The Recorder on June 11, 2026
The 4×100 relay team of Brooke Williams, Amelia Good, Adelaide Baxter and Colleen Adams finished ninth and set a school record at the state track meet held at JMU.
HARRISONBURG — Five Highland athletes combined for five top-10 finishes and a pair of school records at the Class 1 state track meet on Friday and Saturday at James Madison University.
Luke Baxter set a school-record in the 800-meter run (2:03.58), finishing eighth, while the girls’ 4×100 relay — Colleen Adams, Adelaide Baxter, Amelia Good and Brooke Williams — placed ninth with a new school-record time of 52.22, highlighting a busy Saturday for the Rams.
“We finished the season strong,” said HHS coach Colby Jackson. “Unreal effort by these athletes.”
It was a day to remember for the pair of Adams and Luke Baxter, who both graduated in the morning, made a quick trip across the mountain, and ran in the afternoon.
“Luke was our lone boy to compete,” said Jackson. “That school record will stand for many years. His work ethic and drive for the sport will be missed as he pursues a full academic scholarship to U.Va., where he will no doubt be a standout once again. Luke has embodied the word ‘effort.’ He began track as a senior and became an all-state finisher in two short months. No matter the challenge presented to him, he rose to the occasion and became a Highland record holder because of it.”
Brooke Williams, in back, swings around the inside lane during the 4×100 relay at JMU on Saturday. Williams made all-state in the long jump and 200-meter, in addition to being the anchor leg for the relay team — all despite battling shin splints and calf injuries. (Photo courtesy Heidi Williams)
Adams ran the first leg on the 4×100 relay race, finishing a solid Ram athletic career.
“Colleen had an emotional day of speaking and graduating, while bringing a large following over the mountains,” said Jackson. “Her leadership will be hard to match as our program looks to replace a vacancy in that leadoff leg.”
Adelaide Baxter added a fifth-place long jump (16-6), while Williams took home a pair of seventh-place performances in the long jump (16-4½) and 200 meters (27.33).
“Brooke ran and jumped with enough tape on her legs to add a couple of pounds to counter the shin splint and calf issues she has had the last month,” Jackson said. “She still managed to become all-state in the long jump and 200 as a freshman and be a crucial component as the anchor leg in the 4×100. Her natural talent paired with her work ethic is going to be special to watch these next few years.
Brother and sister duo Luke and Adelaide Baxter both competed Saturday at the state track meet. Luke set a school-record in the 800-meter run, finishing eighth. Adelaide was part of the 4×100 relay team, which finished ninth and also set a school record, and took a fifth place in the long jump. (Photo courtesy Susanna Baxter)
“Adelaide finished fifth in the long jump after only jumping in five meets ever,” he added. “She is now the highest state placement winner in my tenure as a coach and deservingly so. She listened to every detail that Coach Danny (Hull) and I had to offer and improved all year. She also ran an amazing second leg in the 4×1.”
Good watched her brother graduate in the morning before running the third leg of the relay.
“She showed up 45 minutes before her race to prepare to run,” Jackson said.
Good, who like Williams is a freshman, is leaving the area with her family.
“As she prepares to transfer to a new school, we will always be grateful for her efforts as a freshman standout for our program,” the coach said.
The Ram girls scored eight team points, good for a tie for 22nd place, while Luke Baxter scored a team point for the boys.
Auburn used a dominating field-event effort to run away with the boys’ team race, nearly doubling the totals of Eastern Montgomery and Parry McCluer, while Cumberland won the girls’ championship.
“That 4×1 record is going to be hard to beat,” Jackson added. “That group was as close-knit as I have seen coaching track. This season has been a joy to be a part of. I have watched young athletes come into their own and take pride in their efforts. Highland track is now a recognizable name when it comes to competing, and I look forward to what the future holds for the program.”
Last Friday’s and Saturday’s
results at James Madison
University
Boys’ top 10 team scores: 1. Auburn, 106; 2. Eastern Montgomery, 55; 3. Parry McCluer, 54; 4. Rappahannock, 43½; 5. Riverheads, 40½; 6. Brunswick, 40; 7. Chilhowie, 38; 8. Sussex Central, 36; 9. Middlesex, 34; 10. Luray, 28; T29. Highland, 1
State champions and HHS results:
• 100-meter dash: 1. Michael Ball (Rappahannock), 11.04
• 200-meter dash: 1. Trey Ward (Rural Retreat), 22.66
• 400-meter dash: 1. Michael Ball (Rappahannock), 48.83
• 800-meter run: 1. Azmani Jackson (Luray), 1:56.29; 8. Luke Baxter (HHS), 2:03.58
• 1,600-meter run: 1. Kebryl Chandler (Parry McCluer), 4:22.45
• 3,200-meter run: 1. Kebryl Chandler (Parry McCluer), 9:36.11
• 110-meter hurdles: 1. Jayden Bullock (Sussex Central), 14.83
• 300-meter hurdles: 1. Storm Parker (Riverheads), 39.45
• 4×100-meter relay: 1. Rural Retreat, 43.09
• 4×400-meter relay: 1. Rappahannock, 3:24.43
• 4×800-meter relay: 1. Eastern Montgomery, 8:09.02
• High jump: 1. Gideon Miear (Auburn), 6-6
• Long jump: 1. Skyler McBride (George Wythe), 22-2½
• Triple jump: 1. Mark Tankard (Northampton), 44-9¾
• Pole vault: 1. Thomas Hungarland (Galileo), 12-6
• Shot put: 1. Kobi Bonds (Auburn), 62-1
• Discus: 1. Colton Honaker (Auburn), 157-6
• HHS individual points: Luke Baxter, 1
Girls’ top 10 team scores: 1. Cumberland, 60; 2. Northampton, 51; 3. Auburn, 50; 4. George Wythe, 46; 5. William Campbell, 43; T6. Riverheads, 40; T6. Eastside, 40; 8. Brunswick, 38; 9. Chilhowie, 32; 10. Narrows, 28; T22. Highland, 8
State champions and HHS results:
• 100-meter dash: 1. Arnesia Dews (William Campbell), 12.46
• 200-meter dash: 1. Arnesia Dews (William Campbell), 25.66; 7. Brooke Williams (HHS), 27.33 in finals, 27.12 in preliminaries
• 400-meter dash: 1. Arnesia Dews (William Campbell), 57.01
• 800-meter run: 1. Shelby Stanley (Eastside), 2:21.25
• 1,600-meter run: 1. Shelby Stanley (Eastside), 5:20.61
• 3,200-meter run: 1. Emma Faulkner (George Wythe), 11:33.02
• 100-meter hurdles: 1. Destnee Bullock (Brunswick), 15.26
• 300-meter hurdles: 1. Raegan Jones (Chilhowie), 45.68
• 4×100-meter relay: 1. Franklin, 50.30; 9. Highland (Colleen Adams, Adelaide Baxter, Amelia Good, Brooke Williams), 52.22
• 4×400-meter relay: 1. Narrows, 4:13.98
• 4×800-meter relay: 1. Eastside, 10:02.23
• High jump: 1. Rylee Coates (Northampton), 5-0
• Long jump: 1. Rylee Coates (Northampton), 18-1; 5. Adelaide Baxter (HHS), 16-6; 7. Brooke Williams (HHS), 16-4½
• Triple jump: 1. Arnesia Dews (William Campbell), 38-0
• Pole vault: 1. Rylee Coates (Northampton), 11-2
• Discus: 1. Sarah Piner (Riverheads), 125-3½
• Shot put: 1. Jayla Augstin (Cumberland), 36-5
• HHS individual points: Brooke Williams, 4; Adelaide Baxter, 4