Wolves- State Runners-Up

Reeds Spring did not necessarily need to take a big bus to the state track meet.  If they wanted to eat out they did not really need to call ahead to warn the restaurant that a big group was coming.  The Wolves qualified only seven athletes, on the guys side, for the meet.

But, what production they got from that group. Four Gold Medals, A Silver, and two Bronze was the count.  When the totals were added up, the Wolves totaled 60 points, good for 2nd place and only 2 points short of State Champion John Burroughs.

Korey Robinette led the way.  The Senior speedster claimed gold in the 200 to go along with a silver in the 100.

Ransom Allphin won the 100 meter hurdles and added bronze on the 300 meter hurdles.

Robinette and Allphin were joined by Keenan Haynes and Colter Whitten to claim the state championship in the 4 X 100 meter relay (a great effort by all four and a finish by Robinette of which legends are made) and the same foursome took bronze in the 4 X 200 meter relay.

The Wolves also got a state championship performance form Xavier McDaniel.  The big guy out did everyone in the shot put.

While, small in numbers the Wolves came up big on the big stage.  The only athletes that qualified that did not end up on the podium were Darrin Rathburn and Kelly Newton  And they just missed it.  Rathburn only missed joining McDaniel for the shot put award ceremony by 5 inches. And, Newton was only a few inches short in the long jump.

The Wolves got about as close as you can get to winning the State Title.  They actually led by 8 points going into the final event.  Reeds Spring was done but John Burroughs had an entry in the 4X400 relay race.  If JB finished third or worse the title would belong to Reeds Spring.  If they finished second the teams would tie, and if they won, they would also win the team title.  Well, they rose to the occasion and ran a 3:21.01 to beat Cardinal Ritter by just over two seconds.

When you come that close its easy to look at what might have been.  Two points is generally one place, among the podium finishes.  But, instead of looking at it that way, I look at the great accomplishment this group of seniors pulled off.  They finshed third last year, and with a huge target on their backs improved by a spot this year.

The group that is leaving totally owns the Reeds Spring record books.. Each of the medalists owns the school record in their respective events.  And, might hold them for some time…. I will stick with the post I made yesterday that Robinette is the greatest Reeds Spring sprinter of all-time.  The same can be said of Allphin when it comes to hurdles.

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