The Mathews High School boys’ team placed fourth overall, while the MHS girls took seventh in last Wednesday’s Virginia High School League Region 1A/2A indoor track and field championships at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, Hampton.

Qualifying MHS athletes will advance to next week’s VHSL Class 1/2 combined state meet, which will be held on Feb. 28-29 at Liberty University in Lynchburg.

Nora Suthard was the only Mathews athlete to win an event at regionals—winning the gold with a distance of 33’0.5” in the finals. The MHS sophomore also placed fourth in the long jump (15’11.5”) and fifth in the 55m dash (7.72 seconds). Lauren Johnson came in fourth place in the 500m dash (1:29.24).

On the boys’ side, Gavin Dustin placed third in the high jump (5’10”) and fourth in the 100m run (2:52.05). Donovan Forrest placed second in the 55m hurdles (7.94 seconds) and sixth in the 55m dash (6.85 seconds). Jon Jenkins and Blake Hunley finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the boys’ 3,200m...