The Shadow
Harrisonburg, VA – It was quite the day for the Alleghany Mountaineers Outdoor Track and Field team Saturday at James Madison University.
While Stuarts Draft High School and Glenvar High School won the boys and the girls state championships, it was the Mountaineers who made noise at the state track meet both as a team and individually.
As a team the boys finished in eight place, while the girls finished 23rd.
The boys 4×800 relay team led by Erik & Mason Honaker, Gabe Miller and Jeffrey Davis, made school history as they became the first of any relay teams in school history to win a relay state title.
The team had quite the lead at the end when it came time for M. Honaker who was the anchor, “When I got the baton, my teammates had put me in such a good position to win the race. I did not want to take it for granted knowing that we came into the race ranked second, so I gave it everything I had” said M. Honaker.
The relay team finished at 8:44.69.
“I was overwhelmed with excitement when I crossed the (finish) line and saw my teammates”, said M. Honaker on the joys of victory and seeing his teammates.
In the 800 meter run, Erik and Mason individually, would finish second and third.
“The boy’s 4×800 team exceeded expectations and really put the field away by 9 seconds more than they were supposed to. These guys showed up with a fierce attitude”, said Head Coach Jeremy Bartley.
Junior, Levi Counts, placed third in the boys 3200 meter run as well as fifth in the 1600 meter run.
Aidan Nicely finished 14th in discuss with a throw of 95 feet.
The girls 4×800 Relay led by Abby Martin, Alivia Hoover, Macyn Cash, and Gracie Barron finished in third place.
It was the best finish of any girls relay team at the state outdoor meet in school history.
The girls finished at 11:02.55.
Barron would also run in the girls 3200 where she finished in sixth place.
Cassey Evans was a state qualifier in the girls 1600 as she placed 10th.
Darcy Ross was also a state qualifier in the 4×800.
With the grabbing success at the state meet, both Counts (junior) and Barron only a sophomore, have plenty more on the horizon for next year, “Both Levi Counts and Gracie Barron ran Personal bests in their events with Levi earning all state honors in the 1 and 2 miles and Barron in the mile in addition to the relay” said Bartley.
What is next for the Mountaineers outdoor track team?
The team will lose several key seniors including; E. & M. Honaker, Davis, Martin, and Ross, but have a great team returning, “This team was led all year and at States by a very driven and talented group of Senior Athletes”, said Bartley.
Bartley would add, “Next year the girl’s 4×800 will be out for redemption with the addition of some very fast freshmen coming in. We look forward to recruiting some football players and other athletes to work on their sport specific skills such as sprinting, throwing shot and discus and working on their jumping.”
In a State Championship graduation ceremony, the graduating senior were recognized at the track meet in their AHS cap and gown in the middle of the JMU track. “It was something special to see” added Bartley.
