Ideal conditions finally fell upon the sizable crowds and athletes last weekend as the three-day Carillion Clinic Cosmopolitan Invitational track and field meet played out at William Fleming High School.
Hampered by rain the last two years, the COSMO benefited by sunny skies for 2014.
Three classifications-senior, junior and middle school in both boys and girls competition headlined the fast pace action throughout the weekend.
In the premiere senior divisions, members of the ” Big-11 ” impressed with their performances.
In the senior boys, Patrick Henry finished second behind winner Christiansburg, while Salem took third, with Northside and Hidden Valley tying for fourth. William Byrd followed at sixth, with William Fleming, Lord Botetourt and Cave Spring coming in 9th-11th, respectfully.
On the girls senior side, William Fleming took first, Cave Spring third, William Byrd fourth and Lord Botetourt sixth. Salem followed at ninth, while Patrick Henry and Northside tied for twelfth, and Hidden Valley finishing 15th.
In other divisions on Saturday, William Fleming captured the boys junior title, with Lucy Addison winning the boys middle school competition.
Cave Spring took the gold in the girls junior team division and Andrew Lewis won the girls middle school.
One of the most impressive displays of perseverance and fortitude in this year’s COSMO came from Cave Spring senior Emily Fulton. Fulton, who will attend VMI in the fall on a track and field scholarship, was a multi-event participant who hopefully had some help taking home the hardware. Fulton won the senior girls high jump at 5-02 and finished first in the pole vault by clearing the bar at 10-06. She also took third in discus throw, third in triple jump, fourth in the shot put, fifth in the long-jump, sixth in the 100-hurdles and ran anchor for the Knights 400-relay ream.
Other multiple winners from the ” Big-11 ” included William Fleming’s Mya Brown, winner of the 100 and 300 girls hurdles, along with Salem speedster Davonta Womack who captured the boys senior 100-meter and 200-meter in addition to running a leg on the
Spartan’s winning 400-relay team.
Bill Turner
