Boys Region 4C track meet: Day 1

WINCHESTER — Here they come, Lynchburg.

The three best discus throwers in Class 4 are all in Winchester-Frederick County, and two of the terrific trio were on fire at Friday’s Region 4C track & field meet on Friday at Handley James R. Wilkins Jr. Stadium.

Handley junior Quinton Newman broke Alex Ball’s school record set in 2006 with a winning throw of 167 feet, 5 inches and Sherando senior and school-record holder Isaiah Allen wasn’t far behind with a mark of 164-7. Neither Newman or Allen had ever thrown 160 feet prior to Friday, but Newman surpassed the mark five times and Allen did it four times.

James Wood senior Chance Grove, the state leader in Class 4 coming into Friday with a 163-5, didn’t have too shabby of a day himself, taking third with a 151-10.

All three had previously qualified for the Class 4 state meet, which will take place next Friday and Saturday at Liberty University in Lynchburg. The top four in each event at the region meet will automatically qualify for the state meet. Friday was the first of two days of action at the region meet. Action concludes at 10 a.m. today at Handley.

Newman broke his previous personal best of 159-1 on each of his first two throws, but he didn’t assume that his day would get even better from there.

“I try to keep it similar [on each throw],” said Newman, who broke Ball’s school record of 167-1. “I try to stay cool throughout the whole meet. I don’t try to change anything up. I just told myself to relax after those first two throws.”

That was key, because he trailed Allen and his 164-5 after two throws.

“I definitely feed off the competition,” said Newman, who helped Handley to first place with 64 points after the first day, 15 more than second-place Sherando (49). “I don’t show it, but I’m always trying to be better than the next person. I’m hyped inside, but I try to stay humble inside.”

Newman unleased his record toss on his third throw, which he said felt like any other throw. He acted like it afterward, which is something that his good friend and mentor Allen jokingly complained about after the competition was over. Though Newman now has Class 4’s top discus throw, he wasn’t thinking about what that might mean for the state meet, he was thinking about the work he needs to put into practice prior to it.

Allen — the leader for all classifications in the shot put and a winner on Friday in that event with a 61-5, just two inches off his PR — said he’s had throws of over 170 in practice recently in the discus, so he feels he’s definitely rounding into shape in that event.

“I feel like there’s a lot of juice still left in the tank,” Allen said. “I just need to execute and get in and let it fly. Having Quinton and Chance here definitely keeps me on my toes. Who knows if I would have been able to throw as far as I did if Q didn’t come right out the jump and hit a 163 [to take the first round lead]. I’m definitely happy with what happened today.”

Handley senior Tyson Long didn’t set a school record, but he did ensure he’ll have a spot in the New Balance Outdoor Nationals with his winning mark of 6-6 in the high jump. Long’s previous best this season was 6-4, and his best coming into this year was a 6-0. Long nearly cleared 6-8 on his third and final attempt, just clipping the bar with his feet.

Long said the work that Handley is doing in practice with box jumps has helped his leaping greatly. and it showed Friday.

“I was really excited [to clear the bar], because I’ve been trying to clear 6-6 since the beginning of the season,” Long said. “I really wanted to go to nationals, and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can at states.”

Handley also got a victorious performance from freshman William McKay in the pole vault. He and senior all-state performer Jack Armel of Handley each vaulted 13-0, but McKay won based on having fewer misses. Matthew Peete was third in the pole vault with a 12-0.

Other top performances for the Judges were achieved by Isaiah Lowry (fourth in the high jump, 6-2) and Jayden Vardaro (fourth in the triple jump, 42-8.75).

“We had a lot of good performances for the boys,” Handley coach Mike McKiernan said. “It was a very nice day.”

Sherando was also led by its Darius Lane (first in the triple jump, 43-11.5), Eldon Agard (second in the triple jump, 43-1.5) and its 4x800 team of Graham Schultz, Lucas Williams, Jonathan Gates and Ty Waits, which took second in 8:10.53. Sherando coach T.J. Rohrbaugh said the group set a PR in the event by 22 seconds.

James Wood is third with 40 points. Grove also took fourth in the shot put (45-9). Lavaughan Freeman placed second in the high jump (6-4), Drake Tews was third in the long jump (21-1) and William Crowder was fourth in the long jump (21-0).

Millbrook was 10th with 10 points. The Pioneers were paced Friday by its 4x800 team of Chris Simonelli, Brad Hambrick, Silas Schroer, John Pullen, which took third in 8:11.98.

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki