Stories

Special Moment: CHS hosts track for first time in 15 years

Photo by Bart Isley

 

For the first time in 15 years, Charlottesville High hosted a track meet, christening the Curtis Elder Track and Field Complex — named for the legendary CHS track coach — with a full meet that pitted Monticello, Louisa County, Fluvanna County and the Black Knights against one another. 

 

Given the circumstances, it was fitting that one of Elder’s grandchildren, Monticello’s Will Trent, put on a show, winning the 100 meters and 400 meters and taking fifth in the high jump before a cramp hampered him in the 200. 

 

“It’s a great feeling to have all of our family here who all had an impact on my grandfather and his time when he was here,” Trent said. “It’s an amazing feeling to finally be able to compete here and it’s the last time too — I’m glad I got to capitalize on this moment I have.”

 

While the team score, with Louisa’s girls and Monticello’s boys winning the meet title, doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, the meet was potentially a critical step in the region qualifying process, particularly in an electric 100-meter race where five competitors ran sub 12 second times, with Trent barely edging Fluvanna’s Jaden Ferguson with a time of 11.41 to Ferguson’s 11.42. In third place, Malachi Fields notched an 11.5, Louisa’s Josh Gray took fourth with an 11.62 and Tre Smith took fifth for Fluvanna with a time of 11.75. Those top three times would’ve been in the top seven in the state in 2019, the last time a state outdoor meet was held.

 

“The 100 just didn’t feel real, I just got these chills of excitement,” Trent said. “I’ve been waiting so long, I’ve got family members who’ve waited forever for this moment. To be able to come out here and compete and do what I know I can do is just an amazing feeling.”

 

With only the top three times from the season among Region 3C Jefferson District squads (Western, Fluvanna, Charlottesville and Monticello) advancing to the region this year under condensed COVID protocols, every tenth, every thousandth could count. Simply making a cut just won’t get it done this year for runners, throwers and jumpers. 

 

Trent’s 400-meter win was more comfortable as he clocked a 50.52 to outpace teammate Fields’ 52.02 and Fluvanna’s Aidan Girard’s 52.44. 

 

Fields had a big day, winning the discus, high jump and triple jump while taking second in the 200, 400 and shotput and third in 100. Esteban Vizcaino won the 3200 for the Mustangs. 

 

Lowell Johnson won the shot put and took second in the discus for Louisa. Nicholas Emmert won the 800 and the Lions’ 4×400 team knocked a second off time while the 4×800 team knocked eight seconds off time

 

For Charlottesville, Reece McKee won the 1600 and took second in the 3200 while the Black Knights’ Nicholas Pederson won the 110 hurdles. Elijah Tolton won the 300 hurdles and took second in the 110 behind Pederson. 

 

For Fluvanna, Jaden Ferguson won the 200 and long jump while taking second in the 100 and the high jump. The Flucos’ 4×400 team knocked 15 seconds off its time. 

 

On the girls side, Louisa’s Dezmajia Carter won the high jump and triple jump (where she improved to a leap of 36-0 while also winning the 100 and taking second in the 200.

 

Kennedy Harris won the 800 and took second in the 1600. Sylvie Jackson won the high jump for the Lions and Alicia Woodfolk doubled up with wins in the shotput and the discus. 

 

For Fluvanna County, Shea Hart won the 200, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles while taking third in the high jump. Emily Smeds won the 3200 and Sophie Farley won the 400. Summer Craig took second in the 800 and third in the 1600. 

 

The Flucos’ 4×800 team dropped almost 13 seconds off their seed time

 

For Charlottesville, Caroline Jaffe won the 1600 while Jaelyn Lynch took third in the 200, second  in the 100 hurdles and third in the triple jump.

 

For Monticello, Makayla Butler took second in the shotput and discus while Seilkem Seli Kartney took second in the 100.

 

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