The Mathews High School boys’ track team placed third in last Wednesday’s Region 1A track meet, which was held at Charles City High School. Several MHS boys and girls will advance to the VHSL Class 1 State Championships, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.

The MHS boys finished the meet with 105.5 team points, behind regional champs Lancaster (133 points) and second-place Middlesex (111.5 points). The MHS girls finished ninth as a team with 29 points. Middlesex won the regional title for the girls with 126 team points.

On the boys’ side, Donovan Forrest took first in the 110H and 100m, and placed third in the 300H. Keith Taylor placed first in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump. Chance Higginbotham won the 3200-meter run and Gavin Dustin placed second in the 800m run. The boys’ 4×800 meter relay came in second and the 4x400m relay finished third.
Top finishers among the girls included Nora Suthard, who won the triple jump, placed fifth in the long jump, sixth in the 300-meter hurdles and seventh in the 100m and 200m events; and Lorena Carballo, who came in second in the 3200 meter run.

Nine boys and two girls will advance to the state tournament. Representing the MHS boys’ team will be Jordyn Cosby (discus), Keith Taylor (high jump, long jump, triple jump, relays), Gavin Dustin (800-meter, high jump, relays), Seth James (relays), Jerrell Johnson (200 meters), Chance Higginbotham and Jon Jenkins (3200 meter), Donovan Forrest (100-meter, 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump) and Andrew Greve (800-meter run, relays). Nora Suthard (100m, 200m, 300m hurdles, long jump, high jump and triple jump) and Lorena Carballo (3200-meter run) will compete for the MHS girls.