Only a few years ago, Pendleton County track was just a dream. No home facility, no place to hold a proper practice, no equipment, but definitely athletes and interest.
Two years ago, the coaches were working to build a team.
Last year, that team sent representatives to states.
This year the Wildcats arrived as a squad ready to make its mark at the conference, regional, and state levels in both boys’ and girls’ events. The girls side triumphed in their region while the boys team sent a number of competitors who showed the potential of Wildcat track for years to come.
Travis Owens made a little history, earning his way to state competition in track while also helping to pitch and hit the Wildcat baseball team to state tournament play as well.
The 400-meter race saw Cameron Wyatt placing 11th with a personal best time of 53.67.
In the 4×200 relays, the team of Owens, Cayson Armstrong, Sam Eason, and Wyatt ran for 10th place with a 1:39.9. The 4×400 team of Wyatt, Cain Nulph, Cayden Minor-Figueroa, and Eason ran for 14th and a personal best of 4:01.28. For the 4×110 shuttle hurdles event, the team of Logan Fisher, Minor-Figueroa, Armstrong, and Jonah See placed 10th with a 1:14.20.
On the girls’ side, individuals and relay teams also competed well.
Olivia Gonshor ran in the 400-meter race, placing 14th with a time of 1:13.63.
In the 800, Allison Reuss took 14th with 3:00.37, followed directly by Shayne Clutter in 15th earning a mark of 3:08.16. Callie Dunn gave her team a 12th place finish in the 1600 with a time of 6:18.13 and eighth in the 3200 with a personal best of 13:36.56.
The 4×200 team of Carly Kimble, Charity Chan, Arianna Alt, and Gonshor took 11th with a personal best of 2:02.74. Gonshor, Reuss, Makayla Turner, and Kimble in the 4×400 placed 14th with a time of 5:29.26. For the 4×800 race, a personal best time of 12:12.34 and eighth place was earned by Reuss, Clutter, Evie Nulph, and Dunn.
In the 4×102.5 shuttle hurdles, a ninth-place finish with a time of 1:23.83, a personal best, was taken by Kimble, Nulph, Dunn, and McKenzie Vandevander.
Medals were earned by Dunn for the 3200 and the girls 4×800 team.
