Pulaski County Middle School Track & Field kicked off its outdoor season in impressive fashion on Wednesday, March 25, at the Wytheville Eagles Middle School Meet. Both the Cougar boys and girls teams delivered standout performances, each finishing second overall against a competitive field.
The boys team came within a single point of victory, finishing with 122 points, just one point shy of Auburn. The girls squad also had a strong showing, scoring 98 points to secure their runner-up finish behind Auburn, who finished with 130 points.
Boys Highlights
Leading the way for the Cougars was Jovantae Stithe, who delivered a dominant sprint performance. Stithe captured gold in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.71 and followed it up by winning the 200 meter dash in 26.25, proving that lightning can, in fact, strike twice.
Jonathan Leggett added to the sprint success, finishing second in the 100 meter dash just behind his teammate. Leggett also showcased his versatility by winning the long jump with a leap of 16' 6".
In the 400 meter dash, Nasir Ashworth powered his way to a first place finish in 1:05.27, while teammate Silas Sherry secured second place. Ashworth continued his strong day in the field, placing second in the high jump 4' 8" and third in the long jump 14' 4".
Distance runner Owen Johnson contributed with a third place finish in the 1600 meters, clocking 5:52.52.
The 4x100 meter relay team of J. Leggett, N. Ashworth, Domani DJ Baldwin, and J. Stithe brought home gold with a time of 51.77. The 4x800 meter relay team of Brantley Phillips, Corey Dawson, Robert Jording, and Carlos DeJesus Jr. finished second with a time of 11:47.73.
Girls Highlights
The Lady Cougars were led by a standout all-around performance from Gianna Hartley. She placed second in the 100 meter dash 14.46 before turning around to win the 200 meter dash in 29.40, showing she was just getting warmed up.
Teammate Zoey Burton added a strong second place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 30.32. In the hurdles, Gillian Osbourne placed third in the 100 meter hurdles, crossing the line in 21.12.
The girls 4x100 meter relay team of Zoey Burton, Gianna Hartley, Belle Bradley, and Amerii Dobbins captured gold with a time of 57.14, showcasing the team’s speed and chemistry.
Hartley also made a major impact in the field events, winning the high jump with a jump of 4' 4"and placing second in the long jump with a mark of 12' 8".
Looking Ahead
With strong performances across the board, Pulaski County showed depth, talent, and competitiveness early in the season. The boys team finished second out of 10 teams, while the girls team placed second out of 8 teams highlighting the program’s strength on both sides.
The boys team is led by Head Coach Eliya Brown, while the Lady Cougars are under the leadership of Head Coach Dawn Harvey.
The Cougars have set the tone for what looks to be an exciting outdoor season.
