KNIGHTDALE CAPTURES 1ST NCHSAA MEN’S TRACK CROWN;
WAKEFIELD WINS WOMEN’S 4-A TRACK AND FIELD TITLE
GREENSBORO— Knightdale’s balance and depth propelled the Knights to the top spot in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A men’s track and field championships at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University on Saturday.
Knightdale, winning its first ever NCHSAA track crown, tallied 66 points for a convincing margin over second-place Huntersville Hopewell, which had 38. Raleigh Wakefield was third with 37 followed by Raleigh Millbrook (33) and Durham Riverside (28). A total of 59 schools scored points in the men’s events.
The Knights were strong in the relays, winning both the four by 200 and the four by 400, and Burkheart Ellis Jr. won the 400 for Knightdale. He was one of three sprinters finishing in the top eight in the 200 for the winners.
Courtland Clavette of Asheville A.C. Reynolds took first place in both the shot put and the discus, setting a new state 4-A record in the discus with a toss of 184-3 that snapped a standard established back in 1993 by Ben Huff of Charlotte Providence at 182-0. He earned Most Valuable Performer honors in the men’s championship.
Stanley Broaden of Wilmington Ashley also took two individual titles, winning both hurdle events.
In the women’s meet, a balanced Raleigh Wakefield team scored 70.5 points on its way to the team championship. Asheville T.C. Roberson was the runner-up with 48.5 points, followed by Apex (40), Clayton (34) and Watauga (31.5). A total of 51 schools scored in the women’s meet.
Ariah Graham was an individual champ for Wakefield, winning the 400.
Senior Keni Harrison of Clayton, who won both hurdle events, was selected as the MVP of the women’s meet, Sequoia Watkins of T.C. Roberson was also a double winner, taking first place in both the shot and the discus. West Mecklenburg captured first place in both the 800 and 1600 relays.
Cary’s four by 800 relay team set a new women’s 4-A mark in the event with a time of 9:06.17, and junior Sydney White of East Forsyth cleared 12 feet, seven inches in the women’s pole vault to establish a new all classification record.
COMPLETE RESULTS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS LINK ELSEWHERE ON THE FRONT PAGE
