LANDOVER — Competing on the biggest stage never gets old, according to Kent County High School senior Ke’yare Hawkins, who is a state track and field qualifier many times over in throwing events.
Schoolmate Pacome Mennetrier would agree, though interscholastic sports is still a novelty to him.
Hawkins and Mennetrier, both 18, will head to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association state championships tomorrow [Tuesday, Feb. 17] at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex — Hawkins to compete in the shot put and Mennetrier to compete in the 800 meters.
Hawkins is a state qualifier in the shot put in each of her three years as a member of the Trojans’ indoor track program. She’s a two-time region champ and the school record-holder. [She also is a state qualifier, region medalist and school record-holder in the shot and discuss in outdoor track.]
In contrast, Mennetrier is a newbie.
He is attending KCHS for the 2025-26 academic year as an exchange student from Brittany, France, where there are no interscholastic sports — only club sports for high school-age students.
Mennetrier says it’s “way better” in America because athletics “have a better importance in school.”
While he is only here for a year, Mennetrier has quickly acclimated to the sports scene.
In the fall he was a state qualifier in cross country and the Trojans’ most valuable performer.
He’s followed up that success now as a state qualifier in indoor track after placing second in the 800 at the Class 1A East Region meet Feb. 6 at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex in Landover.
Mennetrier stopped the timer in a personal best of 2 minutes, 10.30 seconds.
The only runner faster was Bohemia Manor senior Kenai Black, who led the field of 12 in 2:09.55.
KCHS sophomore Joey Homyack was third in 2:13.03, his best-ever time.
The next three place-finishers also posted PRs: Central [of Prince George’s] junior Emmanuel Ayovaughn, 2:14.00, fourth; Pocomoke sophomore Darrelle Taylor, 2:18.01, fifth; and Patuxent junior D’neri Lara, 2:18.90, sixth.
No one was better in the girls shot put than KCHS’ Hawkins, who led the 13 entries with a throw of 33 feet, 9.5 inches. [She set the school record of 35-3.25 as the region champ in 2024.]
Patuxent senior Sanise Jefferson was the runner-up with a throw of 31-3.5.
Central-PG junior Destiny Onunaku was a distant third with a personal best of 27-6.75.
Hawkins and Mennetrier are Kent County’s only state qualifiers.
Homyack and freshman Keelyn Clayton, who was fourth in the 1600 meters, just missed out.
KCHS coach Steve Wheeler ’01, a year-round runner for the Trojans who qualified for states in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, pointed out that “over the years they have made qualifying for states harder and harder to achieve.”
In 2026, only the first- and second-place finishers in each of the three regions automatically advanced.
Last year, the top three place-finishers in each region automatically qualified for states. Up until 2024, it was the top four place-finishers.
“Finishing in the top two in the whole region is extremely hard to achieve,” Wheeler told The Evening Enterprise.
“Pacome has a talent and drive I wish I could duplicate,” Wheeler said of Mennetrier. “This is his first time doing indoor track. He came out for cross country to make his running debut and qualified for states in the fall. I wish I could have one more year with him. I am grateful to have him for this year.”
Of Hawkins, Wheeler said, “Ke’yare has been on top of her game since she started throwing the shot put. Over the years she has won four region titles [two each in the indoor and outdoor seasons] and makes it look effortless. I’m looking forward to see what she can do at states. … Ke’yare has drive and determination and will continue to do great things beyond high school.”
There are 18 schools in the Class 1A East Region that have indoor track programs; five of them are from Prince George’s County, two are from Cecil County, one is from Anne Arundel County, another is from Calvert County and the remaining nine are from the Eastern Shore.
The first- and second-place finishers in each event in the 1A East Region automatically moved on, as well as the next top six times or marks overall from the three regions.
In addition to the automatic qualifiers, individuals and relays who in their region finals met the qualifying standards also advance to the state championships.
For various reasons, Kent County did not travel with its full team. Among those who did not compete in the region meet was junior Janey Depp, a consistent scorer in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meters, who is nursing an injury.
Printed here are results for the Trojans.
GIRLS
1600 meters: Keelyn Clayton, personal best of 6 minutes, 6.66 seconds, fourth.
Shot put: Ke’yare Hawkins, 33 feet, 9.5 inches, first.
BOYS
800 meters: Pacome Mennetrier, personal best of 2 minutes, 10.30 seconds, second; and Joey Homyack, personal best of 2:13.03, third.
4×200-meter relay of Samuel Bell, Joshua Na-El, Nathaniel Copper and John Fries, 2 minutes, 6.27 seconds, 12th.
4×400-meter relay of Na-El, Fries, Chris Gonzales and Bell, 5 minutes, 3.76 seconds, 10th.
