their track shoes. In the first event, it was an Earl Jarrett show in the early runs. Jarrett placed 2nd in both the 100 and 200 meter runs. Garrett Quinn was 1st in the 400 meter, 1st in the 110 meter hurdles and 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles. He was followed close in the 400 by Tanner Faulkner who placed 2nd. Isaiah Spencer was also making a name for himself as he placed 2nd in the 800, 3rd in the 1600 and 3rd in the 3200. Hunter Jones was 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles. In the relays teams, the boys placed 2nd in the 4×200, 1st in the 4×400 and 1st in the 4×800. The Panther team won the event with 147 points.
It was on to the Don Williams Memorial and the boys dominated the event. Earl Jarrett placed 3rd in both the 100 and 200 meter runs. Garrett Quinn was 2nd in the 400. Isaiah Spencer stepped up his game running 2nd in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Hunter Jones took top honors in the 110 meter hurdles followed by Garrett Quinn in 2nd place. The relay teams were 3rd in the 4×100 and 4×200, 1st in the 4×400 and 4×800 meter relay. They was also 1st in the 110 meter shuttle hurdles. Andrew Stutler was 3rd in the shot put, and Gabe Young was 3rd in the discus. The boys won with a total point score of 167.
This track team is running their way into the history books, and this seems to be the best year that the team has had yet. This could possibly be the Clay County Panthers dream team. The team will participate in the LKC Challenge on march 27th at Roane County and then again on march 30th at Laidley Field for the Herbert Hoover Invitational. Go Panthers!
