Placing was hard to come by against a rugged field in the Class 5A State Track Meet at Western Heights Saturday, but Durant had several personal best efforts, including a state runner-up medal by K.J. Lowery in the 800 meters.
Lowery ran to a silver medal time of 1 minutes, 56.54 seconds for one of the many top individual efforts. He also eclipsed the school record in the 1,600 meters with a fifth place showing of 4:29.86.
Damien Almos ran a personal best mark of 15.16 seconds to place sixth in the 110 hurdles with the 3,200 relay unit of Lowery, Zach Ervin, Kason Ford and Carter Kemp notching a Top 10 finish as well in eighth place.
Conley Tiffie contributed a personal best toss of 143 feet, 9 inches to wrap up 10th in the discus while teammate Caleb Simpkins took 13th in 126 feet, 1 inch. Chris Hix was 12th in the shot put at 45 feet, 11 inches, Josh Bull was 12th in the pole vault with a leap of 11 feet, 6 inches and Ervin added a 14th in the 800 meters, crossing the line in 2:02.61.
Also for the Durant boys, the 1,600 relay grouping of Boston Browder, Jaythyn Edmundson, Rylan Avery and Tashaun Williams took 12th in 3:31.74 with the 800-meter unit of Avery, Browder, Edmunson and Aiden Polk clocking in 14th with a time of 1:31.16.
In girls’ action, standout Avery Sager came up just short of medaling as she placed ninth in the 3,200 meters at 12:00.91, 13th in the 800 meters in 2:29.27 and posted a time of 5:41.22 in taking 13th in the 1,600 meters.
Dasia Lewis and Emma Sherrer each had personal bests in the discus as Lewis threw 112 feet, 7 inches for ninth place and Sherrer had a toss of 111 feet, 8 inches for 10th. Bailey Cross also had a jump of 8 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault for 12th place.
The Lady Lion 800 relay squad of Samiah Clegg, Xakayla Cox, Kaitlen Rush and Ava Anderson checked in 12th with a mark of 1:48.94. Judi Free, Brooklyn Hill, Laynee Emert and Caitlyn Ortega teamed for a time of 11:08.29 in the 3,200 relay.
“We had a great year of broken personal records and school records,” said assistant coach Amanda Reynolds. “We had 93 kids on the roster and are only losing four senior boys and one girl. We took a big group to state and although the ending may not have been all we wanted or anticipated, we are proud of the success and effort of our athletes and the future is bright in Durant track.”
