The Shadow
SALEM — Mitchell Tallman needed a tune-up last week.
The Covington High School sophomore won the pole vault at the Class 2, Region C championships a week ago Saturday, but his winning height was just 12 feet, 3 inches.
A trip to the University of Lynchburg and a session with Hornet assistant track coach Mike Parker was just what the doctor ordered.
Tallman surpassed his own school record at the Class 2 state championship Saturday at Roanoke College, vaulting 13-3 and winning the state title.
His winning effort was six inches better than runner-up Tucker Kiracofe of Buffalo Gap.
“I went to my coach in Lynchburg and the whole practice was dedicated to focusing on footwork,” Tallman said. “My biggest problem is committing and not backing out.”
Tallman committed himself to pole vaulting two years ago.
“(Former Covington track coach Ray) Sullins had posted it somewhere, asking if anyone wanted to do it,” he said. “I thought I might as well try it. I thought it was cool. It turned out I was pretty good at it.”
Tallman vaulted in one meet as an eighth grader and last year was the runner-up at both the state indoor and state outdoor meets.
Cougar junior Luke Fisher was also a pole vault all-stater with a fifth place finish (9-9).
Shaun Smith Jr. and T.K. Tomlinson joined the vaulters with top eight finishes.
Smith placed seventh in the shot put (45-11½) and Tomlinson, who won the 55 meter dash a year ago, was eighth Saturday with a time of 6.81.
Tomlinson also competed in the long jump, finishing 14th (18-11¾).
Austin Angle failed to clear the starting height in the high jump (5-8) on Friday.
The Cougars finished tied for 11th as a team with 17 points.
“Super proud of all my guys who competed this weekend at the state level,” said CHS coach Austin Gibson. “Very happy for Mitchell and his first place performance.
“The other kids did well too,” he added. “Overall my goal as a coach is to get kids to that state level to see where they rank and place as a competitor.
So once I get them to qualify, then the work starts getting them to the top level.”
Alleghany also had an all-state effort Saturday.
Mountaineer sophomore Levi Counts, who was also all-state in cross country, placed sixth in the 1,600 meter run with a season-best time of 4.46.78.
Counts placed 15th in the 3,200 meter run (11:18.41).
Junior Jeffrey Harris ran a personal-best time of 39.16 in the 300 meter dash, placing 20th.
“Levi is the classic example of what happens when someone gives 100 percent in practice and in races — and he’s got two more years,” said Alleghany assistant coach Seth Davis. “Jeffrey followed his regional runner-up performance with another PR. The sky is the limit for him next year.”
Parry McCluer, who won the cross country team title in the fall, outpointed John Marshall for the state team championship on Saturday.
Dylan May led the Fighting Blues with a victory in the 1,600 meter run.
Prince Edward County won the girls team title.
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Covington sophomore Mitchell Tallman clears the bar Saturday in the pole vault at Roanoke College. Tallman won the state championship with a vault of 13-3. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
