With the regular school year and VHSL competitions complete, several Pulaski County athletes have pushed themselves even further by taking on the challenge of competing at a national event against the best the United States has to offer in track and field.
In one of his last competitions as a middle
schooler, recent PCMS eighth grader and upcoming PCHS freshman Cole
Boone earned a National Championship in the Middle School Division
one-mile run today at the Adidas National Championships at North
Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC. His time of 4:36 was good
enough to beat his opponent, David Johnson of Georgia, by a full second
with a final sprint at the end of the race. Boone will compete in the
800-meter race Sunday.
Several other athletes were also at the National meet representing Pulaski County.
Blake Ratcliffe, who is also a rising freshman and recent PCMS eighth grader, finished fourth in the Nation in the shot put competition, earning him the title of All-American. His throw of 38’ 9.5”. First place went to an athlete from Tallahassee, Florida, with a throw of 53’ 3.5”. He also finished 12th in the nation in the discus throw.
Skylar Boone, also a rising ninth grader, also competed in the shot and discus at the meet. He finished eighth in the shot put and 10th in the discus.
Tanner Linkous, also a rising freshman, competed in the middle school mile, finishing 28th overall.
Two students represented Pulaski County in the High School division.
Diego Turner, a rising senior at PCHS and recent State Champion in the shot put, finishing seventh in the nation in that event. The winner was Jordae Edwards with a throw of 59’ 7.5”. Turner also competed in the discus throw, where he finished in 10th nationally. The winner of the discus was Tyrique Taylor of Christiansburg High School with a throw of 165.5’.
Garrett Kinder, a rising junior at Pulaski County High School, ran a 4:34 in the 1,600-meter race, finishing 13th nationally against all high schoolers in the National Elite Division.
“We’re very happy about how the last couple days have gone,” Cougar Head Coach Sirak Ogbagabir said. “The performance from Cole Boone to win a National Championship is huge at every level for our program and gives us a lot of excitement for the future. Bringing out kids to this competition is a step up, no question, and to see all of them perform in the way they did is a great thing for the future of Cougar track and field. We're very proud of all of our athletes.”
**Photo by Mike Turner**