The Shadow
FISHERSVILLE, Va. (VR) – Alleghany rolled into Wilson Memorial and left with hardware on both sides, as the girls dominated the district meet and the boys finished strong in third.
The Alleghany girls piled up 197 points to win the team title. The boys finished third overall with 95 points in a competitive field.
The Cougars’ depth showed up everywhere, starting in the relays. The girls 4×800 team of Minter, Morris, Spinks and Halsey ran 12:17.68 to place second. The 4×100 squad of Hannah Hipes, Jaylin Robinson, Ja’Kara Heighter and Cambria Ransom won in 50.18, breaking their own school record and punching their ticket to the state meet. The mark now ranks third in Class 3A.
In the sprints and hurdles, Alleghany stacked finishes across the board. Brooklyn Connor was 4th in the 100 hurdles at 17.82. Taylor Jenkins placed 9th (21.86) and Zamya Hayslett 10th (21.92). In the 100 hurdles sprint group, Ja’kara Heighter won in 12.53, Jaylin Robinson was 2nd in 13.13, Cambria Ransom 6th (13.47), and Hannah Hipes 7th (13.60).
The 100 meter dash saw more points come in bulk. Heighter again led the way in 12.53 for 1st. Ransom placed 6th (13.47) and Hipes 7th (13.60).
Middle distance was controlled by Alleghany. Faith Barron won the 1600 in 5:40.82. Maggie Hensley was 3rd (5:53.89), Alexandra Downs 6th (6:18.85), and Madilyn Via 9th (6:49.83). In the 800, Kiera Lowman took 1st in 2:22.86, with Hensley 5th (2:40.31).
The 400 brought more scoring with Leigha Byers finishing 2nd in 1:02.21, Willow Morgan 4th (1:03.78), Dani Halsey 8th (1:09.29), and Karizma Legg 10th (1:12.43).
In the 200, Cambria Ransom was 2nd in 27.35, Ty’aieja Smith 3rd (27.87), with Hipes 5th.
The distance races stayed consistent. Adrienne Downs took 2nd in the 3200 (15:20.73), Charlotte Taylor 3rd (15:36.51), and Avery Spinks 4th (15:45.03).
The 300 hurdles added more points with Brooklyn Connor 5th in 55.36 and Elin Heck 7th in 56.99.
Field events backed up the track production. Ty’aieja Smith won the long jump at 16’ 0 1/2”, with Elin Heck 3rd (14’ 11”), and Jaylin Robinson 6th (14’ 0 1/2”). Robinson also placed 3rd in the triple jump at 30’ 6”.
Chloe Warlitner added two scoring throws, finishing 4th in discus (87’ 0”) and 6th in shot put (29’ 3”).
In the high jump, Elin Heck was 4th at 5’ 0”. In pole vault, Ja’kara Heighter was 4th at 7’ 6”, and Hannah Hipes placed 5th at 6’ 6”.
The girls closed the meet in control once again in the 4×400, as Smith, Byers, Heighter and Morgan won in 4:26.23.
Alleghany’s girls didn’t just win the district—they did it with balance, depth, and record-setting speed, headlined by a state-qualifying 4×100 that keeps them firmly among the top 3A programs in Virginia.
Alleghany’s boys turned in a strong district performance at Wilson Memorial, finishing third overall with 95 team points while stacking up wins, podium finishes, and a record-setting relay that will be remembered for years.
The headline moment came on the final track race of the meet.
The 4×400 relay of Daimonie Clayton, Miles Christian, Evan Bishop and Maddox Wickline won in 3:26.98, breaking a 45-year-old school record. The group also shattered their previous mark of 3:27.8 and now sits ranked second among all Class 3 programs in Virginia. The win also punched their ticket to the state meet in June.
Wickline led a dominant distance and mid-distance day, winning the 1600 in 4:44.36 and coming back to take the 800 in 2:03.91. Cole Bowser added a 6th place finish in the 1600 at 4:59.00.
Miles Christian was equally impactful across events. He won the 400 in 50.02, added a 1st place long jump at 20’ 5”, and anchored relay success throughout the day. Evan Bishop finished 2nd in the 400 and added a 9th in the 300 hurdles (48.81), while Trevor Jonas was 9th in the 400 (57.48) and Kenton Kirby 10th (58.98).
Desmond Jordan picked up a win in the 110 hurdles at 15.20 and added a 7th place finish in the 300 hurdles (48.62).
Sprints brought depth points as well. Daimonie Clayton was 5th in the 100 (11.53), Jayden Richmond 10th (12.00), then Richmond added a 7th in the 200 (24.75). JeSean Riddick placed 9th in the 200 (25.06).
In the 3200, Nolan Rosales finished 10th in 12:19.08.
The 4×800 relay of Braedan Lemons, Ryan Tucker, Simmons and Nolan Roales placed 5th in 10:37.66.
In the field, Sarge Persinger led the way with a 2nd place shot put throw of 44’ 1” and added 8th in discus at 92’ 9”.
JeSean Riddick added a 9th place finish in the triple jump at 34’ 11 1/4”, while Kirby Brown took 5th in the pole vault at 8’ 0”.
Alleghany’s boys left Wilson Memorial with multiple event wins, a relay record that stood for nearly half a century, and a state-bound 4×400 team that continues to push the program forward in Class 3 competition.
