Cutline for the front page lead in pic- Sawyer Dobbins sweeps the field. Allen Hamrick photo.
By Allen Hamrick
The Panther track team has run a long path in becoming a force on the track and in field events. This year, new faces have joined the team and are already making an impact. The Panthers, both boys and girls, traveled to Roane County for their season opener this past Saturday, March 17. It was cold and blustery day for an opening season meet, and it made the running and field events tough to say the least. That being said, they did the best they could under extreme conditions. The Panthers finished in second place overall with six teams competing and the Lady Panthers finished 2nd overall with seven teams competing. The boys finished with 158 points and the girls finished with 86.
Sawyer Dobbins swept the competition in the distance runs taking first in the 800, 1600 and the 3200 meter events. Sawyer is destined in the running world to be at the top of the food chain; when it comes to distance, he will be hard to beat. Brady Jones took 1st in the discus throw and 4th in the shot put event. Ethan Morris took 2nd in the shot put and Garrett Taylor took 3rd. Other individual standouts in the boys’ events include Jacob McCune in the 200 and 400 meter runs placing 4th overall. Ethan Quinn took 2nd in the 110 meter high hurdles. Evan Bass took 3rd in the 110 meter hurdles as well as 4th in the 300 meter hurdles and 3rd in the long jump. Daymian Stricker took 3rd in the high jump. In the relay events, the Panthers took 1st in the 4×200, 3rd in the 4×400, 2nd in the 4×800, 2nd in the 4×110 meter hurdles and 4th in the 4×100 relay.
The Lady Panther standouts were Evie Young who took 5th in the 800 meter run, 2nd in the 3200 meter run and 3rd in the high jump. Sarah Ligeralde took 2nd in the shot put and 4th in the discus. Xena Legg took 3rd in the shot put. Ashley Roberts was 5th in the long jump. Olivia Witt was 4th in the 1600 and the 3200 meter runs. Destiny Mullins took 3rd in the 3200 meter run. In the relay events, the Lady Panthers took 1st in the 4×800, 1st in the 102.5 meter shuttle hurdles, 3rd in the 4×200 and 3rd in the 4×100 meter relays.
The Panther track team is well on the way to having a stellar season on the track. They will only get better as the season rolls on and stand a good chance at putting a few in the state championships; only time will tell. Their next meet will be at Roane again on March 21, so if you get a chance it is forecasted be a sunny day for a change.
In other news, the Panther baseball team dominated their season opener taking down Sherman High school in an away game 16-9. They locked horns with South Charleston and came out on the short end losing 5-15. This should be a good season for the Panthers. They have games lined up all next week starting with Midland Trail on March 20, Calhoun on March 21st and their home opener against Hoover on March 2d. Lady Panther softball will be in action on March 21 in an away game against Calhoun County, and their home opener will be on March 23 against Webster County.
