Lafayette Indoor Track Team Takes On States
The 2017-18 team was strong; eight athletes qualified for states
Sophomore Braden Underwood goes up and over the bar for pole vault. Braden was very excited to compete at the state level.
The Lafayette indoor track team traveled to Salem, Virginia last weekend to compete against the best athletes the 4A division has to offer. The meet was held at Roanoke College in the Cregger Center, where a new indoor track is located. Lafayette took three girls and five guys, all of whom had to qualify to compete on the state level. The athletes who qualified were Peyton Blanding (12), Kaylee Kline (11), Starr Patton (12), Noah Cane (12), Leighton Holm (12), Adam Leschinger (10), Braden Underwood (10), and Robert Walton (12). The meet went well– the girls placed 27th out of 34 teams, and the men’s team placed 11th out of 33 teams.
Starr Patton placed 18th in the girls high jump at 4-10, and Peyton Blanding placed 4th in girls pole vault, jumping 10-6. Adam Leschinger placed 4th in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 7.91, 12th in the triple jump by jumping 41-6.5, and 2nd in the long jump by jumping 22-1.5. Braden Underwood and Leighton Holm both placed in the pole vault, with Braden placing 3rd, jumping 13-0; and Leighton placing 8th, jumping 11-6. Robert Walton rounded out the meet by placing 12th in the shot put, throwing 43-3.75.
Starr Patton looks at the bar before she high jumps. She performed well, but she says she wants to get better during outdoor track to clear a higher height.
Overall, everyone performed well at states and had a fun time while they were there. For the amount of athletes the track team brought to states, Lafayette placed very well. Some of the athletes are even considering running for Roanoke’s track team after they graduate. Now the team is heading into the outdoor season stronger than ever and ready to take on another state meet. For more results from the meet, click here.
