BY DUNCAN NIXON
CORRESPONDENT
It is an impressive accomplishment to be a State class 3 champion in any individual event. Besting competitors from high schools of similar size from all over the Commonwealth is no small task. Yet, the Flucos came away from state competitions in Track and Field and Swim and Dive this past week with two state champions and three state titles.
Leading the way was Alex Fuller for the Fluco girls swim and dive squad. She was state champion in the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Fuller’s time of 23.06 in the 50 free was a school record as was her time of 53.62 in the butterfly event. Swim and Dive Coach Mitchell Pace said that Fuller, who has completed her swim career at Fluvanna, is off to Boston in the fall on a scholarship to Northeastern University, a Division 1 school.
Also, claiming a Class 3 state championship was boys track and field athlete Garrett Jordan who ran what Coach Melanie Kennedy described as a “super-fast time’’ of 34.74 in the 300- meter sprint. It was the only time under 35 seconds at the meet. Jordan also ran a personal best time in the 55m dash for a 6th place finish. In distance running, Jack Jeffries took 8th in the 1600 with a personal best time of just under 4:30. Jackson Fields also competed in the 300m finishing 7th. For the girls in track and field, Ruby Frazier was second in the 1600 meter and 8th in the 3200 race.
Fluvanna also turned in some strong performances in relay events The boys 4X200 ran in what Kennedy described as an “incredibly competitive field.” They finished 5th in a time of 1:31.07 in a race in which the top 8 teams were separated by less than a second. In the pool, the girls 4X200 relay team and its 4X400 relay teams both finished 5th. The 4X400 team consisted of Fuller, Abby Caruso, Madison Clark and Sophie Pace. The 4X200 team consisted of Reese Yowell, Caruso, Pace and Fuller.
In diving, Kayleigh Herring was third in the 1-meter event Cash Johnson was 4th in 1-meter, while James Johnson took sixth. All three had personal best high scores.
Both Kennedy and Pace were highly enthusiastic about the caliber of their student-athletes. Pace stated, “We are very proud of these young people, their effort, sportsmanship, and representation as Flucos.”
