The William Byrd high indoor track team had a big day in Salem last Saturday as
Roanoke College hosted the Region 3D indoor meet. Abingdon High swept the team
titles but the Terriers weren’t far behind with the boys taking second place as a team and
the girls were third at the Cregger Indoor Fieldhouse.
Senior DeShawn Austin led the way for the boys’ team. DeShawn won the 55
hurdles in 7.69 and was runner-up in the 300 dash in 36.64. He won the triple jump with
a leap of 44’6 and took second in the long jump with a leap of 22’5.5”. Austin was also a
member of the third place 4×200 relay team with Michael Goins, Jerrett Shepherd and
Gray Matthews.
Landon Martin finished fourth in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.31 and Goins
was sixth. Logan Austin was second in the high jump at 5’10” and Parker Minnix was
fifth. Ethan Haston finished fourth in the long jump (21’2.75”) and fifth in the triple jump
(42’3.5”). In the pole vault Ashton Williamson was fourth and Minnix was sixth.
Gregory Stiltner finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 42.8/75” and Titus
Beatty was sixth.
The girls’ team started off the day with a win in the triple jump by Lily Perez,
who won with a jump 35’8.25”. She was also second in the high jump, clearing 5’, and
third in the 55m hurdles as well as a member of the second place 4×200 relay team with
Emma Matthews, Ellie Ruble and Michael Hamlar. Lily was named the Field Event
Athlete of the Year.
Byrd also placed in two other relays. The team of Grace Onwi, Emma Matthews,
Keeli Emery and Jadyn St. Clair finished fourth in the 4×400 with a time of 4:31.52 and
the foursome of Jacey Weedle, Alanna Fitzgerald, Emma Thierry and Lucy Whitenack
finished sixth in the 4×800 with a time of 12:13.44.
Onwi also took a second in the 500 meter dash in 1:20.40 and St. Clair was sixth.
Next up is the Virginia High School League Class 3 and 4 state meets, which will
be held at Liberty University in Lynchburg on March 3 and 4.
