The Shadow
PALMYRA Va. (VR) – The Alleghany High School track team is headed to the VHSL 3A State Championship on June 6, after an impressive showing at the regional meet that saw three relay teams and several standout individuals punch their tickets to the season’s biggest stage.
The boys 4×100 meter relay team secured 6th place with a time of 44.27, earning their spot at the state championship. The team—White, Frye, Christian, and Jordan—delivered a smooth and aggressive race to hold off tough competition. On the girls’ side, the 4×100 relay squad, made up entirely of sophomores, finished 3rd overall with a time of 51.24. The team of Cambria Ransom, Jaylin Robinson, Ella Hipes, and Ja’Kara Heighter proved their potential, showing that they were there to win.
The highlight of the day came from the girls 4×800 meter relay team, which dominated the competition and earned 1st place. Kiera Lowman, Maggie Hensley, Willow Morgan, and Faith Barron combined their distance strength for a powerful team win, securing not only a spot at states but also bragging rights as regional champions.
Several individual athletes also made waves. In sprinting events, Ja’Kara Heighter claimed 3rd place in the girls 100 meter dash with a time of 12.56 and added a 14th-place finish in the 200 meter dash, clocking in at 27.86. Teammates Cambria Ransom and Jaylin Robinson finished 16th and 17th, respectively, in the 100 meters, both running strong times just over 13 seconds. Ransom also placed 16th in the 200 at 27.95.
In the hurdles, Brooklyn Connor had a strong day, placing 8th in the girls 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.90, and taking 9th in the 300 meter hurdles in 54.11 seconds. Catie Lipes followed in the 300 with a 14th-place finish, clocking 56.26.
Desmond Jordan had a stellar performance in the boys 110 meter hurdles, taking 4th place and also finishing 9th in the boys triple jump with a mark of 40′ 3 ¼”. In the boys 100 meter dash, Nick Frye placed 30th with a time of 11.62.
Middle-distance standout Kiera Lowman doubled up her success by placing 3rd in the 1600 meter run, clocking 5:02.59, while teammate Maggie Hensley earned 12th in the same event. In the girls 3200 meter, Faith Barron crossed the line in 10th place with a time of 12:36.29. In the boys 800 meter, Evan Bishop finished 6th with a time of 2:01.82, rounding out Alleghany’s strong showing in distance events.
In the girls 400 meter dash, Ty’aieja Smith placed 17th, and on the boys’ side, Maddox Wickline and Miles Christian ran tough races, placing 6th and 9th respectively, with times of 51.31 and 51.67.
The boys 4×400 relay team of Christian, Wickline, Bishop, and Ross ran one of the day’s most exciting races, finishing 4th overall with a time of 3:29.66—a strong finish that showcased the Cougars’ strength in teamwork and endurance.
In the field events, Xzavier Hayslett earned a silver medal in the boys high jump, clearing 6 feet to take 2nd place. For the girls, Elin Heck and Ty’aieja Smith each cleared 4′ 6″ to tie for 8th place in the high jump. Smith also finished 10th in the long jump, measuring 16′ 1½”.
In the girls triple jump, Jaylin Robinson landed a jump of 30′ 10″, placing 20th, while in the boys triple jump, Desmond Jordan again represented Alleghany with a solid 9th-place finish. In the throws, Chloe Warlitner placed 17th in the girls discus with a throw of 78′ 6″, and James Ross finished 15th in the boys discus, throwing 107′ 11″. Autumn Dunbar threw 26′ 5″ in the girls shot put, finishing 16th.
With multiple top-three finishes, strong relay performances, and three relay teams bound for the VHSL 3A State Championship, Alleghany enters the final meet of the season with confidence and momentum. From sprints to distance to field events, the Cougars have proven themselves as one of the most well-rounded teams in the region.
The VHSL Class 3 state track meet, will be held at Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia on June 6-7th.
