On December 20 the Linganore boys and girls Indoor Track and Field teams competed in the Frederick County Championships at Hagerstown Community College.  The meet was originally supposed to take place on the 18th but due to possible inclement weather, it was rescheduled. Overall, the boys team finished in fifth place with 54 points, half a point behind Walkersville, and the girls team finished in third place with a total of 50 points. 

Before events started, all seniors were recognized. Seniors recognized from Linganore included Myah Davies, Abby Parker, Ethan Hart, Ethan Butehorn, Graeson Ruch, Conner Browne, Zack Hunsaker, Carter Holsinger and Carson Buck. 

The rescheduling of the meet was difficult for many athletes as most teams had not practiced in two days. The boys team also had to scratch the 4×200, a crucial event for the team’s placing, due to a sick athlete. The loss of this event most likely contributed to the boy’s unusually low placing.

Carter Holsinger played an extremely important role in this meet, competing in the 55 meter dash, the 4×400 relay and pole vault.  Carter placed first in pole vault with a height of 15 feet, setting his new season record and officially qualifying for New Balance Nationals. The 4×400 team also included Senior Conner Brown, Freshmen Cole Williamson and Sophomore Aaron Dufresne. The team placed sixth with a time of 3:50.06. 

Junior Xander McClure also competed in the 55 meter dash, placing fourth with a time of 6.85. Williamson took first place in the 2 mile with a time of 10:05.69 and Sophomore Jack Sears came in third place with a time of 10:29.46.  Senior Carson Buck, a usual competitor in the long distance events, is currently out for an injury. His absence was definitely a loss for the team.

Senior Ethan Hart took first place in shot put with a new personal record of 51 feet and Senior Graeson Ruch placed third with 46 feet.

“I think the team worked together well to score a good amount of points.  Some of the results were not the best but everyone gave a strong effort,” said Holsinger. “Going into the next meet, I think we can work on race strategy.”

The girls also had a successful outcome, coming in third and beating Frederick, one of their hardest competitors in 3A West. 

In the open events, Sophomore Mikayla Moxley finished second in the 500 meter dash with a time of 1:20.13 and placed first in the 800 meter dash with a time of 2:25.29. Moxley achieved personal records in both events. Sophomore Gemma Davies, finishing close behind Moxley, placed sixth with a time of 2:32.71.  Sophomore Melanie Barger placed 7th in both the 55 meter dash with a time of 7.75 and the 300 meter with a personal record of 44.87. In the 3200, Sophomore Caroline Perrone came in seventh with a season record of 12:39.23.

In the relays, the 4×400 team consisting of Melanie Barger, Savannah Donahue, Gemma Davies and Mikayla Moxley placed sixth with a time of 4:28.30. The 4×200 team disqualified due to a shaky hand-off that occurred outside of the exchange zone. Despite the setback, the girls stayed positive knowing they cut time by over a second.

In the field events, Senior Myah Davies placed first in pole vault with a PR height of 10-03.00, beating her second place competitor by more than two feet. Junior Stormie Yinger placed second in shot put with a PR of 34-08.00.

The junior varsity (JV) teams also made an appearance at this meet as each varsity event was followed by a JV event. The boys JV 4×200 consisting of Sophomore Aiden Bruce, Freshman Jeffrey Joyal, Sophomore Jason Tibbals and freshman Dylan Liston placed first with a time of 1:50.58. The same team of boys also ran in the 4×400 relay placing second with a time of 4:14.87. Bruce also ran the 300 meter and placed fourth with a personal record of 42.62.

The boys and girls indoor track and field teams will compete next in the CMC Championship on Friday January 24 at Hagerstown Community College.