Zita leads Chiles to third place finish at state meet

Zita Magloire capped off an outstanding high school career by leading Chiles High School to a third place finish in the 3A state championships. The senior won the 800 meter race in a near personal best 2:16.74 and captured second in the 1600 with another near personal best 5:04.81 to score 18 points for the Timberwolves. Magloire was last years’ Chenoweth Fund track athlete of the year. Karla Savery and Chinelo Uburka were the other big scorers for Scott Gowan’s team. Karla vaulted 10-06 to capture third place in the pole vault, while Chinelo tossed the discus 121-01 to take the third spot in that event.

Rickards High School grabbed eighth place and 21 points. Milika Clary was sixth in the 200 with a time of 25.04, then came back to lead her teammates to the team title in the 4 x 400. Milika joined Loreal Smith, Lashaunta Arnold and Jian Jones to run 3:51.77.

Allie Hunter overcame her respiratory problems to lead Lincoln to a thirteenth place finish by taking second in the 800 and 8th in the 1600. She just lost out to Zita in the 800 with her finishing time of 2:17.79 and took eighth in the 1600 with a time of 5:22.82.

Chiles was the top local boys team as well, claiming a tie for seventh place with 25 points. Chiles was lead by field event competitors Bryan Seaborn, Matt Hurley, and Steffon Nerdal. Bryan took second in the discus with a toss of 173-05, while Steffon grabbed fourth in the same event with a toss of 167-01. Matt went over the bar at 13-06.00 for third place in the pole vault. Herbie Thiele was Chiles’ distance representative scoring in both the 1600 (4:22.48) with a seventh place finish and the 3200 (9:43.54) in the fifth spot.

Lincoln was ninth overall with 20 points. Its 4×400 team was third as Pat Watkins, Antonio Cromartie, Brandon Bradley and Scott Poindexter rang up a 3:18.81. Pat Watkins also finished tenth in high jump and scored with a third place long jump of 23-09.75. Antonio was seventh in the triple jump with a 46-01.25 mark and third in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.56. A major surprise for Lincoln was the absence of Ryan Deak. Ryan did not finish the 1600 in the district meet, but had won the 3200. He did not compete in the state meet.