New Kent’s Kowal captures pole vault title at state indoor track championships

New Kent’s Griffin Kowal cleared 14 feet, 3 inches to easily win the pole vault competition at the 3A state indoor track meet held Feb. 26-27 at Liberty University in Lynchburg.

Kowal entered as the top seed in the event, having cleared 14-6 during the regular season. He finished well ahead of Broadway’s Jonathan Miller, who came in second at 12-6, and came close to the 14-5.5 meet record.

New Kent’s Andrew Carlin, meanwhile, placed in two events, taking sixth in the 3200 meters (9:57.07) and seventh in the 1600 (4:31.63).

The Trojans scored 15 points to place 13th in team scoring. Phoebus totaled 86 points to win the 3A championship followed by runner-up I.C. Norcom’s 63.

In the girls’ 3A meet, the Lady Trojans scored two points, all from Courtney Pickett who cleared 8 feet to place seventh in pole vault. Norcom won the girls’ title with 84 points while Tabb took second with 76.