(Olivia Viers earned a Region title in the 55-meter hurdles Saturday)
Several Pulaski County indoor track and field athletes performed well at the Class 4, Region D meet at Roanoke College Saturday, including several who brought home individual Region Championships and even more who punched their ticket to the State meet Tuesday, February 28, at Liberty University.
“Our athletes went out there today and showed everyone that they were some of the toughest competitors in the Region,” Coach Hannah Alexander said. “We had a few athletes that weren’t a hundred percent, which kept us from really making some noise, but that’s coming. We’re a program that’s rebuilding and reloading right now.”
Three Lady Cougars stood out above all others for the day.
Olivia Viers earned a Region Championship in the 55-meter hurdles with her 8.86 effort. She also earned All-Region honors in four other events. She finished seventh in the triple jump (32’ 3.75”). She also earned eighth in the 55-meter (7.84), the long jump (15’ 8.5”), and the high jump (4’6”).
Kahlan Dishon earned a fifth-place finish in the shot put with her 28’ 2” throw. Shai-Anne Lyman earned ninth-place finish in the triple jump (30’ 10.5”) and long jump (15’ 4”), along with a 14th place finish in the 55-meter race (8.04).
“The wrecking balls that are Olivia Viers, Shai-Anne Lyman, and Kahlan Dishon proved that the Lady Cougars won’t be satisfied with anything less than being extraordinary,” Coach Alexander said. “Our biggest need in the girls’ program is more participants. We invite anyone who wants to become a part of this to come out and join us in the spring.”
For the Cougars, there were even more standouts.
Diego Turner continued his dominating ways in the shot put with yet another Region Championship, thanks to his 53’ .25” effort to break his previous Region D record. Turner will now advance to the State meet to try for another ring.
Cole Boone will also advance to the State meet thanks to his Region Championship in the 1,000-meter race (2:35). Boone has also qualified for the State meet earlier in the season for the 500-meter and 1,600-meter.
Kiontre Hayden finished fourth this weekend with a 45’ 11.25” shot put throw, but he qualified earlier in the season for a trip to the State meet.
Davis Neel earned a fifth-place finish in the 55-meter hudles with his time of 8.22, but he qualified earlier in the season for the State meet in that event.
Joel Burchett III earned All-Region honors in the triple jump with a 40’ 5.25” leap that earned seventh place. Johnny Anderson finished eighth in the long jump (19’ 8”) to earn All-Region.
Finally, the 4x400-meter team of Cole Boone, Davis Neel, Joel Burchett III, and Trey Landreth earned fourth place with their time of 3:40.37 to make the All-Region squad.
“Our Cougar boys showed true dedication and heart today,” Alexander said. “We saw personal records from just about every single athlete. The effort is there. Today gave us a renewed source of energy, and we are ready to take on the outdoor season.”