Freedom’s boys’ track and field team did everything they could to defend their new turf against Liberty, but the Hurricanes came out on top 83-67 last Monday at Freedom.

“Oh yeah, Kevin Pollock threw himself at the finish line of the 4x8,” said Freedom distance coach Bob Thear, regarding how far the Patriots went to score points. “Maybe this is the first time since the 80’s that a Liberty versus Freedom track meet was at Freedom.”

Adam Boyer led off for the Patriots in the 4x8, followed by Nick Bauer and Isaac Gross. Pollock was the anchor.

“When I got the hand off, Isaac was kicking and built a 10 meter lead, and the anchor [Darlyn Fermin] for Liberty and I ran a 60 second 400 meter,” said Pollock. “Then he took a one step lead for about 200 meters, and then I retook the lead.”

With 50 meters left, Pollock began to stumble.

“I hit the runner’s wall, and with five meters to the finish, I dove forward to get the baton across the finish line,” Pollock said. “It was just the will to win.”

Liberty’s Ryan Wycherley, GianCarlos Seixas, Pedro LaRotta, and Fermin placed second in 8:55.5.

Freedom also won the 4x1 relay with Kyree Marshburn, Nick King, Cyrus Thompson, and Dashaun Peterson in 44.1, and the 4x4 relay with Marshburn, Peterson, King, and Lewis Hargett in 3:36.1.

Alex Reji placed first in the high jump with 5-09 for the Patriots, and James Dailey won the javelin with 130-07, also for the Patriots.

Top finishers for Liberty in jumping and throwing were Trevor Joseph in the pole vault with 12-03, Jonathan Heess in the long jump with 21-05.5, Jay McGill in the triple jump with 42-05.5, and double event winner Trevor Harris in the shot put with 44-07 and the discus with 113-01.

“I beat my P.R. [in the shot put] by a foot and four inches on my second try,” said Harris. “I used to be better at discus, but the form for shot put is easier. You just bring your hips through as fast as you can.”

In sprints, Liberty’s Devon West won the 100 meter dash in 10.9, and Jaden Vazquez won the 200 meter dash in 22.8.

Hargett was first in the 400 meter dash in 53.9, and Boyer was first in the 800 meter run in 2:12.

Gross won the 1600 meter run in 5:01, and Fermin won the 3200 meter run in 10:58.

Freedom’s Thawadah Rock took first place in the 110 hurdles in 16.5, and Liberty’s Christian Tackett placed first in the 300 hurdles in 42.1.