Dark’s 63-7.75 throw tops elite field at Penn
Anderson County senior Luke Dark stands atop the podium after winning the shot put at the Penn Relays on Friday, April 24, at the University of Pennsylvania. Dark recorded a winning throw of 63 feet, 7.75 inches. He is joined by Coach Maggie Longmire following his victory in the elite meet. (photo:Submitted )
Mavericks shot putter Luke Dark won his competition at the prestigious Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania, recording an effort of 63 feet, 7.75 inches.
“This was a big win for Luke, and I can’t understate that,” Anderson County Coach Harrison Calhoun said. “This is quite an outstanding feat, and it’s one of the biggest things to happen in our program.
“He threw it 63-7.75, and he won it. When it comes to recognizing something like this, we want to tell as many people as possible. We told our kids when we found out he won, and then I called our athletic director.”
Dark, however, is no stranger to competing and winning on the big stage. He is a two-time defending Class AA state shot put champion. But this may be the biggest victory of his career.
“This is one of the biggest meets in the country,” Calhoun said. “This is a high school, college and Olympic-caliber meet.”
Closer to home, the Mavericks and Lady Mavericks competed in the Last Chance Qualifier in Maryville on Friday.
The two teams combined to win three events in Blount County.
Ava Moody won the girls 3,200-meter run, crossing the finish line in 10 minutes, 33 seconds, setting a personal record. Cameron Hardy won the boys 3,200-meter run in 9:43.62, also a personal record.
Hardy was one of four top-10 finishers for the Mavericks in the race. John Cutler finished second, coming in under 10 minutes. Tanner Warman was ninth in 12:06.89, and Franklin Downs came in 10th in 12:07.56.
Joseph Hall won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 1.25 inches. He also took seventh in the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line in 54.26 seconds.
Hall, Cutler, Hardy and Benson Skidmore competed in the 4x400-meter relay and finished in 3:47, just a few seconds off the school record.
“Ava and Cam both had a PR in the 3200, and Joseph won the long jump, and that was good to see,” Calhoun said. “Our school record in the 4x400 is 3:35.30, and we ran a 3:47 on Friday. Cam was tired because he had just finished the 3200, so I think we can get that record.”
