Against All Odds: 6 Scoring Athletes Power Cougar Roster to State Runner-Up Title

(Jackson Squires, Alex Flores, Cole Boone, Tanner Linkous, Anius Slaughter, Braxton Merchant)

 

Head Coach Britney Hodge

LYNCHBURG, VA — What happens at state doesn’t stay at state as the Cougars bring home the Class 3 State Runner-Up boys team championship. The Pulaski County High School boys track and field team put on a masterclass performance at the VHSL Class 3 State Championships, showcasing the ultimate definition of grit, resilience, and heart. Pulaski overcame many adversities through the season, battling through step-by-step challenges to finish in a tie for second place overall with 56 points in the final state standings. This was a massive team effort achieved with only 10 boys competing, finishing just behind first-place Lord Botetourt High School’s winning score of 62 points and sharing the runner-up podium with Cave Spring High School. This incredible podium finish was achieved with six of the Cougars directly scoring points for the team. The odds were heavily stacked against them, but that did not stop the Cougars from proving they belong among the elite.

 

On Friday, Anius Slaughter started the meet out with an All-State runner-up performance in the Shot Put with a massive throw of 49′ 4½” to secure second place in the Class 3 finals. Slaughter later doubled back on the second day of competition in the Discus Throw, earning All-State honors by placing sixth with a mark of 141′ 3″ to secure more crucial podium points for the minimal roster.

 

Nothing defined the team’s sheer willpower and versatility quite like their historic relay performances. In the Boys 4×800-Meter Relay, Jackson Squires, known primarily as a powerhouse short-sprint specialist, stepped well outside his comfort zone to set the tone. Embracing the challenge for the sake of his team, Squires ran a gutsy opening leg to pass the baton to Tanner Linkous. Linkous ran a spectacular second leg to keep the Cougars in prime position, handing off to Alex Flores, who showed immense grit to hold off the state’s best before anchor Cole Boone closed the door. The quartet combined to capture the All-State state championship and shatter the school record with a spectacular time of 7:56.93.

(4×800 meter relay: Alex Flores, Jackson Squires, Tanner Linkous, and Cole Boone)

 

The program’s signature middle-distance excellence was further cemented in the open events by senior star Cole Boone, who captured an All-State individual state title in the Boys 800 meter with a time of 1:49.13. With this win, Boone officially achieved an incredible milestone, winning the open 800m state title for three years in a row. Tanner Linkous crossed the line right behind him at 1:53.57 to secure an All-State runner-up performance and a spectacular one-two punch for Pulaski County. This marked the second consecutive year that Boone and Linkous finished first and second in the state in the 800m, cementing their legacy as a legendary middle-distance duo. Alex Flores completed the dominant showcase by placing eighth with a time of 2:00.65, meaning Linkous and Flores combined with Boone to place three Cougars in the top eight of a single state final. This individual crown, combined with both relay victories, officially made Boone a three-time state team champion at the meet.

 

Senior Braxton Merchant showcased his remarkable endurance across multiple disciplines to maximize the 10 man roster’s scoring potential, earning All-State honors by clearing 6′ 3″ to finish fifth overall in the High Jump before securing seventh place in the Long Jump with a leap of 21′ 8¾”.

 

Pulaski’s sprinting corps also battled hard on the state stage against elite fields. Junior Tanner Toney represented the individual sprint crew by clocking an 11.24-second finish in the highly competitive Boys 100-Meter Dash preliminaries. Toney also teamed up with Bryant Nottingham, Jayden Aviles, and Brayden Snell in the Boys 4×100-Meter Relay. While the 4x100m squad did not get the results they wanted or place where they hoped, their presence and effort on the track were a vital part of the team’s unified culture throughout the weekend. On the girls’ side, junior Olivia King represented the program well by clearing 4′ 10″ to secure a strong ninth-place finish against the state’s best high jumpers.

 

After a long weekend of battling physical exhaustion and elite competition across multiple events, the Cougars summoned their remaining strength for the final event of the meet. In the Boys 4×400-Meter Relay, the lineup of Jackson Squires, Tanner Linkous, Braxton Merchant, and Cole Boone put on an absolute clinic in tactical execution and pure speed. Squires exploded out of the blocks with a phenomenal opening leg, putting the Cougars right at the front of the pack. Linkous took the baton and ran a beautifully measured second leg, fighting off aggressive surges on the backstretch to hand off in striking distance. Merchant then delivered a masterclass on the third leg, digging deep around the final turn. Anchor Cole Boone left no room for doubt, turning on his signature extra gear to slam the door on the rest of the field. The quartet outpaced the entire state to secure an All-State state title and another school record, crossing the finish line in a blistering 3:20.74 to cap off the weekend in historic fashion.

(4×400 meter relay: Braxton Merchant, Jackson Squires, Tanner Linkous, Cole Boone)

 

Facing elite competition and physical exhaustion with a hyper-lean squad, this historic team runner-up finish stands as a testament to the unwavering determination of the entire Cougar roster.

 

(Back Row: Braxton Merchant, Tanner Toney, Bryant Nottingham, Jackson Squires, Jayden Aviles

Front Row: Alex Flores, Anius Slaughter, Cole Boone, Tanner Linkous)