7 meet records at HVA Invitational
Thompson, Klasky, Waite, Gorfido, Langham, Sipos HVA relay set new meet, stadium marks
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Bryce Thompson, Farragut High School junior and defending Division I 4A shot put state champion, also tossed a meet and stadium record — and career best — in shot put Saturday afternoon (63-03.50). - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs photography
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Ari Klasky, Webb School of Knoxville senior, tossed an HVA Invitational meet record and stadium record of 175-feet-07.00 in discus late Saturday morning, March 30. - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs photography
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Hardin Valley Academy senior Gracie Waite was a double meet champ in both discus (143-09.00) and shot put (40-07.50). - Photos courtesy of Jeremy Wiggs/Jeremy Wiggs photography
HARDIN VALLEY — Several of Bryce Thompson’s shot put competitors were clapping in unison for the Farragut High School junior, defending Division I Class 4A shot put state champ, looking to improve upon his career best 63 feet-03.50 toss, which was a new Hardin Valley Invitational meet record, and HVA stadium record, during the final of two days of competition Saturday afternoon, March 30.
“I think I’ve taken the state lead right now” for longest toss, said Thompson, who also finished third in the meet’s discus toss.
Improving significantly from his state title-winning toss of 57-11.50, “hitting the weights is the most important part,” Thompson added about being stronger as a junior. “My technique has always been good.”
Ari Klasky of Webb School of Knoxville also set a throwing meet and HVA stadium record, his coming in discus at 175-07.00. Klasky, a senior, was third behind Thompson in shot put.
On the girls side, a pair of locals were double field champs, while breaking records, Saturday.
Gracie Waite, HVA senior, pulled off a meet-winning discus throw at 143-09.00 — a meet record and No. 1 in Tennessee — while also shot put champ with a toss of 40-07.50.
With her two best discus throws coming during her final two attempts, Waite twice ran full speed to hug her coach, Matt Bates, 50 yards away.
“I was very happy because I was very stressed during the beginning, during prelims,” Waite said. “It’s just the best feeling knowing that you can hit the mark. It’s awesome.”
As for the jumps, Webb’s Lennox Langham grabbed a pair of first-place showings, with a meet record in triple jump (37-08.50), while also long jump champ (17-05.25 ).
Similar to the encouraging clapping for Thompson, the meet’s boys pole vault champ, FHS senior Julian Gorfido, also got claps while trying to improve upon his meet record — and career best outdoor height — of 15-feet, attempting 15-6. Though unsuccessful at that height, Gorfido was pleased with hit HVA effort.
“My outdoor PR before today was 14-7. It feels amazing,” the senior said, noting his indoor PR is 15-01.75.
In distance medley relay, HVA set a meet record (10:30.36) with Garrett Hawkins, Tyler Hall, Gabe Allen and Josh Hunt.
In 300-meter hurdles, Payton Sipos of Knox Catholic set a meet record at 46.06.
Other girls top finishes
100-meter dash, Chloe Truss of Knoxville Catholic, third;
400-meter dash, Truss of KCHS, first, 57.92;
800-meter run, Carolina Areheart of Webb School of Knoxville, first, 2:17.25; Maddie Archdale of Hardin Valley Academy, second;
1600-meter run, Archdale of HVA, second;
Open 1600-meter run, Lydia McFall of FHS, first, 5:37.20; Gaby Bainbridge of Webb, third
3200-meter run, Ann Leath, HVA, third;
100-meter hurdles, Sipos of KCHS, second;
300-meter hurdles, Lydia Lively of Bearden, second; Amelia Wedemeyer of Christian Academy of Knoxville, third;
1000-meter sprint-medley relay, HVA, first, 2:24.60; CAK, third;
4 X 400-meter relay, FHS, first, 4:04.37;
Sprint-medley relay, HVA, third;
4 X 800 relay, HVA, second;
Distance medley relay, FHS, third;
Pole vault, Katie Edmunds of FHS, second; Lilyana Helton of Concord Christian School, third.
Other boys top finishes
100-meter dash, Michael Conley of Webb, third;
200-meter dash, Michael Conley of Webb, first, 22.21; Hal Niendorff of Webb, third;
400-meter dash, Tony Spadafora of Farragut, third;
800-meter run, Keegan Smith of Knoxville Catholic, first, 1.57.85;
1600-meter run, Colin Eckerman of Webb, second;
JD Rutig of HVA, second; Casey Pribish of FHS, third;
3200-meter run, Garrett Hawkins, HVA, first, 9:40.41 Harrison Cunningham of FHS, second; Sam Shagan of FHS, third;
300-meter hurdles, McKale Hayes of HVA, third;
1000-meter sprint-medley relay, HVA, second;
4 X 400 relay, FHS, second; HVA, third;
Sprint-medley relay, HVA, second;
4 X 800-meter relay, HVA, first, 8:09.60;
Open boys 1600, Corom Hlebasko of FHS, first, 4:46.30;
Distance medley relay, KCHS, second;
Pole vault, Bearden’s Gavin Bailey, third;
Long jump, Conley of Webb, second;
Triple jump, FHS’s Max Smydra, third.
