LANDOVER — Ke’yare Hawkins is returning to the Class 1A state indoor track and field championships, and she’ll be joined by classmate Ramon “RJ” Peterson.
The Kent County High School juniors qualified for Wednesday’s state meet based on their standout performances Feb. 7 in the East Region championships at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex.
Hawkins was the runner-up in the shot put with a throw of 34 feet, 6 inches. While it was short of the school record of 35-3.25 that she established last year while winning the region title, it was by far her best throw of the 2024-25 season.
Only Central High School junior Cailey Newman had a better throw — 34-10.5
Newman and Hawkins were in a class by themselves as no one else in the field of 18 entries eclipsed 30 feet.
KCHS junior Laila Johnson (22-9.25) placed 14th.
As a medal winner, Hawkins automatically qualified for the state championships, also to be held at the sports complex in Landover.
Peterson advanced in the 300 meters on his time of 36.55 seconds, re-establishing the school record for the third time this winter.
Four upperclassmen, all from high schools in Prince George’s County, placed ahead of Peterson.
First across the line was Friendly senior Donte Long, who stopped the timer in 34.92.
Largo senior Malachi Williams (35.26) was next, followed by Friendly junior Grant Stephens (35.86) and then Largo senior Malachi Braxton-Brown (35.93).
After Peterson came Chesapeake Math and IT Academy-North junior Isaiah Perry (36.75) and Central senior Kadmuel Gnambode (personal best of 36.98).
Overall, there were 15 entries.
It’s worth noting that Long (6.36, PR) and Williams (6.59) placed one-two in the 55 meters, and Stephens (1:06.93), Long (1:07.02), Perry (1:07.08, PR) and Braxton-Brown (1:07.61, PR) went one-two-three-four in the 500.
Two other Trojans competed well, but do not move on.
KCHS senior Gavin Larrimore placed fifth of 17 entries in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 9.50 inches — the winner was Snow Hill junior Myles Morton with a personal best of 46-1 — and freshman Joey Homyack ran a PR of 5:15.98 in the 1600 to place 10th among 18 entries.
In a season that was abbreviated due to weather-related school closings, Homyack lopped more than a minute off his time in the mile.
There are 18 schools in the Class 1A East Region that have indoor track programs; seven of them are from Prince George’s County, another is from Anne Arundel County, two are from Cecil County and the remaining eight are from the Eastern Shore.
The first-, second- and third-place finishers in each event automatically moved on as well as the next top nine 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 advanced to the state championships.
