Iron Horse domination

The Philip Simmons High School track and field program is solid gold. 

The girls’ and boys’ teams won state championships May 15 at Richland Northeast High School. 

The Iron Horse girls captured the Class AA state title with a 159-51.33 victory over Landrum High School. Woodland was third with 50. 

“Some teams rely on talent, but ours relies on unity,” girls’ coach Emma McCauley said. “Our kids trusted the process, locked in as a family, and it resulted in Iron Horse domination.” 

The boys breezed past Fairfield Central, 107.5-48. Mid-Carolina was third with 46. 

“I told the kids a few weeks ago I didn’t want to just win,” boys coach Ryan McCauley said. “I wanted to dominate, and they understood the assignment.” 

The Iron Horse girls shone in the distance and field events to repeat as state champs. It was their fourth state title in nine years. The boys’ team earned their third state championship. 

Laura Perry claimed gold in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs with respective times of 5 minutes, 11.73 seconds and 11 minutes, 35.21 seconds. The 4x800-meter relay team claimed first in 9:47.42, while the 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay teams picked up bronze medals. 

Ashley Roush won the pole vault, clearing 3.8 meters while placing second in the long jump and third in the high jump. Julia Reilly lept 10.91 meters to win the triple jump. 

Flynn Taylor won the 800-meter run in 2:16.30 and was second in the 1,600-meter run. Stella Winger claimed silver in the 3,200. 

Jordyn Washington-Spencer won the shot put with a put of 9.1 meters, while Ashlyn Johnson placed second in the 200-meter dash and third in the 100-meter dash. 

The Philip Simmons boys won two gold medals. Jeremiah Richardson won the 200-meter dash in 21.79, and the 4x800 relay team’s clocking of 8:09.41 topped the field. 

The Iron Horse 400 relay team won a silver medal. Montrell Mungin was second in the 400-meter hurdles, and Brady Cobb was second in the 200 dash. 

Brian Stambaugh was third in the 3,200 run, and Jack Robinson won a bronze medal in the javelin. 

BE GIRLS PLACE THIRD 

Meanwhile, the Bishop England track and field teams had impressive efforts at the Class AAAA state championship, which was contested at Richland Northeast. 

The Bishop girls finished in third place in the team standings. Hilton Head won with 65.5 points while Westside was second with 58. The Bishops tallied 48 points. 

South Pointe won the boys’ championship, scoring a 61.5-61 victory over May River. Seneca was third with 42. The Bishop boys were ninth with 27 points. 

Katie Griffin won the Bishops’ only gold medal of the day clearing 3.58 meters to win the pole vault. Olivia Allen won bronze in the 400 dash. 

The meet marked Nora Brahim’s final appearance as a Bishop. She finished in fourth place in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs. 

Jackson Muller led the Bishop boys with a second-place finish in the 800 run.