Track Teams Finish Top 10 At State

Staff Reports
Published: March 6, 2008

The Orange County High School indoor track teams capped a successful season with top-10 finishes at last weekend’s Group AA State Championship.

The boys team finished seventh and the girls tied for eighth among more than 40 schools placing at Liberty University.

Coach Renee Almond said it was the first time the OCHS girls team had ever scored points at the state meet.

The boys totaled 22 points, finishing behind winner Western Albemarle (57), Brookville (55), Blacksburg (47), Heritage (35), Jamestown (29) and Turner Ashby (27).

Logan Collins was the top finisher on the boys side, placing second in the 1000 meters. Collins ran his best time of the season and broke his own school record with a time of 2:29.02.

Kevin Pearson had a solid day for the Hornets, placing fourth in the 55 hurdles (7.89), finishing fifth in the long jump (21’ 6 ¼“) and placing sixth in the 55 meters (6.59).

Teammate Jeff Carey was less than a half a second behind Pearson and placed eighth in the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.24.

The boys 4 x 200 relay team of Pearson, Tyrone Ellis, Michael Johnson and Wyatt Pratt finished eighth in 1:35.26.

On the girls side, the 4 x 400 relay team of Nicole Walters, Kayla Jones, Shauna Prasse and Ashontae Jackson ran their best time of the season, broke their own school record and finished second (4:12.52). Coach Almond said the girls shaved three seconds off their previous best and ran their best race of the season when it mattered most.

Individually, Jackson finished fourth in the 300 meters, running her best time of the season and breaking her own school record with a time of 42.34.

Teammate Lynnie Bresnahan also broke her own school record with a 16’ 9 ¾“ long jump-good enough for a fourth-place finish and a personal best.
Even though outdoor track practice is underway, a handful of indoor stars will take their talents to the Nike Indoor Nationals March 15-16 in Landover, MD. There, Collins will compete in the 800 meters, Pearson in the 200 meters and Bresnahan will compete in the pentathalon (55 hurdles, 800 meters, long jump, high jump and shot put.)