Vikings Compete in Conference Track Meet, Prep for 1A Regional

This past Wednesday the Vikings traveled to Polk County for the Western Highlands Conference meet.

Avery had only one individual conference champion at the meet, sophomore Alex Villanueva who brought home first in the 110 meter hurdles event with a time of 15.71 seconds.

A myriad of other events were entered by Viking student-athletes. Below are the team results, as well as a rundown of the events the Big Red competed in and times or distances recorded.

BOYS Team Results:
Hendersonville 194.5; Polk County 169; Owen 86; Madison 56; Avery County 53; Mountain Heritage 44; Mitchell 41; Thomas Jefferson 28.
GIRLS Team Results:
Polk County 169.5; Owen 153; Hendersonville 123; Madison 72; Mountain Heritage 62.5; Mitchell 53; Avery County 22; Thomas Jefferson 11.

Event
Participant, Time or Distance, overall place (if noted)
4x800m relay:
Male: Cody Estes, Justin Gragg, Casey Mitchell, Zack Russ – 10 min., 22.68 sec.
110 Meter Hurdles:
Male: Alex Villanueva (1^st overall): 15.71 sec.
Discus Throw:
Male: Lucas Lecka (11^th overall) distance of 101 ft., 1 in.; Kyle Greene (13^th overall) 84 ft., 3.5 in; Brandon Huff (17^th overall) 78 ft.
Female: Sara Wiseman (6^th overall): 71 ft, 9 in.
100 Meter Dash:
Male: Kyle Griewisch (2^nd overall) 11.43 sec. (.04 seconds behind winner Daniel Orr of Hendersonville)
Female: Logan Johnson (13^th overall) – 14.63 sec.
High Jump:
Male: Alex Villanueva (2^nd overall) 6 ft.; Female: Christy Ray (7^th overall) – 4 ft.,6 in.
4x200m relay:
Male: Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter, Hunter Shields-1 min., 40.64 sec. (5^th overall)
1600 meter run:
Male: Justin Gragg (12^th overall) – 5 min., 34.94 sec.; Zack Russ: 7 min., 35.44 sec (20^th overall)
4x100 meter relay:
Male: Andy Gonzalez, Kyle Griewisch, Hunter Shields, Alex Villanueva) – 45.99 sec. (3^rd overall)
Female: Avery (Angela Brocco, Logan Johnson, Heather McFee, Christy Ray): 1 min., 6.28 sec. (8^th overall)
Shot Put:
Male: Lucas Lecka – 37 ft. (11^th overall); Brandon Huff: 35 ft., 3.5 in. (13^th overall);
Kyle Greene: 28 ft., 7 in. (20^th overall)
Female:
Sara Wiseman: 29 ft., 10 in. (4^th overall); Angela Brocco: 14 ft., 11 in. (17^th overall); Alesia Yarber: 13 ft., 9 in. (18^th overall)
300 meter hurdles
Male: Alex Villanueva - 45.51 sec. (4^th overall)
Female: Caroline Crenshaw 51.05 sec. (5^th overall); Heather McFee: 1 min., 13.49 sec. (17^th overall)
200 meter dash
Male: Kyle Griewisch: 22.98 sec. (2^nd overall); Andy Gonzalez 25.06 sec. (12^th overall);
Hunter Shields: 25.08 sec. (13^th overall)
Female: Caroline Crenshaw: 29.48 seconds (7^th overall)
800 meter run
Men: Justin Gragg: 2 min., 36.04 sec. (16^th overall); Zack Russ: 2 min., 43.54 sec. (22^nd overall)
3200 meter run
Men: Justin Gragg: 12 min., 13.64 sec. (8^th overall)
4x400 meter relay
Male: Cody Estes, Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter: 4 min., 11.13 sec. (8^th overall)
100 Meter Hurdles Female: Caroline Crenshaw: 19.07 sec. (5^th overall)

Based on performances throughout this season, the following athletes have qualified for this week’s meet at Cherokee High School, with qualified event(s):
Ladies:
Caroline Crenshaw – 300 meter hurdles, 200 meter run
Mary Chesnut Smith – 800 meter run & 1600 meter run
Christy Ray - high jump
Megan Robbins – 100 meter run, high jump
Sara Wiseman - shot put
4 x 100 meter relay team– (Angela Brocco, Logan Johnson, Heather McFee, Christy Ray)
Gentlemen:
Kyle Griewich – 100 meter run & 200 meter run
Alex Villanueva – 110 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles & high jump
4 x 100 meter relay team (Kyle Griewich, Alex Villanueva, Andy Gonzalez, Dustin Clarke,
Hunter Shields (four will race with one alternate)
4 x 800 meter relay team (Cody Estes, Justin Gragg, Casey Mitchell, Zack Russ)
4 x 200 meter relay team (Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter, Hunter Shields)

The Vikings overall had a great showing at the conference meet and look poised to have a solid regional championship and several potential racers at next weekend’s state championships in Greensboro.

“Our track team has performed well this year in spite of our late start. All of our athletes improved their times throughout the year, with most posting personal record times during the season. Our men performed well at the conference meet, with one champion, and our ladies team suffered in team score due to the absence of our dual-sport athletes who were competing in a soccer game on the same day,” Avery track and field coach Stacey Clark said after the tournament. “All of our athletes qualifying for regional have a chance for success and advancement to the state meet. Those who participated in the state meet last year are positioned to return again this year.”

Best of luck to the Big Red this week at the 1A Western Regional in Cherokee!