By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
Coaches Steve Szarmach and Rose Brogan both have a good number of All-State and All-Region athletes returning for the 2019-20 winter indoor track and field season. Coach Szarmach’s boys’ squad finished second in the Region and ninth in the State meets last season. The girls’ team under Coach Brogan was third at the Region meet and returns a host of top track and field athletes.
All-State returnees on the boy’s team include seniors Eli Hartzog, Ledric Reed, Cameron Holland and Ethan Yancy. Hartzog was All-State in the shot put during the indoor season last year. He also throws discus in the spring season. Reed was All-State in the 55meter hurdles and was an important member of the 4X400 relay team. Holland, who was a wide receiver and defensive back on the Fluco football team, made All-State last year in the triple jump and was member of the All-State 4X200 relay team. Ethan Young was All-State last season in the pole vault. All of these athletes report that they hope to continue to compete in track and field at the college level. Holland was also All-Region in the long jump.
Sophomore Eric White was All-Region in the 500 meter run last season and competed in June at the outdoor National event in the 400 meter run. Joining the team this season will be freshman Jaden Ferguson who competed in June at the National outdoor meet and finished first in his division in the triple jump.
Coach Brogan said she has a number of returning athletes who were All Regional and/or All State last year in the indoor and/or outdoor season. Senior Amina Wilson was outstanding in the pole vault last year. Senior Kieri Hart excelled in the 500 meter run and was a member of the 4X800 relay team. Two juniors who were top distance runners last year are Emily Smeds and Emily Beckman. They both were top performers in the 1600 meter (metric mile) and the 3200 meter runs. Both of them were also members of the outstanding 4X800 meter relay team. Another junior who a top performer as a sophomore is Kaitlin Bower who competes in the 55 meter dash and the triple jump.
A sophomore returnee who excelled at the hurdles is Shea Hart. Brogan also returns Hattie Lintecum who was outstanding in the high jump and triple jump and who was also on the 4X800 relay team. Sylar Solga who was on two top relay teams also is back. Coach Brogan said that she is “looking for a solid season with the girls returning and the addition of some dedicated ninth graders.”
The Fluco indoor track and field team does not have home meets, as the Fluvanna County High School does not have an indoor track facility. Very few public high schools in Virginia have indoor track and field facilities. Fortunately for the Fluco squad, there is an excellent indoor facility down the road a bit at the Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA). The Flucos first meet will be on Dec. 7 at Liberty University. Then on Dec. 11, Dec 18 and Jan. 22 they will compete in events at FUMA. On Jan. 25 the squad travel to St. Chris and on Jan. 30 to Woodberry Forest. The District, Region and State meets are scheduled for Feb. 5, Feb 19 and Feb. 28.
