By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluco boys’ track and field team finished in first place at the prestigious Fred Hardy track and field meet held at Fork Union Military Academy’s (FUMA) indoor facility on Jan. 20. Fluco competitor Jackson Fields was named MVP of the meet as he recorded more points than any other athlete. Fields took second place in the long jump and third place in the 300-meter run, and he ran on two successful relay teams. It is unusual for a competitor to excel in a field event (i.e. running) and in a track event (i.e. jumping.)
Others on the boys team who excelled include, Richard Price, who was second in the 55 meter dash, Diver Davis, who was fourth in the long jump and Jesse Woolstenhulme, who took fifth in the pole vault with a personal best of 12 feet 6 inches. In a big help to the team score in the meet, the Fluco boys finished first in both the 4X200 relay and the 4X400 relay. In both events, the Fluco team consisted of Kameron Green, Fields, Woolstenhulme and Price.
On the girl’s side at the Fred Hardy event, Ruby Frazier was third in the 1000 meter, Sydney Chipperfield was fourth in the 500 meter, and Anna Amato, as is often the case, was not far behind Frazier, finishing fifth in the 1000.
Fluco Coach Melanie Kennedy reports that a week later, on Jan. 27, the Flucos sent a small contingent of athletes to the Bulldog Invitational at Liberty Christian Academy. This is a huge event with 67 teams and over 300 athletes competing. The Fluco boys finished in 10th place, a very respectable showing. Top individual performances were turned in by Price, with fourth place in the 200-meter Green with fifth in the 200-meter and Fields with eighth in the 200-meter. In addition, the 4X200 meter relay team posted the best time of the season finishing in 1:32.92, which Kennedy said puts the relay team in excellent position for the state meet.
At the Bulldog event the girls who excelled were Frazier and Amato again, this time in the 1600, (the metric mile.) Frazier bested the school record in the event with a time of 5:13 to finish sixth. Amato finished in 5:19 for twelfth place. Kennedy notes that is very impressive to have two runners under 5:20 in this event. Sophie Farley also ran a strong race for the Fluco girls, with a ninth-place finish in the 500 meter run.
The Jefferson District meet was held at Fluvanna County High School on Feb. 7. The Region 3C meet will be held at Heritage High School on Feb. 10. The state meet is not until Feb. 26-27. Coach Kennedy notes that her athletes have been working very hard all season and she is appreciative of the fan support.
