The FUMA indoor track facility was one of the first in the state and as a result in the 1990s as many as 90 schools would compete in this event. Now that there are more indoor facilities around the state, the number of teams competing in the Fred Hardy meet is still large, but more manageable. The meet remains highly competitive. Because so many schools are involved, schools may only enter one competitor in each event, unless they have more than one competitor who has established an elite qualifying time, or distance, or height. This meet is a truly all day affair. The coaches meeting before the competition is at 9:30 a.m. and the final running event is at 7:15 p.m.
In order to score points for their school, athletes must finish in the top six in their event. The only Fluco competitor to place in the top six was Emily Haden who was the sixth best shot putter at the meet. In the boys’ competition, the Flucos almost broke into the scoring column in the pole vault, as Dylon Garrett place seventh and Matt Jonkman was ninth. Not all of the top Fluco athletes competed at this event, as some who had already posted times, or distances, or heights that qualify them for the year end Regional and State meets sat this meet out.
Rose Brogan, coach of the Flucos girls’ team said that she has one athlete who has already qualified for the State meet. Hannah Meador, who was an All-State performer last year in the pole vault, has again qualified for the State meet in that event. The girls’ squad also has three other athletes who have qualified for the Regional meet later this winter. Nicki Douma has qualified in the 1000 meter run. Emily Haden has qualified in the shot put, and Tiffani Shaheen has qualified in the pole vault.
Coach Tom Casto reported that his team has two athletes who have already met State qualifying standards. Dylon Garrett has qualified in the pole vault, and Deiondre Key has qualified in the shot put. Another Fluco pole vaulter, Matt Jonkman, has qualified for the Regional meet, and the boys’ 4X200 relay team has also met the Regional qualifying standard. This relay team consists of Karel Bruce, Jessie VanDyke, Marcel Bland, and Kashawn Anderson.
The indoor track and field teams have one more event, on Jan. 24, before their District meet, which is scheduled for Jan. 28 at the FUMA facility. The athletes will then compete in a Central Virginia meet on Feb. 1. The Conference 23 meet will be on Feb. 12 at VMI. The Regional meet will be on Feb. 22 at Liberty University. The State meet will be held on Feb 28 also at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
