May 11, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
On Friday, May 7th the Warren County track and field team featuring 4 DeKalb County High School athletes competed in the TSSAA Division 2 Large Schools Track and Field Sectional Event. The top 4 individual and relay teams in each event would advance to the state competition which will host the top 4 individuals and relay teams from each of the 4 regions: west, middle, east, and Knox County.
Ally Beneke was victorious at substate clenching the high jump title with a leap of 5-04.00. She remains undefeated in the season.
Ella VanVranken was on fire as she collected 3 spots to the state meet while breaking her previously set school records in each event. VanVranken had a third place finish in the women’s 1600 meter with a time of 5:15.50 (previously 5:24.12). She finished second in the women’s 800 meter with a time of 2:22.33 (Her previous record was 2:27.89).
VanVranken, Cadee Griffith, Katie Toney, and Emma Randall were seeded 5th in the women’s 4×800 meter relay. The relay squad broke their previously set school record (10:31.26) and knocked off fourth seeded Central Magnet to clinch 4th place and collect their ticket to the state event with a time of 10:30.18.
Aaron Gottlied had a great meet and was able to set some new PR’s. Gottlied finished 8th in the men’s 800 meters with a PR of 2:09.06. He also had an eighth place finish in the men’s 1600 meters setting a PR of 4:49.34. Gottlied and the Warren County relay team took tenth place in the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 9:15.74.
The track and field State meet will be held at Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro, TN on Wednesday, May 26. To view all results visit: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/409415/results