After recording its best state finish since 2010 last year, the Clarke County High School boys’ track & field team figures to be a force in Class 2 again.
The Eagles tied for third with Bull Run District rival Stonewall Jackson at last year’s Class 2 meet with 47 points, just 12 behind first-place Bruton (59) and 6.3 points behind Floyd County (53.3).
Clarke County — which also won its first Bull Run District title since 2021 — placed fourth in all three relay events at last year’s state meet, and it returns three legs of each relay.
The most prominent member of that relay pool is sophomore Isaac Nei. He made an immediate impact on the high school track & field scene last year, earning state medals in the 400 by taking second (his time of 49.44 was the area’s fastest) and 100 (sixth). Nei broke the school record in both events at the Class 2 meet, running 10.99 in the 100 preliminaries for the area’s second-best time. Nei — who ran on the 4×100 team at the state meet — also posted the area’s best marks in the 200 (22.44) and long jump (21 feet, 4 inches) last year.
Senior Jackson Ellis — who ran on the 4×400 and 4×800 teams at the state meet last year — could be in for a bigger year than last year now that he’s no longer player soccer and focusing completely on track. Ellis placed third in the 800 in 2:00.25 at last year’s state meet and had the area’s third-best 400 time (52.03).
Ellis is part of a talented distance pool for Clarke County that is coming off a state championship cross country season.
In addition to Ellis, other distance runners who competed in last year’s state meet individually who are back for this year’s team are sophomore Landon Horton (eighth in the 1,600 to earn a state medal), senior James Casey (15th in the 1,600), sophomore Matthew Lisk (18th in the 1,600) and sophomore Brody Ellis (13th in the 800). Brody Ellis and Lisk also ran on the 4×800 team.
Clarke County’s relay pool also includes some of the school’s best overall athletes in football stars Carson Chinn and Wyatt Palmer. The duo both ran on the 4×100 team last year, and Palmer and senior Logan LaMaster were both 4×400 runners.
The area Class 4 scene features an abundance of talent, including three athletes who have won state championships in either indoor or outdoor track & field, or both.
Sherando won the Northwestern District title last year and had the area’s best finishes at the Region 4D meet (tied for second) and the Class 4 meet (eighth). The Warriors are also coming off an indoor season in which they placed fourth in Region 4D.
Headlining the Warriors is two-time state high jump champion Noah Harris. The senior won the outdoor state title with a mark of 6-7 last year, and he improved on his school-record mark with a leap of 6-8 to win this year’s indoor title. The Winchester Star Boys’ Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year in 2024 also recorded the area’s No. 2 marks in the 400 (51.81; Harris was 16th in Class 4) and the triple jump (41-3.5).
Sherando senior Micah Carlson might be the most versatile athlete in area track & field. Last year in the discus he placed sixth in Class 4 and had the area’s best mark (154-11), tied for ninth in Class 4 in the high jump (he’s jumped as high as 6-6 when he was a sophomore), posted the area’s best mark in the triple jump (42-3), and took ninth in Region 4D in the long jump. Carlson has also hurdled and helped out with relays.
Senior Quincy Walker is another state medalist thrower for the Warriors. He placed seventh in Class 4 and had the area’s No. 3 mark (50-10) in the event last year.
Before heading off to play football for Wake Forest University, Handley senior Jaishaun Offutt will look to cap his career with his fourth state shot put title in two years. Offutt won the outdoor state title with a school-record mark of 57-2.5 last year, and he repeated as indoor state champion this year with a 56-6 throw.
Another state champion for the Judges (sixth in Region 4D last year) is junior Rylan Stribling, who captured the 55 in indoor track this year. He also placed seventh in the 300. Stribling had a stellar season last year in outdoor track, placing seventh in the 100 for a state medal in Class 4 and posting the area’s fastest time (10.92). Stribling also had the area’s No. 3 time in the 200 (22.90).
Senior Hassan Akanbi was injured much of last spring but still placed eighth in the high jump to earn a state medal at the Class 4 meet. He also had the area’s second-best mark in the long jump (21-2.5). In indoor track, Akanbi placed second to Harris in Class 4 with a mark of 6-4 and took fifth in the long jump with the same mark as his top one from last spring.
The Judges might be able to put together a strong 4×100 team. Stribling, Akanbi, Savion Thomas and Jamir Washington teamed to place fourth in Class 4 in the 4×200.
James Wood (seventh in Region 4D) will be led by junior Jorel Baltimore (12th in Class 4 in 110 hurdles, posted area’s No. 1 time of 15.65 seconds; 18th in Class 4 in 300 hurdles, posted area’s No. 2 time of 42.12); senior Trenton Manili (10th in Class 4 in 200, had area’s No. 2 time of 22.57) and senior throwers Trey Guynn and Jude Miller (No. 2 in and No. 3 in area in discus, respectively, with top marks of 137-9 and 134-10, respectively).
Millbrook finished last in the 14-team Region 4D last year. Junior distance runner Peter Warner won the 1,600 on Tuesday in the season-opening six-team meet at James Wood with a 4:46.80.
The following is a breakdown provided by the area coaches:
Clarke County
Coach: Andre Kidrick, 18th season.
Last year: Third in Class 2; fourth in Region 2B, Bull Run District champions.
Key losses: Will Booker, Cal Beckett, Matt Stroot, Caiden Broy.
Key returnees: Joe Stem, Jr., hurdles/throws; Lincoln Booker, Sr., sprints; Jackson Ellis, Sr., distance; Wyatt Palmer, Sr., sprints; Carson Chinn, Sr., sprints; Issac Nei, So., sprints/jumps; Chris Reid, So., sprints; James Casey, Sr., distance; Aiden Kreeb, Sr., distance; Brody Ellis, So., distance; Landon Horton, So., distance; Logan LaMaster, Sr., jumps; Luke LaMaster, Sr., distance.
Key newcomers: Luke Thompson, Fr., distance; Aaden Byrd, Fr., sprints; Elijah Abdulbarr, So., hurdles; Max Aiello, So., throws.
Kidrick’s outlook: “With so many key returners to provide leadership and guidance we are excited about the talent of this team. There are enough athletes to provide the overall team with a lot points in most meets.”
First meet: Friday at Page County’s Page Valley Invitational
Sherando
Coach: Brad Symons, third season.
Last year: Eighth in Class 4; tied for second in Region 4D; Northwestern District champions.
Key losses: Ethan Gonzalez, Dylan McGraw, Brock Smith, Peyton Sullivan.
Key returnees: Jed Bell, Sr., distance; Donovan Blackwell, Jr., sprints; Jack Bryant, So., sprinter; Micah Carlson, Sr., throws/jumps/hurdles; Sunil Dutt, Jr., hurdles (No. 2 in area in 110 hurdles, 16.20, No. 3 in 300 hurdles, 42.42); Emerson Fletcher, Sr., throws; Tristan Hantute-Abebe, Sr., sprints; Noah Harris, Sr., jumps; Ryan Maki, Sr., distance; Tommy Miles, Jr., distance; Jack Ogle, Jr., jumps; Harrison Satterly, Sr., sprints; Hatcher Smith, Jr., distance; Niko Walker, Sr., jumps; Quincy Walker, Sr., throws.
Key newcomers: Dexter Freeman, Fr., jumps; Seth Garcia, So., jumps; Wyatt Grimm, So., sprints; Nate Lloyd (So., jumps); Jesse Robinson (Fr., throws).
Symons’ outlook: “The expectation for the boys is for them to compete at a high level. We will be competitive within our district. We have some good athletes returning and have added some promising newcomers. We will be looking for Micah Carlson, Noah Harris, Ryan Maki, Donovan Blackwell, Tristan Hantute-Abebe, Jack Ogle, Hatcher Smith and Jed Bell to have a strong season in their events. Nate Lloyd, Sunil Dutt, Jack Bryant and Harrison Satterly have really impressed the coaches with their hard work ethic.”
Next meet: Saturday at Spartan Classic at Broad Run High School
Handley
Coach: Lloyd Phillips, first season.
Last year: Tied for 16th in Class 4; sixth in Region 4D.
Key losses: Garrett Stickley, Manno Lusca, Will Pardue
Key returnees: Jaishaun Offutt, Sr., throws; Rylan Stribling, Jr., sprints; Hassan Akanbi, Sr., jumps/hurdles/sprints; Will Thomas, Jr., distance; Noah Meleason, So., distance; Savion Thomas, Sr., sprints/jumps; Gavin Williams, Jr., pole vault (No. 2 in area in pole vault, 11-0); Jamir Washington, Jr., sprints.
Key newcomers: Brock Ashe, Fr., hurdles/sprints; Aleczander Dunn, Fr., pole vault.
Phillips’ outlook: “I believe we have a strong team this year, with a lot of talent in multiple events. Our main focus is to keep our top athletes healthy for the postseason while continuing to improve each day. I have been really impressed with the entire boys’ team; they seem focused and motivated to get the season started. We have a lot of talent, but it’s crucial that we turn that talent into results when it matters the most.”
Next meet: Saturday at Patriot Invitational
James Wood
Coach: Danielle Koelker, first season.
Last year: Tied for 29th in Class 4; seventh in Region 4D.
Key losses: Ethan Pratt-Perez, Gatlin Lockley, William Andrews, Thomas Newman, Robert Dwyer.
Key returnees: Ivan Andrews, Jr., sprints; Jorel Baltimore, Jr., sprints/hurdles; Trenton Manili, Sr., sprints; Connor Kenney-Fitzner, Jr.. sprints; Case Broy, Jr., sprints; Alex Hua, Sr.. sprints; Eli Clark, Sr., distance; Zachary Harrington, So., distance; Carrick Amerine, Jr., distance; Nathan Reynolds, Fr., distance; Duncan Stanton, Jr., hurdles (No. 3 in area in 110 hurdles, 16.38); Chase Lockley, Sr., jumps; Trey Guynn, Sr., throws; Jude Miller, Sr., throws; Sawyer Speet, Jr., throws.
Key newcomer: Britain Wenig, Fr., sprints.
Koelker’s outlook: “We have many strong, quality athletes in all event groups who contribute to the strong competition in our district and region. I’m excited to see their results as we begin to compete. I’m anxious to see Trey Guynn compete this season in the throwing events. Based on last season’s records, he was one of our top throwers and I have witnessed him work hard at practice with a great attitude.”
Next meet: Saturday at Dwight Scott Battle Blast Invitational in Boonsboro, Maryland
Millbrook
Coach: Jamie McCarty, second season.
Last year: Fourteenth in Region 4D.
Key losses: Elijah McGee, Kyler Jackson.
Key returnees: Sawyer Paine, Sr., throws; Peter Warner, Jr., distance; Jaiden Orellano, Sr., sprints.
Key newcomers: Samuel Lapp, Fr., distance; Xavier Marshall, Fr., sprints; Austen Courtney, Fr., sprints; Alex Burns, Fr., sprints.
McCarty’s outlook: “We are very young this year. We are looking at this year as a big developmental year. How fast our newcomers adjust to training and improve is going to let us know how competitive we can be in the future. Our hope is by the end of the season, we will have a group that sets the foundation for the next several years. [For districts and regionals], we are hoping to put ourselves in the best position to gain experience and score as many team points as possible.”
Next meet: Saturday at Carolyn Legard Relays at Woodson High School
— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at rniedzwiecki@winchesterstar.com
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