Branch wins state title in triple jump, New Kent boys’ finish tenth at Group 3A Championships

New Kent’s Ellis Branch captured the boys’ triple jump competition at the Group 3A State Track and Field Championships held this past weekend at Liberty University.

Branch leaped a distance of 46’6½” to win the event, defeating Markus White of Heritage (Lynchburg) by more than four inches.

New Kent also received an additional pair of top three finishes. Isaac Lamprecht placed second in the boys’ 3200-meter run with a time of 9:36.00. Teammate Ryan Wright earned the bronze medal in the boys’ pole vault with a clearance of 13’0”.

The Trojans accumulated 26 points at the state meet, finishing in a tie for tenth with Monticello. Bay Rivers District rival Tabb emerged as state champions with 46.5 points.

On the girls’ side, Ara Buchman and Autumn Wallace earned top ten finishes for the Lady Trojans. Buchman finished ninth in the girls’ triple jump with a mark of 34’11½”, while teammate Autumn Wallace cleared 8’6” in the girls’ pole vault for a tenth-place finish.

New Kent’s girls’ team did not score at the state competition. Abingdon High School won the state competition.

Other results (NK only):

Girls: 400- 14. Butler 1:02.69. 800- 14. Johnson 2:39.01. 100 Hurdles- 16. Moore 18.35. 4×800 Relay- 19. NK (Johnson, Butler, Gadsen, Proffitt) 10:53.33. Triple Jump- 18. Butler 32’2½”.

Boys: 400- 12. Branch 51.66. 1600- 7. Lamprecht 4:34.38. 4×800- 14. NK (Lamprecht, Holloway, Crooms, Ashley) 8:39.65. Long Jump- 12. Branch 21’1¼”.