Falcon Boys 4x800, Broadneck’s Rivas Claim Individual Boys Track Titles

Two local entrants topped the charts at the 4A state track and field championship meet, held at Morgan State University over Memorial Day weekend.

Broadneck’s Cooper Rivas added an outdoor state pole vault title to his indoor crown from the winter season, clearing 13 feet, 6 inches on his final attempt to win the title by six inches.

Severna Park’s 4x800 relay team of Collin Denton, Reilly Caldwell, Chase Johnson and Brenden Woods outpaced the field to win the race, clocking a time of 7:54.74.

The Falcons scored team points in seven total events, placing eighth in the team standings. Woods came in second in the 1,600 meters and eighth in the 3,200, while Collin Blain was eighth in the 300 hurdles. Matthew Williams finished joint-third in the high jump and fifth in the triple jump, while Christopher Robinson picked up a couple of points by finishing seventh in the pole vault.

Broadneck was 21st in the team standings, with Myles Bryan joining Rivas as scorers when he finished seventh in the triple jump.

In the girls competition, Severna Park distance runners carried the Falcons to a second-place finish in the team standings.

The Falcons scored in just five of the 18 events, but their depth shone through as they piled up points in those events to finish in a three-way tie for second behind runaway winner Woodlawn.

Grace Redmond finished second in the 1,600 meters and fourth in the 800, while Siena Pegues finished third in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events. Josie Kamas finished fourth in the 3,200 and sixth in the 1,600; Harper Wallace was eighth in the 800; and Lexi Fitzsimmons came home eighth in the 3,200.

Redmond, Pegues, Wallace and Fitzsimmons combined for a second-place finish in the 4x800 relay.

The 800 and 1,600 were particularly wild events. In the 800, the top nine finishers all set new personal records at the state meet, while seven of the top nine in the 1,600 did the same, and the two who didn’t still logged their best time of the season.

In addition to the distance races, pole vaulter Alexa Holt placed seventh to grab a couple more precious points.

For Broadneck, Nkechi Streete finished second in the triple jump, and Abby Shown matched that result in the discus throw. Sedona Clarke placed third in the high jump, Dana Doubek and Brielle Butitt were fourth and fifth in the pole vault, and Ashtyn Coates was eighth in the 400 meters.

For relays, the quartet of Streete, Jayla Johnson, Hailey Pietro and Naya Sam finished sixth in the 4x100, while Chandler Scott, Sophia Hickey, Taylor Anthonis and Jeannette Manseau teamed up to place eighth in the 4x800.

Broadneck finished eighth in the team standings.