LANDOVER — Kent County High School’s track and field team put the exclamation point on an outstanding season with seven place-finishing performances, including three that earned medals, and a new school record at the Class 1A state championships May 22-24.
That’s a lot of achievement for the Trojans’ modest contingent of senior Harrison Gibby and juniors Ke’yare Hawkins, Ramon “RJ” Peterson and Rah ‘Zir Wilson.
“Making it to states is an accomplishment in itself. But the fact that all participants placed [in the top eight] or medaled in at least one event, I feel really good about that,” KCHS coach LaKesha Hoxter told The Evening Enterprise.
Wilson, who qualified in three events, brought home two medals — silver in the high jump and bronze in the 100 meters.
Wilson and three others cleared 6 feet even to tie for second in the high jump, trailing only Fort Hill senior Landen Sweitzer’s jump of 6 feet, 2 inches.
Using criteria that included fewest misses at the tying height and fewest misses overall, Wilson and Boonsboro senior Derrick Jones ultimately each had a share of second, Edmondson senior Sean Williams III was fourth and Green Street Academy senior Marcus Holloway was fifth.
In the 100 meters, Wilson (10.94) followed Cambridge senior Tori Willis Jr. (10.74) and Central-Prince George’s sophomore Cameron Jefferson (10.82) across the line.
Peterson claimed third-place bronze in the triple jump with a personal best of 43 feet, 5.25 inches. Clear Spring sophomore Daniel Apiou won gold with a PR of 46-4.75 and Colonel Richardson senior Aydan Downie captured silver with a PR of 45-10.75.
Kent County’s Wilson, who established a school record of 43-10.5 the week before as a region champion, fouled, making his attempts invalid in this event.
Hawkins just missed out on the podium, placing fourth in the discus with a throw of 103 feet, 8 inches — a good 6 feet behind bronze medal-winner Fiyinfoluwa Popoola of Western Tech (PR of 109-9). Allegany senior Avery Miller (school record 115-4) and Boonsboro freshman Sarah Mohler (111-2) placed first and second, respectively.
As a region champion, Hawkins also qualified for states in the shot put, but was unable to compete on day two of the Thursday and Saturday meet at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
She holds school records in the shot put (33-10) and discus (108-10).
Gibby joined Hawkins, Peterson and Wilson as record holders with his shot put throw of 45 feet, 3 inches, placing eighth. He added 2.5 inches to the previous record that classmate Gavin Larrimore set last year.
Gibby also met the qualifying standard for states in the discus, but fouled.
Printed here are complete results for Kent County High School. Medals are awarded for places one through three, and ribbons are awarded for places four through eight.
GIRLS
Discus: Ke’yare Hawkins, 103 feet, 8 inches, fourth.
BOYS
100 meters: Rah’zir Wilson, 10.94, third.
200 meters: RJ Peterson, 22.31, fifth.
Shot put: Harrison Gibby, school record of 45 feet, 3 inches, eighth.
High jump: Wilson, 6 feet, tie for second.
Long jump: Wilson, 19 feet, 11.5 inches, seventh; and Peterson, 18-6.75, 13th.
Triple jump: Peterson, personal best of 43 feet, 5.25 inches, third.
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The résumé of Allegany High School’s Avery Miller is jaw-dropping. She won four state titles this year to bring her career total to 14 in eight different events: 100, 200, 400 and 800 meters, 300-meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and discus. She holds 12 of the 18 Allegany girls track and field records.
She will attend Penn State on a full athletic and academic scholarship.
According to the Cumberland-Times News, Miller received interest from more than 80 NCAA Division 1 programs and had been offered full rides to N.C. State, Big 10 champion Minnesota and Southern Methodist University, among others.
She holds the school record of 93 career goals in soccer, is a career 1,000-point scorer in basketball and helped Allegany win the state title in softball in 2022.
Miller received Division 1 interest in soccer, basketball and softball, as well as cross country despite never competing in the discipline in high school.
