By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
Track and field teams from Albemarle high and Western Albemarle high came to Fluvanna County on Jan. 27 for the third Polar Bear meet to be hosted by the Flucos. The fourth Polar Bear meet was held on Feb. 3., with Louisa High and Orange County high competing.
Tre Smith Jr. for the boys, and Shea Hart for the girls, were the standout performers for the Flucos in Polar Bear 3. Smith finished first in the 55 meter dash with a time of 7.18 seconds, which was 0.16 seconds better than the second place finisher. Smith also won the long jump, as he soared 18.1 feet. Ryan Hicks was also a winner for the Fluco boys’ team. He won the 500 meter run with time of 1:15.14. It was a very close race, as Hicks won by only nine tenths of a second. Two other winners for the boys’ team were Kristian Thomas in the high jump and Addison Patchett in the triple jump. Thomas and Patchett are both sophomores. Ayden Bland was the only second place finisher for the Fluco boys, finishing just behind Patchett in the triple jump. The Fluco boys also won the 4X200 and the 4X800 relays.
For the Fluco girls, Hart proved to be a very versatile athlete as she won the high jump clearing 4 feet eight inches and was second in both the 55 meter hurdles and the 300 meter run. Kaitlin Bower was first for the Fluco girls in the long jump, winning by half an inch. Hannah Feith won the triple jump for the Fluco girls. The girls got second place finishes from R’tia Payne in the high jump, Kaitlin Bower in the triple jump and from Elle Dudzik in the shot put.
In Polar meet 4, the Fluco boys also performed well. This time, Jaden Ferguson led the way. Only a sophomore, Ferguson won the 55 meter dash and the high jump. Smith was also strong again as he won the long jump and finished second in the 55 meter dash. Aidan Girard won the 300 meter run for the Flucos. Troy Stephens was first in the 1000 meter. Patchett won the triple jump again, with Ayden Bland in second again. Fluco Trace Harris was second to Ferguson in the high jump, and Rocco Calderone took second in the 500 meter. The Fluco boys also won the 4X200 meter relay again.
For the girls, Hart was a double winner again, as she captured the 300 meter and the 55 meter hurdles again. Summer Craig and Sylar Solga were first and second for the Fluco girls in the 100 meter dash. Sophie Farley, a freshman, was second in the 1600 meter run. Tallon Solga took second for the Flucos in the 1600 meter as did Emily Smeds in the 3200 meter. Elle Dudzik was second in the shot put and Laura Hernandez was second in pole vault. The Fluco girls won the 4X400 relay.
