Highlighting spring seniors: Boys' Track & Field

Seniors: William Crowder, sprints/jumps; Lavaughan Freeman, jumps/sprints; Logan Owens, hurdles/jumps; Blake Sandy, jumps/sprints; Nathan Shade, distance; Jackson Turner throws; Austin Schmitt; throws.

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After qualifying for the Class 4 state indoor meet in long jump and triple jump this year, Owens was looking forward to another strong outdoor season.

In 2019, Owens advanced to the state outdoor meet in the long jump, triple jump and 4x400 relay. Owens was hoping to reach 44-0 in the triple jump (he has a PR of 42-7.5), 21-0 in the long jump (PR of 20-4), run a low-15 second 110 hurdles (PR of 16.16) and qualify for states, and he thought this year’s 4x400 team could take a run at the school record of 3:20.1 set in 1987.

Last year’s 4x400 team ran an area-best 3:29.60, but Owens thought this year’s team had more potential. Freeman — the area’s top 400 runner — is back, and the Colonels added his younger brother Chris Morrison, a freshman, and transfer Mi’keguel Franklin, an indoor state qualifier in the 300.

“In all the practices, we were working really hard,” Owens said. “We were really pushing to do the best we can do, and we were just hoping that it was going to pay off for us.”

Owens said getting to compete at states last year with the 4x400 team is his favorite track memory.

“We ran our best time, and it just felt really good to know we all did the best we could possibly do,” Owens said.

Owens — who will study exercise physiology at Shenandoah University and possibly compete on the track team — said he appreciates the bond that the senior class had.

“It’s kind of like a family, almost,” Owens said. “At school, we would always say ‘Hi,’ to each other all the time. We had just gotten really close to each other.

“I’ve made a lot of memories over the years with the entire team that I’m never going to forget. It’s just a bummer this year not to able to compete with the team.”