By CHAD COOPER
[email protected]
Grundy’s all-American distance runner Keyston Hartford closed out his high school career with a pair of podium finishes, earning a runner-up finish in the 1,600-meter run and a third-place finish in the 800 at the VHSL Class 1 Track and Field Championships held June 5–6 at James Madison University.
Hartford, competing in his final meet in a Grundy uniform, turned in one of the most consistent distance performances of the championship, finishing second in the 1,600 in 4:26.10. He was narrowly edged by Parry McCluer’s Kebryl Chandler, who won in 4:22.45, while Eastern Montgomery’s Calvin Wilbon placed third in 4:26.13 in a tightly packed finish.
Earlier in the meet, Hartford added a third-place showing in the 800, crossing in 2:01.59. Luray’s Azmani Jackson won the event in 1:56.29, with Eastern Montgomery’s Grayson Welcher taking second in 1:59.19.
The strong finishes capped a standout high school career for Hartford, who has been among the state’s top distance runners in Class 1 competition.
Across the meet, several athletes delivered standout championship performances. Rappahannock’s Michael Ball highlighted the sprint events, winning the 100 meters in 11.04 and later capturing the 400 in 48.83. Rural Retreat’s Trey Ward added a sprint title of his own, winning the 200 in 22.66 while also helping set the tone for a strong overall showing in the shorter races.
In the distance events, Parry McCluer’s Kebryl Chandler dominated the longer races, winning both the 1,600 (4:22.45) and the 3,200 (9:36.11). Eastern Montgomery also made its mark in the mid-distance races, highlighted by Azmani Jackson’s victory in the 800.
Field events were controlled largely by Auburn athletes, who racked up multiple championships and podium finishes. Gideon Miear cleared 6-foot-6 to win the high jump, while Kobi Bonds and Colton Honaker led a sweep-like performance in the shot put and discus. Bonds captured the shot put title with a throw of 62-1, while Honaker won the discus at 157-6.
Relay races saw Rural Retreat, Rappahannock, and Eastern Montgomery among the top performers, with Rappahannock winning the 4×400-meter relay in 3:24.43 and Eastern Montgomery taking the 4×800 in 8:09.02.
BOYS
100-METER DASH
Michael Ball, Rappahannock, 11.04; 2. Harrison Washington, Sussex Central, 11.10; 3. Trey Ward, Rural Retreat, 11.14; 4. Isayah Hamann, Auburn, 11.27; 5. Nate Woods, Riverheads, 11.35; 6. Zeyon Owens, Northumberland, 11.36; 7. Jaden Holmes, Essex, 11.39; 8. Mikah Busquets, Chincoteague, 11.41; 9. Makoa Busquets, Chincoteague, 11.42.
200-METER DASH
Trey Ward, Rural Retreat, 22.66; 2. Jah’nell Meredith, Brunswick, 22.78; 3. Harrison Washington, Sussex Central, 22.82; 4. Kentrez Rice, Northumberland, 22.99; 5. Jaeden Weeden, King & Queen, 23.06; 6. Makoa Busquets, Chincoteague, 23.14; 7. Dallas Harner, Patrick Henry (Glade Spring), 23.20; 8. Mikah Busquets, Chincoteague, 23.21; 9. Jamari Slayton, Altavista Combined, 23.76.
400-METER DASH
Michael Ball, Rappahannock, 48.83; 2. Azmani Jackson, Luray, 49.01; 3. Jeremy Lanier, Rappahannock, 50.52; 4. Garrett Dickison, Chilhowie, 51.23; 5. Daniel Hill, Essex, 51.60; 6. Cooper Helvey, Narrows, 51.89; 7. Dallas Harner, Patrick Henry (Glade Spring), 52.25; 8. Kevin Turner, Middlesex, 52.36; 9. James King, Auburn, 52.61; 10. Bradley Kell, Chilhowie, 52.62.
800-METER RUN
Azmani Jackson, Luray, 1:56.29; 2. Grayson Welcher, Eastern Montgomery, 1:59.19; 3. Keyston Hartford, Grundy, 2:01.59; 4. Jaden Turner, Brunswick, 2:01.71; 5. Josh Cooper, Parry McCluer, 2:01.88; 6. Gunnar Marston, Middlesex, 2:02.09; 7. Mason West, Chilhowie, 2:03.32; 8. Luke Baxter, Highland, 2:03.58; 9. T.J. Hines, Sussex Central, 2:03.64; 10. Cy Jarvis, Riverheads, 2:03.67.
1,600-METER RUN
Kebryl Chandler, Parry McCluer, 4:22.45; 2. Keyston Hartford, Grundy, 4:26.10; 3. Calvin Wilbon, Eastern Montgomery, 4:26.13; 4. Will Gosnell, Eastern Montgomery, 4:36.53; 5. Blake Brown, Auburn, 4:38.24; 6. Caleb Cooper, Parry McCluer, 4:40.22; 7. Spencer Sisson, Eastern Montgomery, 4:40.56; 8. Logan Wheelock, Parry McCluer, 4:41.55; 9. Darius Jones, Middlesex, 4:42.60; 10. Caleb Sampson, Eastern Montgomery, 4:45.13.
3,200-METER RUN
Kebryl Chandler, Parry McCluer, 9:36.11; 2. Calvin Wilbon, Eastern Montgomery, 9:40.97; 3. Caleb Cooper, Parry McCluer, 9:46.55; 4. Blake Brown, Auburn, 9:49.06; 5. Spencer Sisson, Eastern Montgomery, 9:59.75; 6. Logan Wheelock, Parry McCluer, 10:03.07; 7. Courtland Jones, George Wythe (Wytheville), 10:06.49; 8. Jaxon Mayer, Giles, 10:38.23; 9. Calan Parks, Bland County, 10:40.55; 10. Drew Robinson, Rappahannock County, 10:48.69.
110-METER HURDLES
Jayden Bullock, Sussex Central, 14.83; 2. Jorden Ross, Brunswick, 14.85; 3. Isayah Hamann, Auburn, 15.18; 4. Storm Parker, Riverheads, 15.86; 5. Ryder Wilson, Sussex Central, 16.10; 6. Jamir Roberts, Brunswick, 16.18; 7. Daniel Frey, Luray, 16.35; 8. Payton Welch, John I. Burton, 16.38; 9. Mark Tankard, Northampton, 16.99.
300-METER HURDLES
Storm Parker, Riverheads, 39.45; 2. Gabe Rouse, Chilhowie, 40.20; 3. Isayah Hamann, Auburn, 40.27; 4. Daniel Frey, Luray, 41.56; 5. Ryder Wilson, Sussex Central, 41.60; 6. Jayden Bullock, Sussex Central, 41.70; 7. Jamir Roberts, Brunswick, 41.93; 8. Tripp Moncure, Rappahannock, 42.21; 9. Achilles Axline, Auburn, 42.34; 10. Abdullah Fulani, Cumberland, 42.77.
4X100-METER RELAY
Rural Retreat, 43.09; 2. Riverheads, 43.13; 3. Northumberland, 43.59; 4. Cumberland, 43.80; 5. Brunswick, 43.96; 6. Rappahannock, 44.15; 7. Narrows, 44.40; 8. Chilhowie, 44.45; 9. Altavista Combined, 44.71; 10. Essex, 44.74.
4X400-METER RELAY
Rappahannock, 3:24.43; 2. Chilhowie, 3:26.58; 3. Cumberland, 3:33.29; 4. Auburn, 3:33.95; 5. Patrick Henry (Glade Spring), 3:34.23; 6. Luray, 3:34.36; 7. Northampton, 3:34.44; 8. Rappahannock County, 3:35.25; 9. Sussex Central, 3:35.58; 10. Buffalo Gap, 3:35.61.
4X800-METER RELAY
Eastern Montgomery, 8:09.02; 2. Parry McCluer, 8:11.28; 3. Middlesex, 8:28.12; 4. Chilhowie, 8:29.68; 5. Auburn, 8:38.13; 6. Mathews, 8:44.86; 7. Rappahannock County, 8:46.95; 8. Riverheads, 8:48.35; 9. Buffalo Gap, 8:53.21; 10. Rappahannock, 8:55.91.
HIGH JUMP
Gideon Miear, Auburn, 6-6; 2. Davonte Griffin, Middlesex, 6-4; 3. Marshall Tate, Eastern Montgomery, 6-2; 4. Maverick Cress, Rye Cove, 6-2; 5. Cy Jarvis, Riverheads, 6-0; 6. Christian Destin, Rappahannock, 6-0; 6. Jamar Hammond, Middlesex, 6-0; 8. Kevin Turner, Middlesex, 6-0; 8. Xavier Stuart, Riverheads, 6-0; 10. Caleb Cregger, Craig County, 5-10.
LONG JUMP
Skyler McBride, George Wythe (Wytheville), 22-2¼; 2. Jah’nell Meredith, Brunswick, 21-8; 3. Eli Martin, Fort Chiswell, 21-3¼; 4. Davonte Griffin, Middlesex, 21-3¼; 5. Demure Palmer, Northumberland, 21-1¼; 6. Maverick Cress, Rye Cove, 21-0; 7. Nate Woods, Riverheads, 20-11; 8. Malcolm Bivens, Sussex Central, 20-9¼; 9. Jaeden Weeden, King & Queen, 20-8¾; 10. Ethan Brunk, Auburn, 20-4½.
TRIPLE JUMP
Mark Tankard, Northampton, 44-9¾; 2. Davonte Griffin, Middlesex, 44-7½; 3. Marshall Tate, Eastern Montgomery, 43-4; 4. Deonta Bartee, Cumberland, 42-8¼; 5. Azzari Patterson, Cumberland, 41-10; 6. Arek Ashlock, Essex, 41-9¼; 7. Jah’nell Meredith, Brunswick, 41-9¼; 8. Ethan Brunk, Auburn, 40-11; 9. Kameron Keen, Honaker, 40-10¼; 10. Ryder Wilson, Sussex Central, 40-¾.
POLE VAULT
Thomas Hungarland, Galileo, 12-6; 2. Danton McClellan, Auburn, 12-0; 3. Haze Williams, Riverheads, 12-0; 4. Luke Bryant, Galileo, 11-6; 5. Micah Richards, Auburn, 11-0; 6. William Ball, Lancaster, 10-6; 7. Kendrick Collins, Northampton, 10-6; 8. Dallas Harner, Patrick Henry (Glade Spring), 10-6; 9. Kolby Morris, Galileo, 10-0; 10. Trevin Mower, Auburn, 9-6.
DISCUS
Colton Honaker, Auburn, 157-6; 2. Kobi Bonds, Auburn, 156-3; 3. Raleigh Brown, Auburn, 146-6; 4. Aidan Broughman, Chilhowie, 139-6; 5. Griffin Harlow, Parry McCluer, 136-1; 6. Jackson Holbrook, Chilhowie, 134-1; 7. Jonathan Worley, Giles, 133-9; 8. Remington Houck, Rappahannock, 128-10; 9. Arnell Tucker, Galileo, 126-11; 10. Noah Steele, Giles, 118-7.
SHOT PUT
Kobi Bonds, Auburn, 62-1; 2. Raleigh Brown, Auburn, 53-6¼; 3. Colton Honaker, Auburn, 53-3; 4. Griffin Harlow, Parry McCluer, 51-3½; 5. Ethan Lawson, Rye Cove, 49-7; 6. Kavion Brown-Jackson, George Wythe (Wytheville), 48-7½; 7. Taivian Holmes, Essex, 47-2; 8. Jackson Holbrook, Chilhowie, 46-2½; 9. Remington Houck, Rappahannock, 45-1; 10. Zion Graham, Rappahannock, 44-1.
