So many Polk County varsity track and field competitors set personal records at Saturday’s 49^th annual Times-News meet that Wolverine head coach Alan Peoples couldn’t remember them all off hand.

In all, Polk’s women placed second among 19 teams, while the men were fourth. Even better, Polk’s men and women placed first among all 2A schools represented. In all, Polk’s women trailed only South Iredell, a 3A school. Polk’s men finished behind only Asheville (4A) and A.C. Reynolds (3A) and South Iredell,

“It was fuuuuuun!” Peoples said of the meet, held at PCHS. “It was a wonderful day.”

Polk’s men placed first overall in the 4×800-meter relay, while the Wolverine women claimed first in the 4×400.

Polk standout performances included Sean Doyle winning the men’s 800-meter run (in 1:56.90). Emma Wagoner placed second in the triple jump with a personal record (and possible school record) 33 feet, ten inches. Marissa Longshore was second in the long jump with a leap of 16.02.00 (another personal record, and close to a school record). Nate Smart took second among 25 runners in the men’s 400-meter sprint, missing first by about a quarter second, at 52.26. Jaymes Wingo showed versatility, placing eighth in the shot put, and sixth in the long jump

“It was kind of different,” Peoples noted of that effort.

Polk’s India Godlock (5:37.19) placed third in the women’s 1,600-meter run. Storm Wheeler placed eighth in the men’s 100-meter sprint. Izzy Jckson finished fifth (27.62) in the women’s 200-meter sprint. Teammate Michaela Nelon was third in the women’s shot put, while the Wolverines’ Tameela Brown was sixth, and newcomer Reagan Waddell was seventh. Brown and Waddell placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the discus.

“What I could see was wonderful,” observed Peoples, who had to leave the meet to perform one of his duties as Tryon Mayor.

Hendersonville’s Times-News sponsored the meet.

As of now, Polk’s women are third in the region and sixth in the state among 2A schools, while the men are third and fourth, respectively. Troy Lieberman set a personal best in the pole vault, with an effort of 12 feet even—good for third place.

In all, some 50 individuals, from coaches to volunteers, helped make the meet work, and Peoples thanks them all. To help prepare for the meet, Peoples and his staff worked until about seven on Friday evening.

Next meet is the WHKP meet on Thursday, April 7, at North Henderson.

Track fans might see some changes in personnel in some events—something Peoples’ mind addresses after each meet.

“Who can you put where, to get the most usable points?” is his goal.