LANDOVER — A split second, actually less than that, separated Ramon “RJ” Peterson and a medal earlier this week in the Class 1A state indoor track and field championships.
The Kent County High School junior placed fifth in the 300 meters in 36.24 seconds, re-establishing the school record for the fourth time this winter. (In December, Peterson broke the record of 37.6 that had stood since February 2007.)
Peterson was on the heels of Harford Tech senior Khory Reevey (35.91) and Chesapeake Math and IT Academy-North junior Isaiah Perry (35.45).
Largo senior Malachi Williams led the way in 34.08.
Friendly senior Donte Long (34.32) took second-place silver and Perry was the bronze medalist.
Reevey and Peterson rounded out the top five, followed by Largo senior Malachi Braxton-Brown (36.32) in sixth.
There were 17 entries.
At the state-qualifying East Region meet on Feb. 7 at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, Peterson placed fifth behind Long, Williams, Friendly junior Grant Stephens and Braxton-Brown. Perry was sixth.
Reevey was the winner in the Central Region.
The Class 1A meet, which is for the smallest school systems in the state, was held Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the sports complex in Landover.
Initially the meet was scheduled for Feb. 18, then it was pushed back to Feb. 19, then again to Feb. 21 and ultimately to Feb. 26 — all because inclement weather affecting parts of the state of Maryland forced school system cancellations.
Kent County High School also had a state championship qualifier for the second year in a row in shot putter Ke’yare Hawkins.
She placed 10th among 17 entries with a throw of 29 feet, 10.25 inches.
Western Tech senior Olivia Onwubuariri was the winner with a throw of 37-9.25.
Second-place silver went to Central High School junior Cailey Newman (36-3).
Hawkins qualified for states as the 1A East Region runner-up to Newman with a season-best throw of 34-6.
She established the school record of 35-3.25 last year while winning the region title.