INDOOR TRACK
In a balanced team effort, the L.C. Bird High boys’ track team recently brought home the indoor state title for the second year in a row. Bird totaled 76 points to
In the 12 events in which the boys participated, the Skyhawks placed fifth or higher in 10. Sophomore Jacob Plummer won the state championship in the 3,200-meter run, and the 4×800 relay team was also victorious.
The consistency at such a high level took a while for coach Adam Canning to develop, but now the results continue to roll in.
“The method has been gaining the trust of the athletes and having them trust the process,” he said. “The coaching staff has been fantastic at believing in and developing young up-and-coming talent. As the students have gotten older, they have been models of the process and are able to mentor the younger guys year after year.”
Canning said Plummer has transformed himself into one of the best distance runners in the state. A year removed from finishing ninth at state, he pushed to improve and won the state championship. Plummer now holds just about every Skyhawks distance running record. Another standout, and perhaps one to watch for in the future, is freshman Jayson Ward, who placed second in the 500-meter dash.
“[Ward] has really put the state and the nation on notice as one of the best young sprinters in the sport,” Canning said.
Members of the 4×800 relay team are Plummer, Josiah Hill, Corey Pisa
Another state champion came in Region 6A for Thomas Dale High School.
This was no surprise to many, as Chris Tyree brought home championship honors in the 55-meter dash in a blistering 6.30 seconds. Tyree also placed third in the long jump.
