The Mathews High School track team opened its 2013 season last Wednesday at New Kent High School, taking on Tidewater District competitors Middlesex and King William, as well as Washington and Lee, Charles City and the AA New Kent Trojans.

Under the guidance of coaches Tony Forrest and Desmond Smith, the team fought through the cold weather—and even a little bit of rainfall—to bring home a third-place finish for the girls’ team, with a combined score of 71 points, and a fourth-place tie with Charles City for the boys’ team, with a combined score of 53.5 points.

For the girls, senior captain Jessie Nelson placed second in the high jump with a height of 4 feet, 4 inches; fourth in the long jump with a leap of 13 feet, 6 inches; and ninth in the triple jump. Freshman Shyanne Gordon placed fifth in the high jump and would later go on to take a very impressive second place overall in both the 100m and 300m hurdles, with times of 21.27 seconds and 1:03, respecti...