WINSTON-SALEM — The Richmond Senior High School boys’ indoor track and field team made its season debut last Friday and also made national headlines.
Competing in an invitational hosted by Northwest Cabarrus High School at the JDL Fast Track, the Raiders placed fifth out of 16 teams with 52 points.
Securing eight top-10 finishes, the Raiders won two events — the 55-meter dash and the 4x200-meter relay.
Seniors Keonta Pegues, Christian Surgent, Tyrese Collins and sophomore Ty Covington recorded a 4x200 time of 1:29.81 for first place. That was the No. 1 time in the state this season, and it ranked No. 4 in the nation.
The only teams faster in the country this winter than the Raiders in that event are Riverdale Baptist School (1:28.58; Maryland), Bryant High School (1:29.24; Alabama) and Warwick Valley High School (1:29.68; New York).
Pegues, a state qualifier from last year, brought home Richmond’s other win in the open 55 race. He clocked in at 6.55 seconds, ahead of teammates Covington (6.65 seconds, third) and Collins (6.72 seconds, sixth).
Richmond had one other third-place performance from Collins in the triple jump. His longest jump of the meet was 42 feet, 9 inches.
The Raiders used a pair of fourth-place finishes to add points to their team total. Surgent ran the 300-meter dash in 36.32 seconds, and the 4x400 team completed its four laps around the track in 3:39.50.
Junior Alijah Flowers and sophomore Messiah Marshall each had one sixth-place finish in the 55-meter hurdles and the shot put, respectively. Flowers ran his race in 8.72 seconds and Marshall’s longest toss was 37 feet, 9 inches.
Rounding out Richmond’s top-10 performances was sophomore CJ Covington in the long jump. His distance of 18 feet, 3 inches placed him eighth overall.
The Raiders will return to the track and field following the holiday break for another meet at the JDL Fast Track on Jan. 16.
