The Panther track team has run a long path to 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 Doddridge County for their season opener. It was cold, so cold that the heat had to have blankets.

It was some tough running to say the least. That being said, they did the best they could under extreme conditions. The Panthers, both girls and boys, finished in third place overall. Individual standouts in the boys’ events include:  Earl Jarrett took 5^th in the 200 meter dash, Nate Canfield took 3^rd in the 400 meter dash, David Tanner took 2^nd in the 1600 meter run, Isaiah Spencer took 3^rd in the 3200 meter run, Hunter Jones took 3^rd in the 300 meter hurdles, the 4×400 meter team was 3^rd, the 4×800 team took 2^nd,  Logan Vance took 3^rd in the high jump, and David Tanner took 4^th in the long jump.  The girls’ individual stand outs were:  Sharina Ratliff  taking 2^nd  in the 800 meter run and 3^rd in 1600 meter run, Chloe Jones was 3^rd in 3200 meter run, Lexi Ramsey was 3^rd in 300 hurdles, the 4×100 team took 3^rd , the 4×200 took  2^nd,  the  4×400 team took 3^rd, and Katie Payne took  2^nd in the shot put with a toss of 28 ft 9 in, and was 5^th in discus at 68 ft 10 in.

Then came the meet at Roane County which would prove to be a milestone for the Panther track and field teams since they restarted the program eight years ago – they were the winners of the meet!  They ran and jumped their legs off and won big. Standouts on the girls’ team were:  Madelyn Kilpatrick took first in the 400 meter dash,  Sharina Ratliff took first in the 800 meter and the 1600 meter run,  Chloe Jones took 2^nd in the 3200 meter run,  Payton Loving took 1^st  in the 100 meter high hurdles, the 4×100 and the 4×200 meter teams took 2^nd  place and the 4×400 and the 4×800 teams took 1^st.  Jessica Morris took second in the high jump. Emily Holcomb took second in the shot put.  Boys’ standouts were:  Earl Jarrett took 2^nd in the 200 meter dash,  Nate Canfield took 2^nd in the 400 meter dash,  David Tanner took 2^nd  in the 800 meter run and placed first in the 1600 meter run, and Tyler Cummings took 1^st  in the 3200 while teammate Zach Jarrett took 2^nd.  Garrett Quinn took 2^nd  in the 110 meter and 300 meter high hurdles. The 4×100 relay team took second place and the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams took first place.  The shuttle team placed second. Shane Bonura placed second in both the shot put and the discus throw.

Congratulations to the Panther Track team on their first meet win since they started eight years ago. The final tally for Clay boys was 216 points, Roane 177, Calhoun 41. The total for Clay girls was 231, Roane 181, and Calhoun 48. The team will be at Roane once again on Tuesday for a quad match.

Go Panthers!