In spite of brutally windy conditions, the Durant High School track team notched a fifth-place team finish for boys and eighth for girls in the season opening meet last week in Marietta.
Next on the schedule for the Lions will be the Annual Madill Invitational a week from Friday following Spring Break.
“The wind was so tough,” said Durant assistant coach Amanda Reynolds. “We are young overall and rebuilding, but you can see a lot of potential. We have around 90 participants this year, which is probably the biggest group we have ever had.”
On the girls’ side, the Lady Lions’ 1600-meter relay team and 3200-meter relay team each took fourth place.
The 1600 unit of Samiah Clegg, Avery Sager, Judi Free and Laynee Emert clocked in at 4:41.76 with the 3200 group of Emert, Sager, Brooklyn Hill and Free crossing the stripe in 11:08.36.
Sager added a second place individual finish in the 3200 meters at 13:43.45. Macee Hall chipped in fifth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 22.59 seconds as the 300 hurdles were canceled due to wind.
The Lions had a host of second place showings, including the 800-relay foursome of Rylan Avery, Madison Roper, Spencer Lee and K.J. Lowery, who ran to a mark of 3:46.27. Lowery and Roper were on the 3200-relay unit as well, teaming with Zach Ervin and Elijah Parker to place fourth in 9:04.87.
In the 400 meters, Roper placed second at 54.39 seconds with Lowery just behind in third place at 54.64. Damien Almos was the runner-up in the 110 hurdles by posting a mark of 17.36 seconds.
Durant had a pair of placers in the shot put as Hunter Romero’s heave of 40-feet even took fourth while Jackson Otieno claimed sixth at 39 feet, 3 ¼ inches.