By Allen Hamrick
It was time to burn some cleats this past Saturday at the Lindsay Mann Memorial Invitational held at Roane County High School. Saturday was the perfect day for a rematch against Roane County after coming so close to a win the last time they met. With just six teams participating, the Panther track teams had a better than good chance at bringing down the Raiders. Scott, Calhoun, Gilmer and Sherman had some dogs in the hunt as well. Scott High School had some runners that could scorch the earth as well as perform in the field events thereby making it difficult to get the points needed to oust the Raiders as top dogs. Sherman also brought in some heavy hitters that could rack up the points.
The Lady Panthers went head to head in all the events with the top scoring Lady Raiders, and in the end, it was the Lady Raiders coming out on top with the Lady Panthers just seven points behind. It was a good day for the Lady Panthers. Jayda Stricker was a scoring machine grabbing 2nd in the 100 meter dash, 3rd in the 300 meter hurdles, 2nd in the 400 meter run and 3rd in the long jump. Olivia Witt also did a good job notching points placing 3rd in the 800 meter run, 1stin the 1600 meter, 2nd in the 3200 meter and 4th in the 100 meter hurdles. Cheyanne Taylor took 1st in the 3200, the 4×400 team took 1st and the 4×102.5 meter shuttle hurdles team also took 1st. Ariel Dobbins took 5th in the discus.
The boys also did well placing second overall, just 30 points behind the first place Raiders. Individually, Evan Bass was setting points on the board placing 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles, 2nd in the 300 meter hurdles and 2nd in the long jump. Trent Hinkle was 3rd in the 110 meter hurdles, 2nd in the 3200 meter run and 3rd in the pole vault. Takota Quinn was 3rd in the 110 meter hurdles and 2nd in the high jump. Daymian Stricker took 2nd in the pole vault and 3rd in the high jump. Kane Nida took 2nd in the 1600 meter run and 1st in the 3200 meter run. The 4×100 team took 3rd, the 4×110 meter shuttle hurdles took 1st and the 4×200 team took 3rd. Justin Nida was 4th in the 110 meter hurdles.
The Panther track team is working hard to put CCHS track back on the map for Clay County. Track is a tough sport; if you don’t think so, run from the couch to the refrigerator and back in under 15 minutes but keep an oxygen bottle close.
Congrats go out to Nathan Wynn and Olivia Witt for receiving the Lindsey Mann Memorial award for those seniors who exhibit great pride in doing what it takes to get their team to the top. Go Panthers!
